Rachel Evans
Exorcism in the Catholic Church has a long and complex history. The practice has evolved over the centuries, from its ancient origins in Mesopotamia to its modern-day portrayal in popular culture. The Catholic Church's views on exorcism have undergone significant changes, influenced by cultural shifts, scientific advancements, and competition from other religious groups. The first exorcism book was published around 1400 AD, and the first official rite of exorcism was sanctioned by the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation. The Rituale Romanum, established in 1614, provided guidelines for exorcism practices and remained largely unchanged until the second half of the 20th century. The Vatican has played a crucial role in shaping exorcism rituals, offering courses on exorcism and revising the Rite of Exorcism in 1999. The Church's approach to exorcism is rooted in its belief in the literal existence of Satan and demons, and its understanding of evil as a malleable concept dependent on belief systems and contexts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History of Exorcism | Exorcism has been performed by the Catholic Church for centuries. |
| In the 12th century, exorcism underwent a transition due to the rise of heretical sects of Christianity. | |
| The first exorcism book was published around 1400 AD, followed by a crisis for the Catholic Church due to the Protestant Reformation. | |
| The first official rite of exorcism was sanctioned by the Catholic Church in 1614 with the Rituale Romanum. | |
| The Vatican offered a course on exorcism in 2019, open to members of other Christian denominations. | |
| The Catholic Church has a long-standing tradition of exorcism, with increasing popularity in the U.S. | |
| Exorcism Procedure | The person subjected to exorcism may be restrained to prevent self-harm or harm to others. |
| The exorcist prays and commands demons to leave, reciting prayers like the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed. | |
| Exorcists use a cross, holy water, and procedures listed in the Roman Ritual (Rituale Romanum). | |
| The Vatican's guidelines state that the person claiming possession must be evaluated by doctors to rule out mental or physical illness. | |
| The Catholic Church determines whether a person is genuinely possessed and takes a cautious approach, treating exorcism seriously. | |
| The Church categorizes exorcism as a sacramental blessing, preparing one for grace and protection against evil forces. | |
| A "major exorcism" can only be performed by a bishop or priest with special permission and is directed at expelling demons or liberating a person from possession. | |
| The Catholic Church's views on exorcism have evolved, with a previous embarrassment about the practice and a modern reversal of attitude. | |
| The Church competes with other exorcism options, such as Pentecostals and New Age healers. | |
| The International Association of Exorcists was formed in 1990 to lobby the Vatican to take exorcism more seriously. |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's changing views on exorcism
The Catholic Church's views on exorcism have evolved over time, influenced by various factors such as cultural changes, competition from other religious groups, and a desire to remain relevant to younger generations.
The Early Centuries:
In the earliest days of the Church, exorcisms were performed to combat evil and protect individuals from demonic possession. During this period, exorcisms were likely less formalised and more varied in their practices.
The 12th Century Transition:
Around the 12th century, exorcism underwent a significant shift due to the rise of heretical sects of Christianity, such as the Cathars. For the Catholic Church, this presented a new importance for exorcism as a means to free Christians from heretical beliefs. Personal prayers took on a form of "self-exorcism," and theologians like Saint Thomas Aquinas contributed to the development of demonology and the clarification of exorcism's purpose.
The Protestant Reformation:
The 16th-century Protestant Reformation marked a pivotal moment for Catholic exorcism practices. The split in Christianity brought about by the Reformation heightened the perception of demonic influence. As a result, persecutions like the Inquisition took on exorcism-like characteristics. The first official rite of exorcism, Rituale Romanum, was sanctioned by the Catholic Church in 1614.
The 20th Century:
For much of the 20th century, exorcism was a rare occurrence in Western nations and often viewed with embarrassment by Catholic authorities. The release of the film "The Exorcist" in 1973 further complicated the Church's relationship with exorcism. While some priests publicly expressed scepticism about the existence of demons, the Church gradually shifted its stance and allowed an exorcism to be televised in 1991.
The Modern Era:
In recent times, there has been a notable increase in the popularity of Catholic exorcisms, particularly in the United States. This rise has been attributed to various factors, including a literal interpretation of Satan and demons by the Church, the influence of charismatic Christianity, and a growing interest in the occult. The Church has also faced competition from other religious groups offering exorcisms, such as Pentecostals and New Age healers. While the Church has revised its exorcism practices over time, it continues to emphasise the importance of authorisation from valid Church authorities and the faith of the exorcist for the efficacy of exorcisms.
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The history of exorcism
In ancient Mesopotamia, during the 1st millennium B.C., practitioners of magic called "ašipu" fought against demons that brought illness and chaos. These spiritual healers used amulets and performed rituals to protect their communities. The ancient Greek word "daimon", from which the modern word "demon" is derived, referred to god-like spirits and supernatural forces.
During the 12th century, exorcism underwent a significant transition within the Catholic Church due to the rise of heretical sects of Christianity. Groups like the Cathars promoted a dualistic view of good and evil, which was contrary to Catholic doctrine. This presented a new opportunity for exorcism to be used as a mechanism to free Christians from heretical beliefs. Theologians like Saint Thomas Aquinas contributed to the development of demonology and helped define the purpose of exorcism.
The publication of the first exorcism book around 1400 A.D. coincided with a period of crisis for the Catholic Church due to the Protestant Reformation. This split in Christianity brought a renewed focus on exorcism, and in 1614, the Catholic Church sanctioned the first official rite of exorcism, known as the "
Over time, the Catholic Church has continued to revise and update its exorcism rituals. In 1999, the Vatican issued guidelines for exorcism, emphasising the need for medical evaluation to rule out mental or physical illness. The English translation of "De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam" was approved by the Latin Church Bishops in 2014, and the final text of Exorcisms and Related Supplications (ERS) was implemented in the dioceses of the United States in 2017.
While exorcism practices have evolved, they remain a part of the Catholic Church's response to demonic possession and spiritual affliction. The ritual includes prayers like the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed, along with the use of a cross and holy water. The Church's Canon Law specifies that solemn exorcisms can only be performed by ordained priests or higher prelates with the permission of the local bishop.
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How exorcism is performed
Exorcism is a prayer that falls in the category of "sacramentals", or sacred signs instituted by the Church. It is meant to sanctify different circumstances of life and prepare one for the grace of the Sacrament. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines exorcism as:
> "When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism."
The history of exorcism is ancient, with roots that straddle the line between AD and BC. In Mesopotamia, during the 1st millennium BC, purveyors of magic called ašipu staved off and expelled demons that brought illness and chaos. The ancient Greek word "daimon", from which the modern "demon" is derived, referred to god-like spirits and supernatural forces. Exorcism, as a weapon to combat evil, expels, cleanses, or protects from whatever nefarious force is at play.
In the 12th century, exorcism underwent a significant transition due to the rise of heretical sects of Christianity. Groups like the Cathars espoused the dualistic contest between good and evil, which was an affront to Roman Catholic doctrine. This heresy presented a newfound benefit of exorcism as an essential mechanism to free Christians from sinful heretical beliefs. Theologians like Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD) helped define and clarify the purpose of exorcism.
The publication of the first exorcism book around 1400 AD was followed by decades or centuries of crisis for the Catholic Church due to the Protestant Reformation. In 1614, the Catholic Church sanctioned the first official rite of exorcism, called Rituale Romanum. This included De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam, or Of Exorcisms and Certain Supplications.
The Catholic Church revised the Rite of Exorcism in January 1999. The traditional Rite of Exorcism in Ecclesiastical Latin remains an option. Solemn exorcisms, according to Canon law, can only be exercised by an ordained priest (or higher prelate) with the express permission of the local bishop. This form of exorcism is directed at the ""expulsion of demons or the liberation of a person from demonic possession". It is only performed after a careful medical examination to exclude the possibility of mental illness and personality disorders. The person subjected to exorcism may be restrained to prevent them from harming themselves or others.
Exorcists use a cross and holy water and follow procedures listed in the Roman Ritual of exorcism. Seasoned exorcists may use the Rituale Romanum as a starting point, not always following the prescribed formula exactly. The exorcist prays and commands the demons to retreat, reciting prayers such as the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed.
According to Brad Steiger, after the exorcism, the person possessed feels a "kind of release of guilt and feels reborn and freed of sin."
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The Vatican's guidelines
The 1999 guidelines stress the importance of distinguishing between demonic possession and physical or mental illness. It warns that indicators of demonic possession, such as "speaking in unknown languages, discerning distant or hidden things, and displaying physical strength that is at odds with the possessed person's age or state of health", can also be signs of sickness rather than evil. Therefore, the guide recommends that exorcism should only be performed "after diligent inquiry and after having consulted experts in spiritual matters and, if felt appropriate, experts in medical and psychiatric science who have a sense of spiritual reality".
In line with this, the Vatican's guidelines state that "the person who claims to be possessed must be evaluated by doctors to rule out a mental or physical illness". This evaluation is an important step before determining whether a person is genuinely possessed by the devil, a decision that is ultimately made by the Church.
The Vatican also offers an annual course on exorcism, which was first opened in 2005. The course covers the theological, psychological, and anthropological background to exorcisms, and teaches priests how to identify demonic possession, as well as providing an overview of the rituals involved in expelling demons.
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The increase in demand for exorcisms
In 2018, the demand for exorcisms was so high that the Vatican hosted a summit to train more priests in performing exorcisms. The International Association of Exorcists described this demand as a "pastoral emergency". The official exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Fr. Vincent Lampert, received 1,700 phone or email requests for exorcisms in 2018, the most he had ever received in a year. Fr. Gary Thomas, a priest whose exorcist training was documented in the book and movie "The Rite", said he gets at least a dozen requests a week. Fr. Lampert gets 2,000 requests for exorcisms per year and estimates that about 10% of those requests are worthy of investigation. He attributes the increase in exorcisms to the decline of faith. Psychiatrist Dr. Richard Gallagher, who works with exorcists, attributes the rise to an increase in people believing they are possessed when they are not, as well as a trend away from mainstream religions towards the occult. Professor of religious studies, Andrew Chesnut, agrees that the rise is caused by a turn towards the occult, specifically a rise in charismatic Christianity. He notes that a disproportionate number of exorcists belong to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement.
This renewed interest in the occult can be seen in the popularity of magic, astrology, witchcraft, and attempts to communicate with the dead, particularly among Millennials. The books and films of the Harry Potter series have been credited with "disarming Americans from thinking that all magic is darkness". However, it is important to note that the increase in demand for exorcisms is not necessarily indicative of an increase in demonic possession. In fact, twentieth-century Catholic officials regarded genuine demonic possession as an extremely rare phenomenon that is easily confused with mental illness. This distinction is important, as exorcisms can have a profound effect on individuals, leading them to seek spiritual help and turn away from modern medicine and mental health treatment.
The history of exorcisms is long and varied, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, where Babylonian priests performed exorcisms by casting wax figurines of demons into a fire. The practice of exorcisms underwent a significant transition in the 12th century due to the rise of heretical sects of Christianity, such as the Cathars, who espoused a dualistic contest between good and evil. This presented a newfound benefit of exorcism for the Catholic Church as a mechanism to free Christians from heretical beliefs. The publication of the first exorcism book around 1400 A.D. was followed by decades or centuries of crisis for the Catholic Church due to the Protestant Reformation, which further contributed to the development of exorcism practices.
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Frequently asked questions
Exorcism is a prayer that falls in the category of sacramentals, sacred signs instituted by the Church to sanctify different circumstances of life. It is used to protect or liberate a person from the power of the devil or spiritual dominion.
Exorcism has an ancient history and is not unique to the Catholic Church. However, the Catholic Church has the most formal, rigorous, and long-standing tradition of exorcism. The first exorcism book was published around 1400 AD, and the first official rite of exorcism was sanctioned by the Catholic Church in 1614. The Rituale Romanum was instituted in 1614 and remained largely unchanged through the first half of the 20th century. The Vatican also offered a course on exorcism in 2005 and, for the first time in 2019, opened it to members of other Christian denominations.
Exorcism was incredibly rare in Western nations for most of the 20th century and was often regarded with embarrassment by Catholic authorities. However, there has been a recent increase in attention given to the devil and demonic possession, with priests fielding more requests than ever for help with demonic possession.
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