Michael Brooks
Exorcism is a ritual performed by a Catholic priest to expel the devil from a person, place or thing. The Catholic Church defines exorcism as the act of driving out, or warding off, demons or evil spirits, from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice. The Church revised the Rite of Exorcism in 1999, and the ritual is to be performed in an oratory or another appropriate place, with only a few people present. A crucifix and an image of the Virgin Mary should be prominent. The person subjected to the exorcism may be restrained to prevent them from harming themselves or others. The exorcist then prays and commands the demons to retreat. The Catholic priest recites prayers such as the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who performs the exorcism | A Catholic priest |
| Who can authorise an exorcism | Ordained priest or higher prelate |
| Who can approve an exorcism | Local bishop |
| Requirements for approval | Medical examination to rule out mental illness and personality disorders |
| Who can be possessed | Anyone |
| Symptoms of possession | Speaking or understanding languages the person has never learned, physical strength beyond the person's natural physical makeup, violent aversion to religious symbols and rituals |
| What happens during an exorcism | The person may be restrained to prevent harm to self or others, the priest recites prayers, uses a cross and holy water, follows procedures in the Roman Ritual of Exorcism |
| Where is it performed | In an oratory (a small chapel) or another appropriate place, with only a few people present |
| What is the success rate | 1% to 5% of cases |
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What You'll Learn
- The person is restrained to prevent harm to themselves or others
- The exorcist prays and commands demons to leave
- The exorcist recites the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary and Athanasian Creed
- Medical evaluation to rule out mental or physical illness
- The exorcism is performed in an oratory or other appropriate place
The person is restrained to prevent harm to themselves or others
The Catholic Church considers demonic possession to be an extremely rare phenomenon, and most reported cases are not seen as requiring an exorcism. In the rare instances where the Church does decide that a person is possessed and in need of exorcism, the person may be restrained to prevent harm to themselves or others. This is because the person may enter a trance and have to be dragged like a dead weight, or they may become violent and pose a danger to those around them. In such cases, it is also a good idea to have some of the persons who assist with the prayer intervene to keep the demoniac still.
The exorcism ritual is to be performed in an oratory (a small chapel) or another appropriate place, with only a few people present. A crucifix and an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary should be prominent. The exorcist does not establish a particular formation during the rite; the ritual manual does not specify anything on this matter. It is only necessary that they begin with the words "Ecce crucem Domini" ("behold the cross of the Lord"), while they place a strip of their stole on the neck of the person being exorcised.
The exorcist then prays and commands the demons possessing the subject to retreat. The Catholic priest recites certain prayers: the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed. Exorcists use a cross and holy water and follow procedures listed in the Roman Ritual of the exorcism. Seasoned exorcists use the Rituale Romanum as a starting point, not always following the prescribed formula exactly.
Before an exorcism is performed, the person claiming to be possessed must be evaluated by doctors to rule out mental or physical illness. The subject will undergo a medical examination to determine if their symptoms can be attributed to a physical or mental disorder. The priest may consult a Church-approved expert on the paranormal for additional input, and another possibility that must be considered is fraud. If the priest is convinced of the validity of the possession, he will report back to his supervisor (usually the diocesan bishop) and request permission to perform an exorcism.
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The exorcist prays and commands demons to leave
Exorcisms are rare in the Catholic Church, with most reported cases not requiring an exorcism. The Church views exorcism as a ritual performed by a Catholic priest to expel the devil from a person, place, or thing. The person being subjected to the exorcism may be restrained to prevent them from harming themselves or others. The exorcist then begins the process of commanding the demons to leave the subject. This involves prayer and the recitation of specific texts. The exorcist might use the traditional Rite of Exorcism in Ecclesiastical Latin, as outlined in the Roman Ritual of Exorcism, revised by the Vatican in 1999.
Seasoned exorcists may use the Rituale Romanum as a starting point, but they do not always follow the prescribed formula exactly. The exorcist might also use the Order of Saint Benedict's formula, "Vade retro satana" ("Step back, Satan"), which is inscribed on the Saint Benedict Medal. The exorcist may also recite the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed. The exorcist is also likely to use a cross and holy water.
The exorcism ritual is to be performed in an oratory (a small chapel) or another appropriate place, with only a few people present. A crucifix and an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary should be prominent. The exorcist does not establish a particular formation during the rite; the ritual manual does not specify anything on this matter. It is only necessary that the exorcist begins with the words, "Ecce crucem Domini" ("behold the cross of the Lord"), while placing a strip of his stole on the neck of the person being exorcised.
The exorcism ritual can be a lengthy process, with several sessions required. The person being exorcised may experience a “kind of release of guilt and feel [ing] reborn and freed of sin" afterwards.
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The exorcist recites the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary and Athanasian Creed
The Catholic Church authorises the use of exorcism for Christians believed to be victims of demonic possession. The Church views exorcism as a sacramental but not a sacrament, unlike baptism or confession. 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".
The exorcism ritual involves the exorcist commanding the demons to retreat and reciting prayers such as the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed. The Lord's Prayer is also viewed as a small-scale exorcism procedure, as the ending contains the words "deliver us from evil". The exorcist also uses a cross and holy water and follows the procedures listed in the Roman Ritual of Exorcism. The exorcist may also breathe on the person's face (exsufflation), reaffirming the power of the Holy Spirit.
The exorcism ritual is governed by the Vatican document De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam. The Vatican offers a course on exorcism, which was opened to members of other Christian denominations in 2019. According to the Vatican's guidelines, the person claiming to be possessed must be evaluated by doctors to rule out mental or physical illness. Exorcisms should not be performed in isolation, and the afflicted person should not be left alone with the exorcist.
The demand for exorcisms has increased globally, with the International Association of Exorcists describing the increase as a "pastoral emergency" in 2018. However, Catholic officials maintain that genuine demonic possession is extremely rare and can be confused with mental illness.
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Medical evaluation to rule out mental or physical illness
According to the Vatican's guidelines issued in 1999, a medical evaluation is required to rule out mental or physical illness before performing a Catholic exorcism. This evaluation is carried out by doctors and psychiatrists to ensure that the person claiming to be possessed does not have a mental or physical illness that could be causing their symptoms. The Catholic Church regards genuine demonic possession as an extremely rare phenomenon, and most reported cases are not considered to require an exorcism.
The medical evaluation process typically involves counseling and testing by psychiatrists and other medical professionals. They assess the individual for any underlying mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, or medication issues. This evaluation is crucial because actual possession is rare, and in most cases, individuals may be experiencing psychological or physiological ailments that require medical or spiritual intervention rather than exorcism.
The medical professionals involved will determine if traditional medical treatments are insufficient to address the individual's condition. They will also assess if the person is mentally and physically healthy enough to undergo an exorcism, ensuring that the ritual will not cause harm to the individual. This evaluation process is designed to be thorough and cautious, with the well-being of the individual as a priority.
In addition to medical evaluations, Catholic exorcists work closely with a team of counselors, doctors, and prayer volunteers. They carefully filter out self-reported cases of demonic possession, often finding that oppression or possession is much rarer than initially believed. This collaborative approach ensures that individuals receive the most appropriate form of assistance, whether it be spiritual, medical, or psychological intervention.
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The exorcism is performed in an oratory or other appropriate place
The exorcism ritual, whenever possible, is performed in an oratory (a small chapel) or another appropriate place with only a few people present. A crucifix and an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary should be prominent. The exorcist does not establish a particular formation during the rite; the ritual manual does not specify anything on this matter. The exorcist may be to the right, left, standing, or seated. It is only necessary that they begin with the words "Ecce crucem Domini" ("behold the cross of the Lord") while placing a strip of the stole on the neck of the person being exorcised.
The person being exorcised may be restrained so that they do not harm themselves or anyone else present. The exorcist then prays and commands the demons to retreat. The Catholic priest recites prayers such as the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed. Exorcists use a cross and holy water and follow the procedures listed in the Roman Ritual of Exorcism revised by the Vatican in 1999. Seasoned exorcists may use the Rituale Romanum as a starting point, not always following the prescribed formula exactly.
The exorcism ritual can be performed only by an ordained priest (or higher prelate) with the express permission of the local bishop. This is per the Canon law of the Church. Before the exorcism, a careful medical examination must be conducted to rule out the possibility of mental illness and personality disorders. According to the Vatican's guidelines issued in 1999, "the person who claims to be possessed must be evaluated by doctors to rule out a mental or physical illness." Most reported cases are not seen as requiring an exorcism because twentieth-century Catholic officials regarded genuine demonic possession as an extremely rare phenomenon that is easily confused with mental illness.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church defines exorcism as "the act of driving out, or warding off, demons or evil spirits, from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice." The process starts with counselling and testing by psychiatrists and other professionals. If the medical professionals agree that an exorcism will not hurt the person and that traditional medical treatments will not be effective, the exorcist determines if the person is spiritually ready for an exorcism and has their consent. The exorcism is then performed by a priest, who recites prayers like the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed, and uses a cross and holy water.
According to the Vatican's guidelines issued in 1999, the person who claims to be possessed must be evaluated by doctors to rule out a mental or physical illness. The exorcism can only be performed by an ordained priest with the express permission of the local bishop.
There are several types of exorcism in the spiritual practice of the Roman Catholic Church:
- Baptismal exorcism: blessing an infant before baptism to cleanse it of evil resulting from original sin.
- Simple exorcism: blessing a place or thing to rid it of demonic influence.
- Real exorcism: performing the Rite of Exorcism to rid a human being of diabolical possession.
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