what_is_an_exorcism

8/7/2019 What_is_an_Exorcism

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Among her sacramentals, the Catholic Church, in obedience to

the Lords Prayer, already in ancient times mercifully provided that

through pious prayers her people may ask God to liberate the

faithful from all dangers and especially from the snares of the

Devil. In a truly unique way, exorcists were established in the

Church who, in imitation of Christ, could cure those obsessed by

the Evil One, even by commanding demons in the name of God, so

that they might depart, lest for whatever reason they do further

harm to human creatures.

-Congregation for Divine Worship &

Discipline of the Sacraments.

De Exorcismis/Rite of Exorcism -

November 22, 1998


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What is an Exorcism?Rev. Benjamin P. Bradshaw

The public and authoritative act of the Church to protect or liberate aperson or object from the power of the devil (e.g. demonic possession) in the

name of Christ (#1673). A simple exorcism prayer in preparation forbaptism invokes Gods help in overcoming the power of Satan and the spirit

of Evil.- Definition of Exorcism according to the Catechism of the Catholic

Church

I.) What is an Exorcism?

Jesus said, In my name they will cast out demons (Mk 16:17). The word

exorcism is derived from the Greekexorkizo, meaning to bind with an oath,or to make a demand (The Rite, Matt Baglio, Doubleday, 2009, 5).Performing exorcisms was central to the ministry of Our Lord during his

time on earth. The Church, following the example and directives of Christ,has always believed in and fought the power of Satan in this world, by

performing good deeds, baptizing the faithful, administering the sacraments,dying for our faith (martyrs), and speaking truth to power, as is sometimes

needed in our culture. The Gospel of St. Matthew tells us:

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority overunclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every

sickness (Mt.10:1).

Likewise, the Church has always taught the efficacy and power of exorcismsin overcoming the temporary power of Satan in this world:

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Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the EvilOne and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism. Jesus

performed many exorcisms and from him the Church has received thepower and office of exorcising (Mk 1:25-26; 3:15; 6:7; 13; 16:17). In a

simple form, exorcism is performed at the celebration of Baptism. Thesolemn exorcism, called a major exorcism, can be performed only by a

priest and with the permission of the bishop. The priest must proceedwith prudence, strictly observing the rules established by the Church.

Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from


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demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrustedto his Church. Illness, especially psychological illness, is a very different

matter; treating this is the concern of medical science. Therefore, beforean exorcism is performed, it is important to ascertain that one is dealing

with the presence of the Evil One, and not an illness (CCC#1673).

The Catholic Church is quick to point out that in the vast majority of casesone may not actually be suffering from diabolical activity, but rather

psychological or physiological problems/illnesses. For this reason, prior toperforming a formal exorcism, a priest must have consulted widely with

psychological professionals (who are at times present during exorcismsthemselves), and the cause of the problem within the person must have been

deemed beyond the scope of medical assistance. Quite frequently, one mayassume that they are afflicted by diabolical activity, though in reality, it is

quite possible that ones own poor choices and lifes inconvenient events(losing a job, marriage difficulties, etc.) will lead one to assume that evil

manifestations exist where they may not.

Our Lord tells us in the Gospel of Mark: And these signs will accompany

those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons (Mk.16:17).Over the centuries that Church has understood this role to seek the full

spiritual healing of the afflicted individual, thus the actual order of exorcistwas established. In the third century, Pope Cornelius mentions in a letter to

one of the early churches that at the time, in the city of Rome, there were

over fifty-two exorcists. During the fourth century, further steps were takento give authority to the local bishops to give authority to certain holy priests

to undertake the office of exorcist. During this century as well the Councilof Laodicea (363-363 AD, Asia Minor) established a canon prohibiting all

individuals from performing an exorcism unless appointed by their bishop(The Rite, Baglio, 73).

II.) Two Extremes to Avoid:

According to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, we musttake care then to avoid two extremes: 1.) Perceiving the presence of the

Devil in everything and maintaining a borderline paranoia with regards tothe reality of the demonic. 2.) Ignoring or denying altogether the reality of

Satan and the demons and the reality of the spiritual warfare that every

Christian faces to some degree each day (Christian Faith & Demonology,

C.D.F., July 10, 1975, Franjo Cardinal Seper). For instance, quite often inparishes wherein the level of catechesis is very minimal and often in third

world cultures, people can be found who live lives of great fear regarding


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the presence of the Devil, living in constant fear of his attacks on theirfamilies and lives. Likewise, quite often among the Western cultures,

various university settings (and frequently among Catholic universities),and among many Catholic clergy worldwide, the reality of the demonic is

altogether denied and perceived of as foolish, outdated, or simply naive.On July 16, 2009, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, the Cardinal

archbishop of Mexico City, gave a talk to the exorcists of Mexico and madenote of these two extremes to avoid. He accentuated that fact that we must

never fall into the trap of denying the existence of Satan:

The existence of the devil must be taken as fact, without exaggerating orminimizing his actions out of skepticism or credulity taken to the

extreme. Skepticism leads many to deny the existence of the devil anddismiss his actions as psychological, socio-cultural or paranormal

phenomena. Others, out of extreme gullibility, see the devil everywhereand grant him supernatural powers as if he were GodThere has been a

hard battle against the powers of darkness, which began at the origins of

the world and will endure until the last day, according to what the Lord

has said (Catholic News Agency, July 17, 2009).

In 1975, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under Pope Paul VI,

noted:

People are asking whether there should not be a revision of doctrine on

this point [regarding Satan]Some critics, believing that they can defineJesus own position, claim that none of his words guarantees demonic

realityThe existence of demonic reality, they say, no longer has a callon our faith today, and we are free to reject itFor still others, the idea

of Satan, whatever its origin may have been, has lost its importance. Ifwe were to continue to insist on it, our teaching would lose all

credibilityFor all the above, finally, the names of Satan and of the devilare only mythical or functional personifications, the significance of

which is solely to underline the dramatic fashion the hold which evil andsin have on mankind (Cardinal Franjo Seper, Christian Faith and

Demonology, July 10, 1975, p.7-8).

The C.D.F. goes on to accentuate that such an understanding and foolhardydenial of the reality of Satanic activity places one outside the realm of


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authentic Catholic doctrine and the teachings of the early Church Fathersand the Councils (p.17-32).

Both of these extremes lead us away from God, the revealed teachings anddoctrine of the Church, and the graces made available to us via the

sacraments and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Satan hates the Mother of Godand flees from her presence. It is for this reason that the saints and the

Church have often suggested to us to make a Consecration to Mary eachday, or at least once a year. Hence following the directives of the Blessed

Virgin Mary at Fatima, Pope John Paul II, along with the worlds bishopsand the orthodox churches, consecrated the world to the Blessed Mother on

the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25), 1984. Pope Pius XII hadpreviously consecrated the world to the Blessed Mother on October 31,

1942. Regarding the pivotal role of Mary in the battle against Satan,Cardinal Rivera Carrera states:

She brings us to Jesus, she protects us and cares for us in this difficult

ministry ... Mary also participates in exorcisms. She herself is an exorcist

and expels the devil through her sanctity (C.N.A.).

It is important to point out that an exorcism is itself not a sacrament, but

rather a sacramental (which lead us to the sacraments). Sacramentalsthemselves do not confer grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the

sacraments do, butthey prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to

cooperate with it (CCC#1670). Examples of sacramentals are rosaries,crosses, statues, holy water, and scapulars. The most important and

powerful of the sacramentals are blessings (homes, articles, food, people).Blessings are sacred because they consecrate the person, articles, etc. to God

(e.g. when a chalice is blessed for a newly ordained priest or theconsecration of a new altar for a church). The blessed article or item should

always be respected and given proper treatment.While the influence of Hollywood and the entertainment media has

greatly deteriorated the level of proper catechesis among the faithful withregards to the Churchs teachings regarding the Devil, the demons, and

exorcisms, such negativity has in no way altered or harmed the ongoingteachings of the Catholic Church with regards to these matters. On the

contrary, quite often when the Catholic Church has been attacked from

external or internal forces she has responded by clarifying her doctrine more

coherently. For instance, almost all of the twenty-one Ecumenical Councilsof the Church, with the exception of the Second Vatican Council, were

called to address heresy, schism, external forces, or aggressive political


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forces. We therefore have the expression: A Council is often convokedwhen it isprovoked! The teachings of the Catholic Church with regards to

demonology and exorcisms are no exception. The last few decades havebrought a much clearer focus of Church doctrine by Popes Paul VI, John

Paul II, and Benedict XVI. In Christian Faith and Demonology, theCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith notes:

Satan, whom Jesus had confronted by his exorcisms, whom he had

encountered in the desert and in his Passion, cannot be the product of thehuman faculty of inventing fables and personifying ideas, nor can he be an

erroneous relic of a primitive cultural language (Franjo Cardinal Seper,July 10, 1975).

Pope Paul VI himself took direct aim at the cultural and theological dangers

of denying the reality of Satan:

There is this terrible, mysterious, and frightening reality of evil and he

who refuses to recognize its [Devil] existencedeparts from the integrity

of biblical and ecclesiastical teaching. Neither exegetes nor theologianscan neglect this caution (Paul VI,LOsservatore Romano, July 13, 1972).

In 1 Peter 5:8-9, St. Peter exhorts the faithful of the Church to stay alert

and be vigilant against the attacks of the Devil: Be sober and vigilant. Your

opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking forsomeone to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in faith. Jesus Himself

addressed Peter with these very words in the Garden of Gethsemane: Hesaid to Peter, So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch

and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but theflesh is weak." (Matthew 26:40-41). This readiness that Our Lord speaks

of and this sobriety which is addressed by the Apostle Peter, brings us backto the old adage: Know Thyself. We should strive to be aware of our own

weaknesses, while simultaneously trusting the Divine Mercy of Our Lord.We should constantly seek out the grace of the sacraments, the teachings of

the faith, and stay focused on the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Motheras our compass and guide. Such a life keeps us sober and vigilant (1

Peter 5:8).

III.) Who Can Be an Exorcist?

According to Canon Law (#1172): No one can legitimately perform

exorcisms over the possessed unless he has obtained special permission from


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the local ordinary [bishop]. The Canon goes on to point out: Suchpermission from the ordinary is to be granted only to a presbyter [priest]

endowed with piety, knowledge, prudence, and integrity of life. Thus, onlya priest with proper experience, holiness, and knowledge of theology should

undertake to perform the exorcism. There have been many instances whenthe demon being possessed has publically acknowledged the sins of the

priest, or the individual attempting the exorcism, in full view of thosepresent. More than this though is the desire of the Church to heal the

individual of the demonic affliction. While there are many instances ofthose who become possessed or oppressed by way of their own fault, such as

involvement in satanic cults, rituals, Ouija boards, necromancy, tarot cards,and New Age activities, it is sometimes the case wherein the person himself

is in no way responsible for demonic presence. An example of this would beparents who offer up their children in satanic rituals. While this is to a

certain decree rare within the United States, Satanic worship is growing at analarming rate in Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is interesting that quite often

Roman Catholic clerics are the first to scoff at possibility of the existence the

Devil and demonic activity. Matt Baglio points out:

While not necessarily rejecting the official teachings of the Church, most

clergymen found [post-Vatican II] the concept of the Devil a slideshowthat no serious-minded priest would lose time consideringThe Devil

had finally convinced the world that he no longer existed (The Rite,

p.36).

While many clerics and theologians within the United States and Europewould find the issue of demons amusing, superstitious, or simply ignore it

altogether, in most Christian cultures worldwide it is simply an assumptionthat they do Spiritual Warfare with demonic powers, following the

injunction by St. Paul himself:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand againstthe wiles of the devil. 12 For we are not contending against flesh and

blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the worldrulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in

the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:11-12).

IV.) The Rite of Exorcism:In the last line of the Our Father we pray, And deliver us from Evil.

During the mass the priest follows up this prayer by saying, Deliver us


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Lord from every evil and grant us peace in our day (Roman Missal). Inpraying the Our Father, we thereby acknowledge both the fundamental

existence of evil forces, though in no way equal to those of Good, and ourown fallen nature which inclines us towards sin as well (concupiscence). Up

until 1972 all clerics received the Minor Orders prior to their ordination tothe priesthood: Rite of Tonsure and Rite of Exorcist. Following the

directives of the Second Vatican Council and the revision of the liturgicalrites, in 1972 Pope Paul VI suppressed the Rites of Tonsure (cutting/shaving

of part of ones hair signifying the entrance into the clerical state) andExorcist (see: Motu Proprio Ministeria Quaedam). At this point the actual

entrance into the clerical state began with the ordination to the deaconate(transitional or permanent). Referring to this, Paul VI notes in the Motu

ProprioAd Pascendum:

Since entrance into the clerical state is deferred until deaconate, there nolonger exists the rite of first tonsure, by which a layman used to become a

cleric. But a new rite is introduced [termed Candidacy] by which one

who aspires to ordination as a deacon or presbyter [priest] publically

manifests his will to offer himself to God and the Church, so that he mayexercise a sacred order.

During the Pontificate of Pope Paul VI nearly all of the liturgical rites were

updated and revised, though always maintaining the same primary structure

as tradition held. The last of these Rites to be updated following the SecondVatican Council was the Rite of Exorcism (January 26, 1998). The current

Rite is officially entitled: Of Exorcisms and Certain Supplications (De

Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam). The last time the Rite of

Exorcism was revised by the Catholic Church was in 1614, thus its currentrevision was carefully examined by the Holy See. The 84-page new Rite is

very similar to the old Rite of Exorcism, with a few minor changes (thoughsome would argue this point). The Exorcist, in addressing the demonic

spirit, reading from the old Rite says:

I command you, unclean spirit

It should be noted that other Christian communities such as Anglicanism,

Lutheranism, Methodism, and Pentecostalism all have certain prayers thatthey often refer to as prayers of exorcism. While these prayers may, in

fact, be prayers which are helpful to the afflicted individual and may be


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minor prayers of deliverance, only a Roman Catholic or Orthodox priest hasthe spiritual power to exorcise a true demonic presence. This is because

only the Catholic and Orthodox Churches maintain Apostolic Successionand thus the valid Holy Orders entrusted to St. Peter and the Apostles by

Jesus Christ Himself. It is wise for those outside of communion withRome/Holy See to recall the story in the Acts of the Apostles wherein some

Jewish rabbis attempted to exorcise demons and were attacked by thedemons because even the demons recognized their lack of spiritual

authority:

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to pronouncethe name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I

adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Seven sons of aJewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit

answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"16

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, mastered all

of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house

naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all residents of

Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all; and thename of the Lord Jesus was extolled (Acts 19:13-17).

In 1985 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) reiterated the fact

that only authorized exorcists may lawfully and legitimately perform and

exorcisms:

It follows, therefore, that no member of the Christian faithful can usethe formula of exorcism against Satan and the fallen angelsand even

less are they able to use the entire text for exorcism. Bishops are tobring this to the attention of the faithful as it is deemed necessary (#2).

Within the old Rite of Exorcism, which an exorcist is still permitted to use

should he wish to do so, some guidelines are clearly laid out for him prior toexorcising the afflicted individual (my paraphrase of each):

1. He should not rely on his own abilities but that of God.2. He should strive to grow in knowledge of the faith and the Churchs

theology by way of sound study and prayer.

3. He should not be too quick to believe that a person is indeedpossessed by the Devil/Demons. He should consult medical experts

first and get the legitimate insights of other professionals.


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4. He should make note of each exorcism in an attempt to learn fromeach in order to gain knowledge and experience.

5. He should make note of the tricks used by the devil in an effort todiscourage the exorcist or make him believe that he (demon) is not

present (often they will remain silent until commanded to speak orreveal their names).

6. He should remind the one to be exorcized that the demon will often goto great lengths to dissuade the individual from proceeding ahead with

the exorcism. Because an exorcist cannot perform an exorcismwithout the individuals permission, this ends the ritual.

7. He should remind the afflicted individual that recourse to sorcerers,necromancers (summoning the dead or sances), tarot cards, palm

readers, etc. is forbidden and sinful in the eyes of God and will onlyintensify the demonic presence.

8. He should recall the words of Our Lord in Matthews Gospel whereinHe notes that this type can only be driven out by prayer and fasting(Mt.17:20). Thus, the exorcist should be vigilant in preparing himself

and the individual through his own prayer and fasting. Likewise he

should remind the individual, inasmuch as is possible, to preparethemselves for the rite by prayer, fasting, and frequent reception of the

sacraments.9. He should lead the afflicted individual to a church or holy shrine, if

possible, to perform the exorcism. If this is not possible, the

exorcism may take place in a private home.10.He should have a crucifix at hand or somewhere in sight. Likewise

relics of the saints and holy/blessed water can be applied reverently tothe afflicted person.

11.He should never fall into senseless chatter with the demon, onlyspeaking to it when necessary and he will bid the unclean spirit to

keep silence and to answer only when asked. Likewise, should thedemon claim to be a good spirit he should give no credence to this

false claim.12.He should ask the devil/demon only the necessary questions:

Number and name of the demons inhabiting the individual? Time and place they entered the individual? Why they entered the individual?

13.He should speak in a clear, confident, and yet humble voice incommanding the demon to depart.


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14.He should pay attention to what words, phrases, prayers, or names inparticular cause pain to the demon (e.g. Virgin Mary, St. Michael the

Archangel).15.He should guard against recommending any medicine to the patient,

but should leave this care to physicians.16.He should never perform an exorcism over a woman while alone with

her. This is both for his protection and for hers as well. Often theEvil One will make appeals to the fallen nature of the exorcist in

attempting to insight lust. Likewise, this guards against falseaccusations and claims against the exorcist. (Statistically most

exorcisms occur with women. There have been many theories putforward as to why this is, though many believe that it is simply that

women are often more disposed to believing in the spiritual realm andthat, just as women are more likely to seek out doctors than men, so

too do are they more likely to seek out exorcists than men). It isrecommended that other members of the individuals family are

present, though this number must be minimal.

17.He should inquire among the person if there are certain temptationsthat persistently afflict him/her.

An exorcist can never improvise an exorcism, as he has no authority to doso; just as a priest has no authority to alter or change the rite of the Holy

Mass. In a document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

dated September 29, 1985, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)reminded the bishops of the Church regarding exorcism:

Bishops are asked to be vigilant that, for even cases in which true

diabolical possession is excluded, diabolical influence nevertheless seemsin some way to be revealed, those who do not have the required faculty not

serve in the leading of meetings [attempted lay exorcisms] where, in orderto gain freedom, prayers are used which dignify demons by directly

questioning them and in searching to make known their identity (Letter tothe Local Ordinaries, #3).

In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI addressed a meeting of the worlds exorcists,

shortly after his election as Roman Pontiff. It was in this year as well that

the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University in Rome began offering a

course entitled, Exorcism and Prayers of Liberation, under the direction ofthe Holy See and Dr. Giuseppe Ferrari, the national secretary for the Group

for Research and Socio-Religious Information, or GRIS). Since its


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inception, the course has been immensely popular, not only by priests,bishops, and seminarians, but also by medical doctors and psychologists

who wish to better grasp the reality and nature of the demonic amonghumanity.

IV.) What are the Signs of Genuine Demonic Possession?

The Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine defines demonic possession as,the tangible proof of the existence of the devil and a visible manifestation

of his power (p.172-173). As mentioned prior, the Church is quick to pointout that true demonic possession is a very rare phenomenon and is easily

simulated by certain pathological states. Just as proper ecclesiasticalauthorities and bishops need to verify and approve of alleged apparitions of

the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints, etc., so too do they need to adequatelyinvestigate alleged possession of the devil within an individual. Inevitably,

many within the Church and among medical professionals diagnose ademonic possession as being simply schizophrenia, epilepsy, hysteria,

paranoia, or manic depression. Likewise, there are those who suffer from

these ailments who misdiagnose their affliction as demonic possession as

well. For this reason, any authentic exorcist will be found working veryclosely with experienced medical professionals.

According to the Rite of Exorcism, there are often certain signs that canaccompany one who is possessed by demons (Exorcism of the Possessed,

#3):

Ability to speak with some facility in a strange tongue or to understandit when spoken by another.

The faculty of divulging the future and hidden events.The display of powers which are beyond the subjects age and natural

condition (e.g. superhuman strength).

Fr. Gabriele Amorth, official exorcist for the Holy See for many years, has

participated in many thousands of exorcisms over the years. He is thefounder of the International Association of Exorcists, is a member of the

Society of St. Paul, and has been a priest since 1954 and an exorcist since1986. Fr. Amorth notes that when he is speaking with someone, or a family

member, who has approached him regarding the possibility of an exorcismhe looks for certain signs as well (An Exorcist: More Stories, Ignatius, 2002,

p.78-82):

Medicine is ineffective: When the person or the family says that allmedical attempts at a cure have been ineffective and that doctors appearto be baffled as to what is the source of the problem.


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Hatred of the Holy: Total aversion of the afflicted person to the sacred,such as crucifixes, the sacraments, the mass, blessings, etc. There have

been numerous stories for instance wherein an exorcist will bless anarticle of clothing given to him by a family member and later when the

individual puts this on there tear it off in disgust without being awarethat the blessing actually took place.

Abnormal Anger: Out-of-character outbursts of rage or uncontrollableanger resulting in sharp violence. While this is certainly seen in people

with psychological illnesses, in very rare instances it can be the result ofdemonic influence. During the actual exorcism itself, Amorth claims

that quite often the person becomes infuriated and there is a clearmovement of the eyes either upward or downward (p.80).

History of the Occult, Satanism, & Addictions: Involvement of theindividual or a parent of the individual in Satanism, black magic, Wicca

witchcraft, the occult, Ouija boards, various New Age movements,sances, or necromancy. Likewise, Fr. Amorth points out that repeated

involvement in drug use and other addictive behavior clearly opens oneup to the attacks of demonic powers as well; largely because the

individual become desensitized to harmful internal and externalinfluences.

Fr. Amorth and other exorcists, such as Fr. Candido Amantini under whom

he trained, have at times referred to the exorcisms as simply blessings

while in the presence or the afflicted individual or the family, so as to notalarm them. Likewise, at times the exorcist may prefer to celebrate the Riteof Exorcism exclusively in Latin, since very few people are familiar with

Latin and this tends to cause less alarm among the family. Fr. Amorth isquick to point out that a good confession, a regular prayer life, regular

reception of the sacraments, devotion to Mary and the teachings of the

Church, and forgiveness of ones enemies from the heart is the bestprotection against the Evil One.

Because of the exaggerated abuses of those seeking exorcisms and, incertain circumstances the misdiagnosis of the exorcists themselves, many

local/regional Councils in the history of the Catholic Church have drawn upguidelines to help provide criteria in evaluating the authenticity of demonic

possession. The following is a list of regional Councils which addressed thisissue:

Council of Elvira (305) Council of Cartagena (398)


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1st Council of Orange (441) 11th Council of Toledo (657) 1st Council of Milan (1565) 4th Council of Milan (1576) Council of Salerno (1596)

V.) Types of Diabolical Activity:

All of the activity of the Devil is prompted and motivated by his hatred of

God. The Devil hates God, he hates the Blessed Mother, and his ultimategoal is the eternal destruction of all of humanity. He hates us because we

are the offspring of Mary: Then the dragon was angry with the woman,

and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the

commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus (Revelation 12:17).Likewise,the Devil hates the fact that God is more powerful than he and that

God Himself became flesh, which he considers to be absolutely unthinkable:For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not

acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the

deceiver and the antichrist (2 John 1:7).Diabolical activity can be divided into two groups: ordinary and

extraordinary. The ordinary activity of the Devil is when he incites a person

to sin and consistently afflicts him/her with temptations. Every human beingof a certain age experiences these ordinary temptations of the Evil One

during their lifetime. Our Lord Himself was tempted by Satan in the desert.

The Catholic Encyclopedia points out, however, that not all temptations arediabolical in origin (p.173). In other words, one can never excuse oneselffrom culpability by claiming, The devil made me do it! Extraordinary

activity is of a more intense and debilitating nature and is further dividedinto three types:

1.)Local Infestation: When the Devil infests an inanimate object, animal,or location in order to do harm or frighten a person. For instance, St.

Faustina Kowalska claimed to have been accosted one night by

several wild dogs who threatened her with death for having savedmany souls from hell (Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska).

2.)Diabolical Obsession: (personal infestation) This occurs when theEvil One focuses much of his attack on an individual human being

(usually one of influence over others). While he operates from theoutside attacking the individual, he can never gain full possession

over the intellect and will of the person unless the person grants himthis faculty. Obsession may manifest itself an extraordinarily strong


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temptation to grave/mortal sin. Many of the saints have experiencedthis form of attack including St. Padre Pio, St. John Vianney, and St.

Gemma Galgani.3.)Diabolical Possession: Full diabolical possession occurs when the

Devil invades a persons body and exerts full control over thefaculties of the individual, manipulating them as one would a

puppet (p.173). The power of the Devil is, however, restricted onlyto the body, as he cannot invade or take control of the soul, intellect,

or will of the person. Because the Devil and the demons are purespirits and are not limited by time and space, as are human beings,

they can invade a human being at the same time or the devil could beacting within several possessed humans all over the world

simultaneously. As was articulated earlier, the Devil has a strongrevulsion for anything sacred and quite often will go to extraordinary

degrees to keep the individual from anything having to do with thepresence of God, the sacraments, or blessed article or locations.

VI.) What and Who are the Targets of the Evil One?

If you want to know what is most sacred to God, we need only look atwhat is most attacked! This oft repeated Christian idiom bares much truth.

It does, however, beg the further question: What is most attacked by theDevil? In addressing our modern culture, the quick answer to this question

may be human sexuality, the sanctity of Christian marriage between a man

and a woman, and the sanctity of human life from a natural conception to anatural death. Because this will be covered in greater detail in our last class

on Spiritual Warfare in the World Today, I will avoid going into great detailin answering this question. Fr. Gabriele Amorth, in his bookAn ExorcistTells His Story, mentions several things that the Devil often targets with his

power (Ignatius, 1999):

Western Consumerism: Money and power takes precedence over thedignity of the human person, other people and our faith. Often this is

seen in a total neglect for the sacraments and the Holy Mass. Profit isheld as the supreme motive of life, even to the neglect and abuse of

the world poor and ones family.Secularism: The total separation of religion into the private sphere

which is therein forgotten about and altogether ignored, or in somecountries even persecuted. The gross acceptance of secularity leads to

relativism, or the belief that there is no objective truth apart from my

opinions or desires, and ultimately to a Culture of Death, wherein one

group of people decides that another group of people are unfit to live


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or are somehow subhuman. We begin solving problems with death,as did Cain with his brother Abel (Gn 4:8).

Witchcraft/Wicca: The proliferation of books, manuals, and readingmaterials on Witchcraft and Wicca in most bookstores should be

alarming to us, yet this is seen more and more as a legitimatelyacceptable faith practice. The Catechism of the Catholic Church

points out that this is a grave/mortal sin against the firstCommandment (CCC# 2110-2117). In his book The Rite, Matt

Baglio notes: According to an American Religious Identity Survey.Wicca grew in America from 8,000 members in 1990 to over 134,000

in 2001(By 2006, that number was said to have risen to more than800,000). Baglio goes on to point that in Italy alone it is estimated

that more than 500,000 people see an exorcist annually (p.6).Because of the dramatic rise in satanic cults in Western Europe within

the last decade this number is in many ways unsurprising. It iscurrently estimated that there are over 8,000 Satanic sects with over

600,000 members in Italy alone (Baglio, 16).

New Age Spiritism: This is often seen when one takes pieces of severalEastern or World religions and constructs their own religion/faith tosuit their own needs. In reality, this is usually a faith based around

their ego. Involvement in New Age faiths is an invitation to demonicactivity, even when done unknowingly (see:Jesus Christ the Bearerof the Water of Life; A Christian Reflection on the New Age,

Pontifical Council for Culture & Pontifical Council for InterreligiousDialogue, 2003).

Refusal to Change/Hardened Heart: Many times in the Gospel, OurLord was disappointed because of the stubbornness of the people.This hardening of the heart is seen a refusal to forgive, a disgust of

the holy, and an adamant refusal to submit to a God higher than

ourselves. This is sometimes manifested in a great cynicism fororganized religion or what is perceived of the institutional church.

Often this leads then to acceptance of blasphemies and a totalrejection of God and the Church itself. This is frequently seen in

academic circles on the University level, and quite often at CatholicUniversities as well.

Association w/Evil Places or Practices: Clearly, continued exposure toevil places (abortion clinics, homes where systematic abuse has

occurred, etc.) or evil practices (sustained drug usage, ongoingexposure to pornography and sexual promiscuity, places of demonic

practices) weakens ones will and allows for much greater


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susceptibility with regards to the attacks of the Evil One. There isgreat spiritual benefit in having ones home, articles, and children

blessed for this reason. Also, the negative influences of theentertainment media would fall under this category. Such places and

practices/habits work to desensitize us to temptations that we wouldnormally recognize and avoid under normal circumstances. More

often than not, the Evil One has worked in controlling humanity byslow, steady, and subtle means rather than immediate and apparently

offensive means.

what_is_an_exorcism

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