In some religions, anexorcist (from the Greek „ἐξορκιστής“) is a person who is believed to be able tocast out thedevil or performs the ridding ofdemons or other supernatural beings who are alleged to havepossessed a person, or (sometimes) a building or object. An exorcist can be a specially prepared or instructed person including:priest, anun, amonk, awitch doctor (healer), ashaman, apsychic or ageomancer (Feng shui - Chinese geomancy).
In Christianity,exorcisms are a rite used to cast out demons fromindividuals deemed possessed. In training exorcists,ecumenical collaboration between Christians of various traditions, such as the Roman Catholic, the Lutheran and the Anglican denominations has occurred, as with a May 2019 exorcists' conference in Rome.[1]
In a Roman Catholic context,exorcist may refer to a cleric who has been ordained into theminor order of exorcist, or a priest who has been mandated to perform the rite ofsolemn exorcism.
Since at least the third century, theLatin Church has formally ordained men to the minor order of exorcist. Text previously attributed to a fourthCouncil of Carthage (398), now identified as a collection calledStatuta Ecclesiæ Antiqua, prescribes in its seventh canon the rite of ordination of such an exorcist: the bishop is to give him the book containing the formulae of exorcism, saying, "Receive, and commit to memory, and possess the power of imposing hands onenergumens, whether baptized orcatechumens".[2]
These exorcists routinely performed ceremonies over adults and infants preparatory to baptism. Authors such asEusebius (3rd century) andAugustine (4th century) provide details of theseminor exorcisms: Eusebius mentions the imposition of hands and prayer.[3] Augustine noted that rites of exorcism by exsufflation (breathing upon the candidate) were also performed for thebaptism of infants.[4]
The office of Exorcist was not a part of the sacrament ofHoly Orders but as asacramental was instead first conferred on those who had the special charism to perform its duties and later to those studying for thepriesthood.[5] As a minor order, exorcists wore thesurplice.
In 1972, the minor orders were reformed; men preparing to be ordained asCatholic priests ordeacons would no longer receive the minor order of exorcist; the minor orders oflector andacolyte were retained, but redesignated asministries. It was left open to the Catholic bishops of individual countries to petition the Vatican to establish aministry of exorcist if it seemed useful in that nation.[6]
The rite of conferral continues in societies that use the 1962 (or earlier) form of theRoman Rite, such as thePriestly Fraternity of St Peter,Society of St. Pius X, and also among groups not in communion with the current bishop of Rome, such as theSociety of St Pius V. Some believe[who?] that attainment of the position of Acolyte in post-Council practices implies ordination to the minor orders which used to be below it, such as Exorcist and Porter, although this has not been officially defined (although Canon Law section 1009 does specifically state that the only "orders are the episcopate, the priesthood and the diaconate").
The Eastern Churches did not establish a minor order of exorcist, but simply recognised the calling of lay or ordained members of the faithful who had the appropriatespiritual gifts.[2] In principle, every Christian has the power to command demons and drive them out in the name of Christ.[7]
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that: "Jesus performed exorcisms and from him the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing".[8] The 1917 Code of Canon Law[9] explicitly stated that the solemn exorcism of a person believed to bepossessed may only be performed with the express authorisation of the local bishop or equivalent; "this permission is only to be given to priests of the highest repute". The revised 1983 Code of Canon Law similarly stated that the bishop is "to give this permission only to apresbyter who has piety, knowledge, prudence, and integrity of life."[10]
The Catholic Church'sRite of Exorcism was revised in 1999. Paragraph 13 of its introduction states that a priest can be appointed by the local Bishop either for a single act of exorcism, or to the permanent position of 'exorcist'. The Rite then specifies that whenever it uses the wordexorcist without qualification, it indicates a priest mandated in this way.
Among notable exorcists,Gabriele Amorth served as chief exorcist of theDiocese of Rome; he was the founder of theInternational Association of Exorcists.
American exorcists whom have been featured onpodcasts include Fr. Carlos Martins andFr. Vincent Lampert. Fr. Carlos Martins stated that “1 confession is more powerful than 1,000 exorcisms”[11] and Fr. Vincent Lampert also stated that only 1 out of every 5,000 inquiries for those seeking an exorcism were an actual case of demonic possession.[12]
InLutheranism, exorcists practice the "extensive ministry of casting out evil spirits ... in the name of Christ."[13] InMadagascar, where theMalagasy Lutheran Church has territorial jurisdiction, the demand forexorcisms is quite high and pastors from sister Lutheran Churches, such as theLutheran Church–Missouri Synod have brought the education they gleaned while training in Madagascar back to the United States.[13]
In theChurch of England,mother Church of theAnglican Communion, every diocese has an exorcist.[14]
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Beliefs and practices pertaining to the practice of exorcism are prominently connected with the ancient Dravidians in the south. Of the fourVedas (holy books of the Hindus), theAtharva Veda is said to contain the secrets related to magic and medicine. Many of the rituals described in this book are for casting out demons and evil spirits.[16] These beliefs are particularly strong and practiced inWest Bengal,Odisha and southern states likeKerala.
Vaishnava traditions also employ a recitation of names of LordNarasimha and reading scriptures (notablyBhagavata Purana) aloud.[citation needed] According toGita Mahatmya ofPadma Purana, reading the 3rd, 7th and 8th chapter ofBhagavad Gita and mentally offering the result to departed persons helps them to get released from their ghostly situation.Kirtan, continuous playing of mantras, keeping scriptures and holy pictures of the deities (Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Shakti etc. but especially of Narasimha) in the house, burning incense offered during apuja, sprinkling water from holy rivers, and blowing conches used inpuja are other effective practices.[citation needed]
Main Puranic resource on ghost- and death-related information isGaruda Purana.[17]
Yet we have seen that Johannes Nider and Heinrich Kramer found nothing wrong with the performance of exorcism by laypeople, as long as they did not usurp the clerical rite, which included some prayers only a priest could pronounce. Every Christian, Nider reminded his readers, had the power to command demons and drive them out in the name of Christ, but lay exorcists should be extremely careful not to use unknown characters and charms, and should be aware that the only mode to adjure demons is the imperative and never the supplicative.
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