The rise in paganism, which includes (but is not limited to) belief in pre-Christian and post-Christian worship, probably has a lot to do with it. Playing with non-Christian practices such as divination, mediumship, ouija boards, new age cults, etc., holds a lot of dangers, I think.
The old pre-Vatican II Baptism rite included a minor exorcism. This originated, I’m told, in the early Church, when converts from pagan religions were presumed to be at risk of having lingering demonic links. The early Church fathers believed (as did the Jews) that the pagan religions were “false” not in that the deities they worshipped did not exist, but that they worshipped demons - unclean spirits - who masqueraded as shining pagan gods and drew their followers into sinful practices and perdition. It was felt that such fallen angels would not easily give up their hold on those who had worshipped them, so the Baptism rite included a forceful cleansing of such demonic presences from the individual:
This was in Part III of the old Baptismal rite, which was conducted in the Nave. (I was baptized this way, back in 1958) :
Priest: I exorcise thee, every unclean spirit, in the name of God the Father + Almighty, in the name of Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord and Judge, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit, that thou be depart from this creature of God N, which our Lord hath deigned to call unto His holy temple, that it may be made the temple of the living God, and that the Holy Spirit may dwell therein. Through the same Christ our Lord, who shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire. (
Priest: Exorcizo te, omnis spiritus immunde, in nomine Dei + Patris omnipotentis, et in nomine Iesu + Christi Filii eius, Domini et Iudicis nostri, et in virtute Spiritus + Sancti, ut discedas ab hoc plasmate Dei N, quod Dominus noster ad templum sanctum suum vocare dignatus est, ut fiat templum Dei vivi, et Spiritus Sanctus habitet in eo. Per eundum Christum Dominum nostrum, qui venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos, et saeculum per ignem.)
Adults or Godparents of a child were then asked:
Priest: N., do you renounce Satan?
Priest: N., abrenuntias Satanæ?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Abrenuntio.
Priest: And all of his works?
Priest: Et omnibus operibus eius?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Abrenuntio.
Priest: And all his pomps?
Priest: Et omnibus pompis eius?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him.
- Sponsor/Catechumen: Abrenuntio.*
I’ve heard that parents can still request that rite, but I’m not sure. An adult entering the Catholic faith who has not been previously baptized in a Christian rite, and who has been involved in pagan or neo-pagan practices, would probably benefit from such an older rite of baptism, if his priest felt it was appropriate and was willing to perform it. Just my personal opinion on that.
As far as the “Force” involved, I would say it is that of our Enemy.
Why it is more common? My personal opinion is that paganism is becoming the dominant force in the world, masquerading under the new cover of secularism. The key feature of paganism in the ancient world is that it was inextricably linked with worship of the state, as each country, region, city, and locality had its own (false) gods, who demanded appeasement and worship through acts such as sacrifice of the young and immoral sexual practices. Support of the demonic entities by worshippers also supported the rulers, who were also often awarded the status of gods themselves, and worthy of worship. The concepts of the proper delineation of authority between man and God was unknown in the world (and would have been considered both blasphemous and treasonous) until Christ introduced the idea. The worship of the state, and the idea that the state (or the individual’s moral compass) is the sole moral authority, is becoming much more common and is the new paradigm by which many people view the basis of morality, so why should we be surprised that the rebirth of paganism is accompanied by an increase in such phenomena?
