Fascinating article: US bishops publish English-language translation of exorcism ritual

[Spyridon]

Is this what you got in mind?

Acts 19:13-20

Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit said to them in reply, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leapt on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded. 17 When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. 18 Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices. 19 A number of those who practised magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

 

[FrDavid96]

That is sort of what I mean.

I think the lesson in that story is that the ones attempting exorcism were un-baptized. They did not “know” Christ, then only knew that someone named Paul was speaking about someone named Jesus.

In principle, though, this is what I mean. When people mess around with evil spirits, they need to know what they’re doing. The temptation to “play exorcist” is too much for some.

It’s one thing to dress up in a hat and boots and 6-shooter and “play” at being a cowboy for a while in some suburban backyard. It’s quite another thing to try riding a real live bull without any training or preparation.

 

[TK421]

I’m not sure how many people that have a reckless fascination with the supernatural and already don’t defer to the proper people are going to be bothered to find an approved book before they start doing whatever it is they want to do, but I guess it’s a big world out there.

 

[FrDavid96]

I’m not sure how many people that are fascinated with the supernatural and already don’t defer to the proper people are going to go through the trouble to find an approved book before they start doing whatever they do , but I guess it’s a big world out there.

Of course, using the book reserved for appointed exorcists is one thing; using the book approved for the laity another.

As far as the restricted book goes, yes, it is indeed a big world; more to the point, a big internet.

I’m sure that the restricted rites will appear on the internet soon–if they haven’t already.

The internet has also made it much easier to find restricted books. Imagine 30 years ago walking into a bookstore and asking the clerk to special order books on exorcisms. The social taboos were enough to keep most people from doing that. Online ordering now means that people can purchase texts that would have been much more difficult in the past.

Not so long ago, a Catholic bookstore would not have sold a “Rite of Exorcism” to just anyone who walked in the door. The internet has changed all that.

 

[TK421]

That should of never been done. Another failure of francis

I don’t have the world-renowned list of credentials that you have to decide what is or isn’t a failure from the Pope, but his name is a proper noun. Showing a modicum of decency isn’t very difficult.

 

[poche]

I remember hearing something some years ago. There was a house in a neighboring parish that was having some kind of demonic manifestations. I don’t know what. They called the priest. He came and prayed with the family and sprinkled holy water. The demonic manifestations continued. He returned again and brought a book from which he prayed in Latin and sprinkled more holy water about. The demonic manifestations continued. This time he called his uncle, who was a priest in another country and had some experience with exorcisms. His uncle said, “Have the family say the rosary.” He did and they did (They pray the rosary every day) No more demonic manifestations.