Finding an Exorcist

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Exsultet

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(I didn’t know where else to put this, and so forgive me if it’s the wrong place. I put it here because I’d like to know how this is traditionally done. Sorry if that’s a stretch! :p)

Here’s my concern:

There’s some complicated and nuanced issues I would like to discuss with a priest who specializes in discerning extraordinary demonic activity, and I just don’t know where to start. How does one go about finding an exorcist? Does someone out there have some concrete steps that could be taken?
 
Call the Chancery of your Diocese.
But they will expect you to have already discussed this at length with your regular confessor or pastor. You may also have to submit to some psychological testing at some point if you are seeking an actual exorcism.
Best wishes.
 
As Pianistclare has written, you can call the chancery and ask if the diocese has a designated exorcist. The designation is reserved to the Bishop. Beyond that, if the answer is no, the next question would be to ask if one or more of the priests of the diocese had been sent for post graduate studies in the specialisation of mystical and ascetical theology. Beyond that, then to have recourse to the Religious Orders who would classically have backgrounds in this realm.
 
Make an appointment with your parish priest to discuss your cares and concerns. He will be able to advise you and refer you to the next level, if needed.
 
Thank you all very much. I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to help me with this.
 
Exsultet said:
Thank you all very much. I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to help me with this.
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If it is regarding yourself, and you are here of your own volition, then possession is out of the question. If you suspect some lower level of activity, such as demonic oppression, then that is quite another thing. Many experience that in their lifetimes, and there are spiritual exercises and prayers which help. But first and foremost are the Sacraments.
 
po18guy said:
If it is regarding yourself, and you are here of your own volition, then possession is out of the question. If you suspect some lower level of activity, such as demonic oppression, then that is quite another thing. Many experience that in their lifetimes, and there are spiritual exercises and prayers which help. But first and foremost are the Sacraments.
Click to expand...
This was very helpful.
 
Exsultet said:
(I didn’t know where else to put this, and so forgive me if it’s the wrong place. I put it here because I’d like to know how this is traditionally done. Sorry if that’s a stretch! :p)

Here’s my concern:

There’s some complicated and nuanced issues I would like to discuss with a priest who specializes in discerning extraordinary demonic activity, and I just don’t know where to start. How does one go about finding an exorcist? Does someone out there have some concrete steps that could be taken?
Click to expand...
Yes, the Diocese of your area is the best place to start as only a Bishop may give authority to a priest to perform an exorcism and that is of course after a thorough examination of the facts and state of affairs.

Religious provocation before the Church intervenes can be discouraged to a degree. For example, importing more religious objects into the home or constantly blessing things yourself could “increase” the demonic activity. Although, holy water has been known to quell things in these situations. And if you haven’t already, try to identify the possible source of this activity. Was it a Ouija board? Any bizarre rituals performed in the house? Magic spells?
 
In my diocese the procedure for getting help with demonic activity is often to
  1. Talk to your parish priest or confessor
  2. Visit a “healing prayer” room run by the Charismatic Renewal for initial evaluation and to be prayed over.
  3. Referral to an exorcist or priest who can advise.
  4. If directed to an exorcist, a psychological evaluation with a catholic psychologist/counselor is done first.
I have worked in a couple chanceries and we never refer a person directly to an exorcist. It is always “go to your parish priest”.

I am not always a fan of step 2 but it does seem to rid a lot of people of their problems without needing to bother our exorcists who are both very busy pastors with huge congregations and schools under their care.
 
I’m not as knowledgeable as others on this subject, but a couple of thoughts came to mind.

Read about St. Benedict. I only recently became aware of his amazing life and the help he brings by interceding for us. If you google the words: Medal of Saint Benedict by the Order of Saint Benedict (or O.S.B.) you should find helpful info. The properly blessed medals of St. Benedict aren’t magic charms by any means - they become sacramentals. So they don’t simply act like a force field - but the one who “owns” the blessed medal must use it with heart-felt, honest, and respectful desire in asking for St. Benedict to intercede for us and being thankful that the Lord has given us him as a helper. (I hope I said that the right way.)

Although you were suggested to ask your priest, I have a comment on that. A few years ago, I was concerned about a geographic location where it seemed terrible things were befalling people. When I asked my local priest about it and asked him what we as Catholics can do to help when such things might be caused by the devil, I was fairly shocked when he laughed. He didn’t believe the devil had anything to do with people doing awful things. (Seriously, he said that.) So I emailed with a Bishop’s office in another state after reading a post of his that indicated he believes more traditionally that the devil is actively stirring trouble among man. That Bishop’s assistant was WELL versed in the matter (books published and whatnot). I felt so much relief having talked with him. So, if your priest is disinterested in such matters, do know that just like other people some have odd ideas that may not jibe with true church teachings.

I ran across an interview with the famous Catholic exorcist who was the inspiration for the movie. (EDIT: I messed this up a bit - I didn’t mean the real life priest who inspired THAT film - I was remembering an article about a current day priest from California named Father Gary Thomas - and the movie he was “involved” in was called “The Rite.” Fr. Thomas explained in an interview how about 95 people out of 100 who think they need an exorcism really have something else going on. That may be of comfort to you - you likely need less “help” than you fear. Anyway, you may find it beneficial to contact someone like him, and work “backwards.” He may know the person for your locale or can tell you how to go through proper channels. There aren’t that many truly traditionally trained exorcists who do it in the old fashioned way, from what I have read.

Oh, and the old fashioned sort will also put a person through lots of testing first to make sure of the cause of the problem. It isn’t meant as an insult, but is a necessity since this is a serious matter.

Hope this is of some help.

SORRY FOR THE EDITS (twice!) - hope the above didn’t confuse anyone before I fixed it.
 
ReneeLee said:
In my diocese the procedure for getting help with demonic activity is often to
  1. Talk to your parish priest or confessor
  2. Visit a “healing prayer” room run by the Charismatic Renewal for initial evaluation and to be prayed over.
  3. Referral to an exorcist or priest who can advise.
  4. If directed to an exorcist, a psychological evaluation with a catholic psychologist/counselor is done first.
I have worked in a couple chanceries and we never refer a person directly to an exorcist. It is always “go to your parish priest”.

I am not always a fan of step 2 but it does seem to rid a lot of people of their problems without needing to bother our exorcists who are both very busy pastors with huge congregations and schools under their care.
Click to expand...
To the OP.

Yes, this. (1) and (2), if there is one in your parish would be an appropriate initial step.

It does not have to be an exorcist, which is very rare in the country. There is an international exorcist organization - the president is still alive, but another has just passed away a couple of years ago.

There is another suggestion by an earlier poster about ‘oppression’, which is more common and can be confused with ‘possession’. Sacraments, ministry, counselling and prayers may help though not necessarily in that order.

God bless.
 
joyfulink said:
I’m not as knowledgeable as others on this subject, but a couple of thoughts came to mind.

Read about St. Benedict. I only recently became aware of his amazing life and the help he brings by interceding for us. If you google the words: Medal of Saint Benedict by the Order of Saint Benedict (or O.S.B.) you should find helpful info. The properly blessed medals of St. Benedict aren’t magic charms by any means - they become sacramentals. So they don’t simply act like a force field - but the one who “owns” the blessed medal must use it with heart-felt, honest, and respectful desire in asking for St. Benedict to intercede for us and being thankful that the Lord has given us him as a helper. (I hope I said that the right way.)

Although you were suggested to ask your priest, I have a comment on that. A few years ago, I was concerned about a geographic location where it seemed terrible things were befalling people. When I asked my local priest about it and asked him what we as Catholics can do to help when such things might be caused by the devil, I was fairly shocked when he laughed. He didn’t believe the devil had anything to do with people doing awful things. (Seriously, he said that.) So I emailed with a Bishop’s office in another state after reading a post of his that indicated he believes more traditionally that the devil is actively stirring trouble among man. That Bishop’s assistant was WELL versed in the matter (books published and whatnot). I felt so much relief having talked with him. So, if your priest is disinterested in such matters, do know that just like other people some have odd ideas that may not jibe with true church teachings.

I ran across an interview with the famous Catholic exorcist who was the inspiration for the movie. (EDIT: I messed this up a bit - I didn’t mean the real life priest who inspired THAT film - I was remembering an article about a current day priest from California named Father Gary Thomas - and the movie he was “involved” in was called “The Rite.” Fr. Thomas explained in an interview how about 95 people out of 100 who think they need an exorcism really have something else going on. That may be of comfort to you - you likely need less “help” than you fear. Anyway, you may find it beneficial to contact someone like him, and work “backwards.” He may know the person for your locale or can tell you how to go through proper channels. There aren’t that many truly traditionally trained exorcists who do it in the old fashioned way, from what I have read.

Oh, and the old fashioned sort will also put a person through lots of testing first to make sure of the cause of the problem. It isn’t meant as an insult, but is a necessity since this is a serious matter.

Hope this is of some help.

SORRY FOR THE EDITS (twice!) - hope the above didn’t confuse anyone before I fixed it.
Click to expand...
There is a difference between owning a sacramental like a St. Benedict medal, and actually trying to employ its use against such activity. Depending on the strength of the entity, sometimes religious provocation only makes things that much more worse.

Talking to your priest is the most correct, first step.
 
Thank you all for taking the time to respond.

I appreciate all of the advice on how to combat the demonic, but what I’m really looking for is discernment from a specialist. I have some old questions that need addressing and many other things as well. The main issue here is that former occultists carry baggage, and there’s very few options available to such people from a pastoral perspective. Your average priest will tell you to either ignore this, to recite some prayers, to continue living a sacramental life, or else to receive the anointing of the sick. I agree, but there’s more to it than that sometimes. There are those who have a heightened level of demonic activity surrounding them, and they need specialized help. Furthermore, possession is only really and truly and completely revealed in an exorcism. Other signs can point to it, but the exorcism reveals it.

Insofar as healing prayer and charismatics: if I can be so bold, I am extremely hesitant about that sort of thing. I have it on very good authority that that can actually be more damaging than anything else, but I won’t go into all of that. It’s a complicated area, and most people won’t agree on this. Suffice it to say I’m absolutely not going to a lay person to recite prayers over me or, worse yet, to try to command any evil spirits that might be influencing me. I consider that extremely foolish and, yes, it is known as a source of possession in one or two of those very few actual possession cases.
 
Exsultet said:
Thank you all for taking the time to respond.

I appreciate all of the advice on how to combat the demonic, but what I’m really looking for is discernment from a specialist. I have some old questions that need addressing and many other things as well. The main issue here is that former occultists carry baggage, and there’s very few options available to such people from a pastoral perspective. Your average priest will tell you to either ignore this, to recite some prayers, to continue living a sacramental life, or else to receive the anointing of the sick. I agree, but there’s more to it than that sometimes. There are those who have a heightened level of demonic activity surrounding them, and they need specialized help. Furthermore, possession is only really and truly and completely revealed in an exorcism. Other signs can point to it, but the exorcism reveals it.

Insofar as healing prayer and charismatics: if I can be so bold, I am extremely hesitant about that sort of thing. I have it on very good authority that that can actually be more damaging than anything else, but I won’t go into all of that. It’s a complicated area, and most people won’t agree on this. Suffice it to say I’m absolutely not going to a lay person to recite prayers over me or, worse yet, to try to command any evil spirits that might be influencing me. I consider that extremely foolish and, yes, it is known as a source of possession in one or two of those very few actual possession cases.
Click to expand...
I agree with you about seeking discernment. I think that is a wise move now. You seem to be knowledgeable and know what you want.

All the best and may God bless you.
 
Exsultet said:
(I didn’t know where else to put this, and so forgive me if it’s the wrong place. I put it here because I’d like to know how this is traditionally done. Sorry if that’s a stretch! :p)

Here’s my concern:

There’s some complicated and nuanced issues I would like to discuss with a priest who specializes in discerning extraordinary demonic activity, and I just don’t know where to start. How does one go about finding an exorcist? Does someone out there have some concrete steps that could be taken?
Click to expand...
Step 1: talk to your pastor

Step 2 if still unresolved call your Diocese OFFICE and ask whom you should talk too

BUT know that Satan DOES EXIST, and when we choose to sin we have “Satan within us”

PRAY MUCH

God Bless you

Partick
 
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