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MLfS111
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What is the difference in the wording between the old and new exorcism rites?
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RuthByzCat3
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I don’t know, but a History Channel documentary about exorcism called the Eucharist “the symbolic representation of Christ” or something to that effect (I am sure that “symbolic,” “representation,” and “Christ” were in there somewhere. So we formed this group:
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Joe_Kelley
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I don’t know the wording of either rite. However, I have seen comments by some exorcists I respect that indicate that they think/find the new rite less effective.What is the difference in the wording between the old and new exorcism rites?
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Iotaunum
Guest
The 1614 Exorcism Rite (De exorcizandis obsessis a daemonio in the Rituale Romanum) was revised in 1999 (De exorcismis et supplicationibus quibusdam, as it is now known). Many traditional Catholics feel that the rite has been “watered down” so to speak, while other Catholics maintain that it is the same in its essentials. Even if we accept this, the new rite is still criticised by some who have no objections to the new rite of Mass and sacraments etc. Fr. Gabriele Amorth - official exorcist in the diocese of Rome and founder of the International Association of Exorcists has openly criticized the new rite. He claims that the revision of the rite was carried out without the advice* “of a single experienced and practicing exorcist”. *
Fr Amorth also said the new rite is “a farce. An incredible obstacle that is likely to prevent us from acting against the demon.” The new exorcism rite forbids exorcisms on people who are believed to have been subjected to evil spells/curses. Fr Amorth said concerning this: “Absurd! Evil spells are by far the most frequent causes of possessions and evil procured through the demon: at least 90% of cases. It is as good as telling exorcists they can no longer perform exorcisms.”
He called the new rite* “A blunt weapon… Efficacious prayers, prayers that had been in existence for twelve centuries, were suppressed and replaced by new ineffective prayers.” *- (These quotes are from the June 2000 edition of 30 Days magazine)
I haven’t studied the new rite deeply enough to say, with Fr Amorth, that it is a farce, but I do believe that it has been watered down substantially. If someone I knew was truly possessed then I would definitely want the traditional rite of exorcism used. Personally, I do not believe there was any need for change. But since Vatican II, every rite of sacraments, blessings and even the Mass was changed, There was pressure therefore to make the revisions “complete” and leave no rite unrevised. The rite of exorcism was one of the last to be revised.
The new rite gives the exorcist a choice between two forms. This option was not in the traditional rite. The two forms are: the deprecatory and the imperative. The Deprecatory is not an exorcism proper, but merely a prayer or supplication asking God to help the person. The imperative is an exorcism in the traditional sense. It commands, as an authoirty, the demon/devil to depart in the name of God /Jesus Christ. It begins “I adjure you, Satan etc” as in the traditional rite.
Other changes concern the directives for the priest/bishop conducting the exorcism. In the traditional rite there are 21 directives. The directive has been rewritten so that substantially at least 12 directives have been deleted. Following are some examples of deleted directives:
*
“The priest should stay alert for tricks and deceptions that demons use to mislead the exorcist. For they will give false answers as much as possible, and show themselves only with difficulty, in order that the exorcist at length become worn out and give up the exorcism; or the ill person might appear not to be harassed by the devil.”
“Occasionally, after they appear, the demons hide and leave the body almost free of all disturbance, so that the ill person might think he is completely freed. But the exorcist should not stop until he sees the signs of liberation”
“Also relics of Saints, where available, safely and properly fastened and covered, may be reverently applied to the chest or head of the possessed. Care must be taken that the sacred objects are not improperly handled or harmed in any way by the demon. Because of danger of irreverence, the Holy Eucharist should not be placed upon the head of the possessed person or elsewhere on his body.”
“The exorcist should not engage in a great deal of talking or ask unnecessary or curious questions, especially concerning future or secret matters not pertaining to his task. But he should command the unclean spirit to be silent, except to answer his questions. Nor should he believe the demon if he pretends to be the soul of some Saint or deceased person or a good Angel.”
“If he is exorcising a woman, he should always have persons of integrity with him to hold the possessed person while she is agitated by the demon. These people should be close relatives of the suffering woman if possible. Mindful of decency, the exorcist should be careful not to say or do anything which could be an occasion of an evil thought to himself or the others.”* etc.
The Athanasian creed was also dropped in the revised rite. The Apostles /Nicene creeds remain however this means that the Athanasian creed is no longer used in any of the revised ceremonies of the Church.
The traditional rite incorporated Pope Leo XIII’s long prayer to St Michael for the exorcism of things and places etc. This was retained in the new rite, however in stead of 16 Signs of the Cross during the prayer the new rite has only 1.
Concerning the complete rites:
**Traditional Rite: **
*982 Words
41 Signs of the Cross
35 Commands
Threat of Hellfire
Mention of the Virgin Mary
New Rite:
497 Words
8 Signs of the Cross
17 Commands
No threat of Hellfire
No Mention of theVirgin Mary *
This is not supposed to be a detailed consideration of the changes. I suggest you read the texts of both rites or read articles by those who have made detailed comparitions.
Fr Amorth also said the new rite is “a farce. An incredible obstacle that is likely to prevent us from acting against the demon.” The new exorcism rite forbids exorcisms on people who are believed to have been subjected to evil spells/curses. Fr Amorth said concerning this: “Absurd! Evil spells are by far the most frequent causes of possessions and evil procured through the demon: at least 90% of cases. It is as good as telling exorcists they can no longer perform exorcisms.”
He called the new rite* “A blunt weapon… Efficacious prayers, prayers that had been in existence for twelve centuries, were suppressed and replaced by new ineffective prayers.” *- (These quotes are from the June 2000 edition of 30 Days magazine)
I haven’t studied the new rite deeply enough to say, with Fr Amorth, that it is a farce, but I do believe that it has been watered down substantially. If someone I knew was truly possessed then I would definitely want the traditional rite of exorcism used. Personally, I do not believe there was any need for change. But since Vatican II, every rite of sacraments, blessings and even the Mass was changed, There was pressure therefore to make the revisions “complete” and leave no rite unrevised. The rite of exorcism was one of the last to be revised.
The new rite gives the exorcist a choice between two forms. This option was not in the traditional rite. The two forms are: the deprecatory and the imperative. The Deprecatory is not an exorcism proper, but merely a prayer or supplication asking God to help the person. The imperative is an exorcism in the traditional sense. It commands, as an authoirty, the demon/devil to depart in the name of God /Jesus Christ. It begins “I adjure you, Satan etc” as in the traditional rite.
Other changes concern the directives for the priest/bishop conducting the exorcism. In the traditional rite there are 21 directives. The directive has been rewritten so that substantially at least 12 directives have been deleted. Following are some examples of deleted directives:
*
“The priest should stay alert for tricks and deceptions that demons use to mislead the exorcist. For they will give false answers as much as possible, and show themselves only with difficulty, in order that the exorcist at length become worn out and give up the exorcism; or the ill person might appear not to be harassed by the devil.”
“Occasionally, after they appear, the demons hide and leave the body almost free of all disturbance, so that the ill person might think he is completely freed. But the exorcist should not stop until he sees the signs of liberation”
“Also relics of Saints, where available, safely and properly fastened and covered, may be reverently applied to the chest or head of the possessed. Care must be taken that the sacred objects are not improperly handled or harmed in any way by the demon. Because of danger of irreverence, the Holy Eucharist should not be placed upon the head of the possessed person or elsewhere on his body.”
“The exorcist should not engage in a great deal of talking or ask unnecessary or curious questions, especially concerning future or secret matters not pertaining to his task. But he should command the unclean spirit to be silent, except to answer his questions. Nor should he believe the demon if he pretends to be the soul of some Saint or deceased person or a good Angel.”
“If he is exorcising a woman, he should always have persons of integrity with him to hold the possessed person while she is agitated by the demon. These people should be close relatives of the suffering woman if possible. Mindful of decency, the exorcist should be careful not to say or do anything which could be an occasion of an evil thought to himself or the others.”* etc.
The Athanasian creed was also dropped in the revised rite. The Apostles /Nicene creeds remain however this means that the Athanasian creed is no longer used in any of the revised ceremonies of the Church.
The traditional rite incorporated Pope Leo XIII’s long prayer to St Michael for the exorcism of things and places etc. This was retained in the new rite, however in stead of 16 Signs of the Cross during the prayer the new rite has only 1.
Concerning the complete rites:
**Traditional Rite: **
*982 Words
41 Signs of the Cross
35 Commands
Threat of Hellfire
Mention of the Virgin Mary
New Rite:
497 Words
8 Signs of the Cross
17 Commands
No threat of Hellfire
No Mention of theVirgin Mary *
This is not supposed to be a detailed consideration of the changes. I suggest you read the texts of both rites or read articles by those who have made detailed comparitions.
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