Exorcism

Exorcism is the practice of evicting or destroying evil spiritual entities which are supposed to have "possessed" (taken control of) a person, a building, etc.. The concept is very ancient and is still part of the belief system of many religions. The person performing the exorcism, known as an exorcist, is often a priest, or an individual who is thought to have special powers or skills. The exorcist may use a combination of magical and religious methods, such as prayers and set formulas, gestures, icons and amulets, etc.. Usually the exorcist's goal is to force the evil spirit to leave, or to invoke some benign supernatural power that will perform the task. The horror movie The Exorcist (1973, re-released 2000) was inspired in the Catholic exorcism ritual and folklore.

Table of contents

1 History 1.1 Exorcism in Roman Catholicism 2 Exorcism-related deaths 3 See also 4 References

History

The concept of "possession" by "evil spirits" and the practice of exorcism are very ancient and widespread, and may originate in prehistoric Shamanistic beliefs. The Christian New Testament includes exorcism among the miracles performed by Jesus. Because of that precedent, possession was part of the belief system of Christianism since the beginning, and exorcism is still part of the ritual of Catholicism and some Protestant sects.

Exorcism in Roman Catholicism

In the former ministry of the Roman Catholic Church, the third of the minor orders was that of exorcist. In some dioceses, priests have been given the title of "Exorcist" for their diocese. The exorcist is invested with the power of casting out devils from persons possessed, by the imposition of hands. This power, however, according to the present law of the church, may be only exercised by priests, and by them only with the express permission of the local bishop; and this permission has been rarely if ever granted in recent times. A well-known formula for exorcism, originating from a 1415 manuscript found in the Abbey of Metten in Bavaria, says

Crux sancta sit mihi lux / Non draco sit mihi dux\n:Vade retro satana / Nunquam suade mihi vana\n:Sunt mala quae libas / Ipse venena bibas

"May the Holy Cross be my light / Let not the dragon lead me\n:Step back Satan / Never tempt me with vain things\n:What you offer me is evil / Drink the poison yourself."

The verse Vade retro satana was probably inspired on a phrase by Jesus to Peter in the Vulgate New Testament, Mark 8:33: vade retro me, satana ("Step back from me, Satan!"). In Catholic superstition, it is used to repel any possible evil thing or happening, as a "spoken amulet". The initials of this formula (VRSNSMV SMQLIVB or VRS:NSMV:SMQL:IVB) were usually engraved around crosses or Catholic religious medals featuring Saint Benedict, to whom the formula is traditionally ascribed.

Exorcism-related deaths

Because of the popular image that exorcism is necessarily a violent process, the practice may end up bringing considerable physical harm or even death to the patient, even when performed by supposedly trained priests. In the past eight years, there have been at least five exorcism-related deaths in the United States:\n* Kyung-A Ha was beaten to death in 1995 in San Francisco, California by members of the Jesus-Amen Ministries.\n* Kyung Jae Chung died in 1996 in Glendale, California from blunt-force trauma by her husband (a reverend) and members of the Glendale Korean Methodist Church.\n* A five-year-old girl in 1997 in the Bronx, New York, died after being administered ammonia, vinegar, and olive oil, and then gagged and bound with duct tape.\n* Charity Miranda, was suffocated with a plastic bag in 1998 in Sayville, New York by her mother and sister.\n* Terrance Cottrell Jr, an eight-year-old autistic child, died of asphyxiation in 2003 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during an exorcism carried out by members of the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith.

See also

• Spiritual warfare for a broader discussion of demonic activity and Christians.\n* Shamanism\n* Yoruba mythology

References

\n* Martin Malachi, Hostage to the Devil. ISBN 006065337X. Category:Religion