Exorcism: Serious Business

As Socrates said a while back, "the more I know, the more I realize how little I know." I started thinking about that movie, next thing I know I find out that there are two kinds of exorcisms, deprecatory and imprecatory. What Dean does is an imprecatory (direct) exorcism, which the Catholic church specifically forbids for lay persons, according to this information. Clearly, not only did he not pay attention to Latin class, but he took upon himself the task of an ordained priest! Check it out, it also has a Latin formula (danger: do NOT try this at home--hear me, Rachael?). I am attaching here the most shocking scene of the movie---the exorcisms in which are in English. That was my only disappointment with Father Karras, he didn't seem to know any Latin!


Exorcism

There are two common kinds of exorcisms. Deprecatory and Imprecatory. Lay people should not do public imprecatory exorcisms.

Note: There is some disagreement about whether it is OK to give a devil a direct command in the name of Jesus (i.e., "Satan I command you in the name of Jesus to leave me") when it is dealing with our own person or our family. The Vatican web site contains no information about this, nor does the Catechism or Otto's Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. If the Magisterium (Pope's office) issues any kind of statement or directive on this I will post it. I have heard compelling arguments on both sides. Personally, until I hear otherwise I will ask Jesus to deliver me rather than talk directly to the bad guy.

Deprecatory Exorcism
The first kind of exorcism is called a deprecatory exorcism (for example the Lord's Prayer) where we ask God, his angels and Saints to cast out the evil one. This does not involve a direct command to the devil. This is the only kind of exorcism which lay people should perform. The Church encourages us to do this. One of the best is the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel:

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

(Latin Version) Sancte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio contra nequítiam et insídias diáboli esto præsídium. Imperet illi Deus, súpplices deprecámur: tuque, princeps milítiæ cæléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos, qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in mundo, divína virtúte, In inférnum detrude. Amen

(English Version) Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

Imprecatory Exorcism
The 2nd kind is what we might have seen in the movie the exorcist. It is to be performed only by a Priest who has been given permission by a Bishop. It is below. It is called an imprecatory exorcism. And it involves a direct command to the devil (to leave the person or article - for example).