The Indianapolis journal., 1893-12-31
DEMONIAC POSSESSION
Form of ExOrciSm of Evil Spirits
by the Catholic Church.
Articles and Stubbornness of the Old
Enemy of Mankind Do Not Avail
Against the Priestly Formula.
New York Sun.

sion is disbelieved in or considered a form
of mental malady, Protestants may be sur
prised when told that the Catholic Church
not only claims the power to exercise evil
spirits from possessed persons. but that
exorcisms have been performed in this
neighborhood. If not recently, at no very
distant date. They are infrequent but they
can be performed by any priest He has,
however. first to get permission of the
bishop OF the diocese, and this permission
is not granted until after the bishop has
satisfied himself that the case is one for
priestly Intervention.
Perhaps the most interesting, IL not the
most recent exorcism in this locality was
one which was performed in the church
connected with the Passionlst monastery
IN Hoboken. The subject, said Father Law
renee, one of the Passionist monks. yester-
day. was a woman. who, drawn by tho
fame OF the mon astery, came from q long
distance to be dispossessed of the evil
spirit under whose influence she believed
herself TO he. Her faith was rewarded.
After the exorcism had been performed
according TO the Office in the Rituale Ro-
manum provided for the purpose. the wom-
an went away free from the malign infiu-
ence which her physician had failed to re-
move. which had been decided by divines
The exorclsm was not apparently at
tended in this case by unruly actions on the
part Of the subject akin to those described
In Scripture in accounts of the disposses-
sion of evil spirits. Father Lawrence said
that he was witness once of an exorcism
that In some respects was a repetition of
the one told of in the Bible, in which the
evil spirit In coming out of the man tore
and rent him. The possessed person in
this instance was also a man. While kneel-
ing in front OF the altar of the church which
was the scene Of the exorcism he, early in
the ceremony, began to comfort his coun-
tenance as II in derision at what 60
ing on. The priest continuing to repeat the
words of the office, the victim of demon
iacal possession exchanged his devout .atti-
tude for an upright posture, and then threw
himself violently backward, at the same
time giving spring. He alighted, rather
fell, several yards from where ne originally
stood. and his body then formed an arch,
with the head and the feet for supports.
He was brought back with difficulty to the
| chancel rail, continued Father Lawrence
and the ceremony was proceeded with
| There were several more Interruptions of
and thrown about by an influence that he
evidently could not resist, but these pre-
pleasure on being ousted We're finally
| quelled, and at the end of the ceremony the
man was restored to his normal condition.
| parts of 1t, had been repeated more than
once which is done in cases where as in
| this. the evil influence makes violent and
| long resistance.
| a RETlCENT PRIEST.
Fa-her Lawrence did not care to specify
| the locality in which this case occurred.
| His reasons for reticence are obvious. He
was kind enough, however, to describe in
| detail. with the Office in the Rituale Ro-
| manum for a guide, the ceremony Of ex-
orcism, its prelirinaries. and the direc-
tions for it's performance. Exorcism is
| resolved upon, he said in cases exhibiting
the scriptural symptoms of demoniacal pos
session which prove TO be beyond the power
signs recognized as denoting the presence
of an evil influence In the first instance
When d physician mas patient to be a
| physical and mental, more destructive in
degree than ordinary insanity. which does
active hatred of spiritual things, and in
combating which the regular treatment is
the case is one for priest. The other
signs are more readily recognized by the
| priest, being described in the directions IN
the office of exorcism, and, when they are
apparent he may intervene, perhaps with
| cian
He is not likely 70 intervene hastily, how
ever. This Father Lawrence made clear by
referring TO the ritual. The office, in a
| preamble to the eXOrcsm ceremony, warns
the priest not to believe easily that a per-
| son is possessed by a demon, but to he sur
that he or she has those signs by which a
possessed person is distinguished from those
| who labor under ordinary mental CT
| physical disease. These signs are described
as speaking volubly in an unknown tongue
that is language with which the speaker
is not acquainted, or has not studied; OF
understanding a person speaking tnat Ian
guage; making known things that dis
tant and hidden; showing strength beyond
the possessed persons natural powers OF
years, and other things of the same kind
IN
the more they are indications Of demoniacal
possession.
Father Lawrence said that the speaking
or understanding, heretofore unfamiliar
language, and the knowing what was dis
tant or hidden, were especial signs.
While he must be careful not to mis-.
take these signs, the eXorcist must be or
the lookout lest the demon or demons con
ceal their presence so that the possessed
For it is explained the demons, after hav
ing manifested themselves, sometimes alb
scond and leave the body of the possessed
person as if free from all molestation, SC
that he thinks himself entirely free bu
the exorcist ought not to cease until hC
sees signs OF real liberation. Sometimes
| too. the demons place in the way such i'm
| pedimentS as they can, so that the pos
sessed person may not submit to the exor
! cism or they try to persuade the exorcis
| that the infirmity Is natural They alsC
make the possessed person sleep in th'
| middle of the eXOrcism and show some
| vision 70 him which has the effect Of max
ing him appear free from their presence
| The devil, indeed, sometimes permits th'
| possessed person even to receive the mos
| holy eucharist, so that he may seem re
stored. Finally, the arts and frauds of tn,
| devil for deceiving man are innumerable
| and the exorcist ought to take care lest h,
| be deceived.
To start with the priest, some othe
duly authorized minister of the church
| who is about to exercise persons veXed bl
| a demon, should be conspicuous for piety
: | prudence and integrity of nfe; he shoulC
! rely not on his own, but on Divine strength
he should be alenated from all desire 70
human things, so that he can pursue 8.
: with humility. The eXorcist ought besides
I TO be of mature years. that he cal
1 command respect. not only because of hi
Office but from the gravity of his man
ners The exOrcist should remember tha
[ our Lord said there is a kind of demon
( which is cast out only by prayer and fast
ing; these are the most powerful renedie
for securing the Divine aid and expellin
demons.
METHOD OF EXORCISM
The exorcism should be performed in
1 church if this can be done conveniently
or in some other sacred and suitable place
= but If the possessed is very i'll or a perso
4 of exalted rank or for some other sufi
cient reason. the exOrcism may be done q
? his house The possessed must be admon
= ished if capable of mind and body t
pray TO God and 10 fast and 10 go ofte
he is being exercised he must deliver him
self entirely 10 God and with firm faith an
entire humility ask health. And when Ye
> hementlV VeNed he must sustain himsel