PRESENTATION OF NEW RITE OF EXORCISM

VATICAN CITY, JAN 26, 1999 (VIS) - Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, this morning presented at the Holy See Press Office the new rite of exorcism of the Roman Book of Rites.

Cardinal Medina began by stating that the person's capacity to welcome God is "blurred by sin, and at times evil occupies the place where God wishes to dwell. For this reason, Jesus Christ came to liberate the person from the dominion of evil and sin. ... Jesus Christ drove out demons and liberated people who were possessed with evil spirits to make space for him in that person."

"Exorcism is an old and particular form of prayer which the Church uses against the power of the devil." The Catechism of the Catholic Church (number 1673) explains that exorcism is directed at "the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church."

According to the rite of exorcism, continued the cardinal prefect, there are various criteria to know if we are dealing with demonic possession: "Speaking with a great number of words from unknown languages, or understanding them, making known things either distant or hidden, showing strength beyond one's situation, together with vehement aversion towards God, Our Lady, the Cross and holy pictures."

"To perform an exorcism," he stressed, "authorization from the diocesan bishop is required, which can be given for a specific case, or rather in a general and permanent way to the priest who has the ministry of exorcist in the diocese."

Cardinal Medina said the Roman Book of Rites contained in the last chapter the indications and liturgical text of the exorcisms, but "it had not been revised since Vatican Council II." After 10 years of work, the current text was approved by the Pontiff. Once the translations of the ritual are completed in different languages, they will be submitted "for the 'recognitio' of the Congregation for Divine Worship."

In the current book of rites there is "the rite of exorcism itself" and "the prayers which must be publicly recited ... when it is prudently deemed that there is an influence of Satan over places, objects or people, without having arrived at the phase of possession itself. In addition, there is a series of prayers which the faithful must pray privately when they believe that they are subject to demonic influences."

"Exorcism has its departure point in the faith of the Church, according to which Satan and other evil spirits exist. ... Catholic doctrine teaches us that demons are fallen angels as a result of their sin, and that they are spiritual beings with great intelligence and power."

The prefect of the congregation, recalling with the Catechism of the Catholic Church that "the power of Satan is not infinite," said however that God's allowing us to be tempted "is a great mystery."

In conclusion, he emphasized that "the harmful influence of the devil and his evil spirits is normally exercised through deception, falsehoods, lies and confusion. As Jesus is the Truth, the devil is the liar par excellence. Lies have always been, right from the beginning, his preferred strategy."

In answer to a question, Cardinal Medina explained that "there is great continuity between the old and the new rites, that there are no radical changes. The language is more somber and fewer adjectives are used; however, the expression of faith in the power of God to expel the devil is the same in both cases."

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