Vatican: exorcism is a ministry of joy, light and peace, says a new guide

Exorcism is not a dark practice shrouded in darkness, but a ministry filled with light, peace and joy, according to a new guide for Catholic exorcists.

"When carried out in situations of real diabolical possession and according to the norms established by the Church - inspired by genuine faith and the necessary prudence - [the exorcism] manifests its salvific and positive character, characterized by a living experience of purity, light and pace, "P. Francesco Bamonte wrote in the introduction to the book.

"The" keynote ", we could say, is made of joy, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus to those who confidently welcome his Word," he continued.

Bamonte is the president of the International Association of Exorcists (AIE), which has prepared the new book with the approval of the Congregation for the Clergy and with contributions from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for Divine Worship.

"Guidelines for the ministry of exorcism: in light of the current ritual" was published in Italian in May. The IEA told CNA that an English-language edition is currently under review by the Congregation for the Clergy and the association expects it to be available by the end of 2020 or early 2021.

The book is not an exhaustive treatment of the subject of exorcism, but was written as a tool for exorcists, exorcist priests or priests in training.

It can also be used by episcopal conferences and dioceses to facilitate discernment "in cases of faithful who consider themselves in need of the ministry of exorcists, as this type of demand is on the rise," said Bamonte.

In the preface of the book, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, vicar general of the diocese of Rome, stated that "the exorcist cannot proceed at his discretion, since he works in the context of an official mission that makes him in some way representative of Christ and the Church. "

“The ministry of the exorcist is particularly delicate,” he says. "Exposed to multiple dangers, it requires particular prudence, the result not only of the right intention and good will, but also of an adequate specific preparation, which the exorcist is required to receive in order to adequately carry out his office."

There is a "notable increase" in the fascination of exorcism in the Western world, in particular for demonic possession and the role of the Catholic exorcist "in the difficult task of getting rid of it," Bamonte stressed.

"In some cultural circles, a peremptory description of Catholic exorcism continues as if it were a rough and violent reality, almost as dark as the practice of magic, which we want to oppose, but, finally, ending up putting it on the same level as occult practices" he said.

The priest said it was impossible to understand this ministry without believing in Jesus and his Church.

"Pretending to understand Catholic exorcism without having a living faith in Christ and what he, in the revelation given to the Church, teaches us about Satan and the demonic world, is like wanting to face the second degree equations without knowing the four operations basic mathematics and their properties, ”he said.

This is why it is necessary to "always go back to the sources of our ministry", he continued, "which does not come at all from the fear of witches, the desire to oppose magic or the desire to impose a specific religious vision at the expense of others. different conceptions about God and the world, but only and only from what Jesus said and from what he first did, giving the apostles and their successors the mission to continue his work ”.

The International Association of Exorcists includes approximately 800 exorcist members around the world. It was founded more than 30 years ago by a group of exorcists, led by Fr. Gabriel Amorth, who passed away in 2016. The association was formally recognized by the Vatican in 2014.