Exorcism

What it is

An exorcism is a prayer of the Church that commands evil spirits in the name of Christ. It is not theater and not a hobby. The Church distinguishes carefully between the rare solemn rite and the ordinary minor forms used in her public prayer.

Major and minor

Major (solemn) exorcism is the rite for a person believed to be possessed. It is reserved: only a priest expressly authorized by the diocesan bishop may perform it, after investigation and with the Church’s discipline. Curiosity is not a calling.

Minor exorcisms appear in ordinary rites — notably in the rites of baptism and in certain blessings. They are real prayers of the Church against the devil’s influence; they are not the solemn rite. The blessing of the St. Benedict medal, found in the Rituale Romanum, belongs with these sacramentalGlossaryA sacred sign instituted by the Church—holy water, medals, scapulars, blessings—that disposes the soul for grace; not one of the seven Sacraments. blessings, not with unauthorized “deliverance” theatrics.

What it is not

Exorcism is not a substitute for medical or psychological care, not a weapon against people, and not a proof of spiritual status. The enemy is the devil. Treating neighbors as demons is a failure of charity and of sanity. For the medal’s letter-formula itself, see Vade Retro Satana and The Letters on the St. Benedict Medal, Decoded.