The term "exorcism" comes from the Greek word for "conjure," "oblige an oath." This is an act whose purpose is the expulsion of demons (one or more) from the body of a creature obsessed with them. The role of the latter can be not only a person, but also an animal, and sometimes an inanimate object. For example, a 15th-century German painting (the circle of Martin Schongauer) depicts Mary Magdalene, as well as John the Evangelist, who, with blessing, banishes poison from a bowl of wine. At the same time, the poison leaves it in the guise of a snake. It is known that in ancient times there were Gallic rituals of exorcising the demon, such as the exorcism of water, oil, salt, etc. Apparently, they were also aimed at purifying material substances, which, after that, were probably used for various ritual-sacral purposes.
The expulsion of demons from antiquity was conceived, as in the whole struggle with the devil, in spatial categories. That is, the devil should have been driven out of territory that does not belong to him. He had to leave the “vessel of the body" so that God could enter there.
Features of the rituals used in different cases
The ritual varies depending on how obsessed the sufferer is. In mild cases, for example, when it comes to the ailment attributed to the demon, blessing is sufficient. Exorcism in this case is almost identified with the Christian prayer for recovery. In the proper sense of the word, a ritual is resorted to if the unclean spirit completely masters the body of the sufferer, including his tongue. An exorcist, conducting a conversation with the human body, believes that he is talking with a demon. This ritual is not only applied to the obsessed. Exorcism in the Western Church (and later also in the Roman Catholic Church) was a necessary part of the baptismal rite. It was believed that the latter not only introduces a person to the church, but also expels the devil from his soul, replacing him with Christ.
Do I have to say the text out loud?
The prayer reprimand is not always pronounced aloud and needs ritual accompaniment. In ancient times, there was an idea that written rituals are also effective. In this case, the corresponding text was simply tied to the obsessed's neck, and thus the demons were expelled. However, this method, apparently, was not considered reliable. This confirms the Gallic Life of St. Eugendes, written around 520. It says that a girl possessed by a ferocious demon is imposed in a large number of texts of exorcisms on her neck. However, the devil does not want to leave her. On the contrary, he mockingly remarks to the participant in the action that he will not be able to expel, even having hung on the "vessel" which he took possession of, all the Alexandrian manuscripts. An order from the monk Jura Evgenda is required. After Eugend writes an exorcism letter, the demon-possessed girl is freed from the power of the evil spirit.
Who invented the ritual of exorcism?
According to legend, the inventor of art itself to command demons is Solomon. From Judaic legends we learn that he could control the demons of lilin, rukhin and marching, he could even make them dance in front of him.
Josephus Flavius describes the exorcism that Eleazar, his compatriot, carried out in the presence of Vespasian: the exorcist applied a magic ring to the demon’s nostrils and with the help of spells mentioning the name of Solomon pulled the demon through the nostrils. The possessed one fell, and in order to show Vespasian that the demon had come out, Eleazar ordered the unclean spirit to turn over the cup of water.
The first exorcist in the Christian religion is Jesus himself. Once he drove out of an obsessed "legion" of unclean spirits. They entered the pigs and then rushed into the sea. However, he did the opposite - he allowed Satan to enter the body of Judah. At the last supper, he served a piece to Iscariot, and after that Satan entered.
Note that although the text of exorcism is addressed directly to the exiled demon, it ultimately turns to Christ. It is Jesus, strictly speaking, that is the only exorcist, since it is believed that it is impossible to expel a demon without his intervention. Exorcists also sometimes resort to the help of another higher authority (not counting Christ) - the Virgin Mary.
Ritual duration
The duration of the ritual may be different. The demon sometimes immediately leaves the possessed. However, the case is described when his exile lasted for two whole years. The obsessed, as a rule, after performing the ritual “falls dead”, and sometimes it actually dies. In the Irish text of the 10th century, "Swimming of St. Brendan," one of the companions of this saint, at the instigation of a demon, commits theft. The saint casts out an unclean spirit outside. He appears present. After this, the monk dies, and angels take his soul to heaven.
Exile Means
As a means of exorcising demons, reprimand by prayers, as well as various relics, can be used. In a medieval legend, for example, hairs from the beard of St. Vincent. They were wrapped in a neckerchief. Many remedies can be used by exorcism. Words of prayers are just one way. For example, the tomb of a saint may be an instrument of exorcism. Its proximity is believed to make the demons go away. Thus, any sacred objects can be used. Although prayer (for example, the prayer of expelling a demon in Latin) is still the main means. Without it, it is difficult to carry out a ritual.
Negotiations demon with an exorcist
Often, the expulsion of demons turns into a dialogue with them. The communication of an exorcist with an unclean spirit is sometimes very long. In the course of the dialogue, a contract is concluded on mutually acceptable conditions. At the same time, the spirits of demons are often petty bargaining, and the exorcist sometimes (in naive legends) tries to use the knowledge of the devil for his own purposes. For example, he can learn about the afterlife of some deceased by exorcism. The words of the devil - this, of course, is not something that should be blindly believed, but even from the evil one some manage to draw out the truth.
During the dialogue, it is important to stipulate under what circumstances, when and where it will go. For example, a certain medieval exorcist, before cursing an unclean spirit, found out from him where and when he intended to leave the body of the possessed. He informed him that this would happen today in the house of St. Margaritas.
Especially crucial is the question of exactly where the demon will go. Indeed, under incorrect conditions, he can leave only part of the victim’s body and settle down, for example, in the throat, arm, etc. Subsequently, he can again take the abandoned place. It is believed that a perfectly performed ritual is one in which the demon goes immediately to hell, from where he can no longer return to earth, since hell, according to the Apostle Peter, is a place of imprisonment , where she awaits final judgment. However, getting him to go there is especially difficult. The negotiation process in this place often stalls. About where to go, demons bargain even with Christ himself. In the Gospel, they ask permission to move into a herd of pigs, which Jesus permits them.
Exiled St. Francis Paulanski demon intended to go out through the eyes of the obsessed. However, he was forced to take a different path. The demon, as a result of the saint’s skillful actions, was captured in a prudently prepared vessel. So another exorcism was realized.
Sometimes dialogue can be deprived of strong emotional overtones. An unclean spirit refrains from moaning, but it sets an exit condition or asks an exorcist an insidious question that must be answered correctly. For example, when Abba Apollonius performed the rite of exorcism, the demon told him that he would come out, but only if he tells him who the sheep are and who the goats are mentioned in the Gospel. This question is a trap, which, however, Apollonius safely avoided. He answered him that the goats are unrighteous (including the Abba himself, since he is subject to many sins), and who these sheep are, only God knows about it. It is clear that in this case the demon was proud of Apollonius. However, the answer of the latter was perfect. He showed complete humility - the best weapon against evil spirits.
Features of the Lutheran Rite
The ritual of exorcising the demon, with all its apparent elaboration, often includes personal moments, which are determined by the exorcist's idea of ​​the devil and the bizarre relationship that develops with the demon. When in the 16th century Luther made a kind of revolution in the practice of exorcism, while renouncing all the ritual components, with the exception of prayer (which he also understands as not purely internal process), he proceeded from his personal ideas about the devil. The ritual of exorcism, according to Luther, flatters the pride and pride of the evil spirit if a solemn spell is cast to expel the demon. Therefore, he only strengthens power. Therefore, the exorcist, according to Luther, must abandon the ritual. Contempt and prayer alone should be his instruments. After all, Jesus himself drives out the devil, and not an exorcist. He will do this when he wishes, without being guided by human rituals. The description of the exorcism performed by Luther shows how he resorted to contempt (the second instrument) after the first, that is, prayer, did not help. When a demon-possessed girl was brought to him, Luther, laying his right hand on her head, began to pray. He explained to those around him that the prayer would last until God heard him. However, reading it did not help. Considering that prayer only pleases the pride of an unclean spirit, Luther stepped aside from the girl and then kicked her foot (of course, at that moment he saw in her only the embodiment of a demon). After that, Luther began to taunt Satan. The exorcism (exorcism) was over. The girl was taken home, and Luther was informed that she was no longer tormented by an evil spirit.
Protestants, while not denying the necessity of the ritual of exile, opposed exorcism with the idea of ​​each person’s internal struggle with the devil. Followers of Luther considered the ritual of exile a kind of witchcraft, an indulgence to the devil. J. Hocker Osnaburg in his treatise, in which he opposes the exorcists (you can read it in the collection "The Devil's Theater"), argues that it is sinful to use prayer and holy words when performing the ritual.
The need to clean the exorcist himself
Reflexivity, which is embedded in the problems of demonology (after all, the demon is ultimately located inside the person himself), is also manifested in the theme of exorcism. The person who carries it out has to heal himself. A difficult task for an exorcist is their own cleaning.
Advice for those who decide to expel the devil on their own
If you intend to expel the devil yourself, think about whether you have enough spiritual and physical strength, as well as the courage to confront the evil spirit. Won't you be afraid of what you might see when you start casting a spell? Even strong-minded people do not always withstand what happens when the demons are driven out of a person. For some, this ritual may even prove fatal: the psyche and life will irreversibly change.
The patient should be treated with particular care. During the ceremony, it is necessary to suppress pride in your soul, forget about disgust and pride. The only important thing now is to help the human soul, to be able to rid it of the oppression of the demon. An unclean body in power can do terrible things. The healer must humbly ask God for help. However, the worst thing is the possible consequences of the ritual. A person can be healed, but there is a chance that he will die. Therefore, you must understand all responsibility and be aware of your strength. Note that the church very rarely gives permission to conduct this ritual.
In difficult cases, it is required to repeat the ceremony repeatedly. The spell to cast a demon cast by you may not work immediately. It is possible that an unclean spirit will leave the body after several weeks or even months. Your casting spell of exorcising a demon in Latin or any other language is not a guarantee that an unclean spirit will leave its sacrifice. Exorcism is a complex ritual. Below we describe the main stages of its implementation. However, first of all, you should make sure that a person is really obsessed with the devil. There are a number of signs by which this can be determined.
How can one know that a person is obsessed with demons?
He can speak ancient languages ​​or modern foreign languages ​​that he did not know before. In addition, he may possess supernatural powers or abilities. A person sometimes knows what he should not know. An important sign - the possessed is afraid of everything sanctified: church symbols, the cross. He may also engage in blasphemy and blasphemy. Note that symptoms of obsession are often just signs of diseases such as schizophrenia, epilepsy, Turret syndrome, hysteria, or other mental disorders. However, the opposite is also possible. Real exorcism, which has a powerful spiritual foundation, is able to expel demons disguised as a split personality, psychosis, hysteria, manic syndrome, paranoia, aggressive schizophrenia.
The stages of the ritual
First of all, you need to learn about the path by which an unclean spirit was sacrificed. Then you should find out the name of the one who allowed the demon to enter the creation of God. Further, prayers are read over the patient. This can be the Gospel of John (chapters 14 and 16), the “Creed” or “Our Father”. It is necessary, by performing the rite, to hold a person. Sometimes even ropes may be needed for this.
After reading the prayers, a sprinkling of holy water follows. Next comes communication with a demon that has entered the human body. This is a dangerous moment: if the unclean wins, he will remain. Theology is a favorite topic of demon talk. They may try to lure the exorcist into a logical trap. A good knowledge of religious literature, as well as obedience to God's will and complete humility can help you. In case of victory, the demon will ask how and where to go. He can begin to bargain, and also ask him to leave. Be firm in your intentions.
The final stage - reading a special spell on the expulsion of the demon in Russian or any other language. Language itself is not so important. The spell for exorcising the demon in Latin is also very popular. More importantly, what is the meaning of the spell. The text of the spell is given below.
“We cast you out, the spirit of all uncleanness, all the power of Satan, every encroachment of hellish hostility, every legion, every congregation and sect of the devil, by the name and virtue of our Lord Jesus Christ, uproot and flee from the Church of God, from souls in the image of God created and precious blood The lamb of the redeemed. You dare not bole, the most cunning serpent, to deceive the human race, to persecute the Church of God and to reject and dispel God's chosen ones like wheat. God Almighty commands you, whom you still wish to equalize in your great pride; who wants to save all people and lead to the knowledge of the truth. God the Father commands you ; God the Son commands you; God commands you the Holy Spirit. It commands you the greatness of Christ, the eternal God of the incarnate word, who, for the sake of the salvation of our kind, by the envy of your fallen, humbled himself and was obedient to death; who set his church on a strong stone and promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against her, for he himself would remain with her until the end of the age. The sacrament of the cross and all the secrets of Christian nobility commands you. The tall Virgin Mary commands you, who, from the first moment of your immaculate conception, in your humility, struck your arrogant chapter. The faith of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and other apostles commands you. "The blood of the martyrs and all holy men and women commands the pious intercession."
The ritual will be easier if you use Christian relics. They will help you in expelling the demon. It is also important that the obsessed understands what is happening to him and, if possible, helps the exorcist.