Despite the intrigue and attention given to the topic of exorcism,
the primary work of the Devil lies in daily “temptation,” Bishop Thomas
Paprocki said, following a successful exorcism training weekend hosted
by the U.S. bishops in Baltimore.
The Conference on the Liturgical
and Pastoral Practice of Exorcism took place Nov. 12-13, just before
the bishops' annual fall assembly.
According to Bishop Paprocki, who
chairs the Bishop's Committee on Canonical Affairs, the program came
about after an increasing number of inquiries from priests in the U.S.
Because
only a “small number” of priests have undergone exorcism training, the
conference was held “really to provide some guidance for bishops,” he
said.
He explained that exorcism training falls under the
jurisdiction of the canonical affairs committee because of the
requirement in canon law that says a priest needs permission from his
bishop to perform an exorcism.
Over 100 bishops and priests attend the two day conference, which Bishop Paprocki said they described as “very helpful.”
He
went on to say that “the reality is that an exorcism is really rare.
It's really something rather extraordinary because possession – a person
being possessed by a devil or demon – is also very rare.”
“Given
the fact that possession and exorcisms are rare, people tend to think
that that's the only activity of the Devil,” and they mistakenly think
that “if I'm not possessed, I don't need to worry about the Devil,” he
said.
However, it's “quite the opposite,” he explained. “The
ordinary work of the Devil is temptation and everybody has to face that
everyday.”
“The ordinary response to dealing with temptation” can
be found in “the ordinary means of spiritual life that the church
offers: the Sacraments, going to Confession, receiving Holy Communion,
saying prayers and devotions, the Rosary, blessings, Holy Water, things
like that,” he said.
“And in fact, I would go so far as to say that the Sacrament of Penance is more powerful than an exorcism.
“An
exorcism is a type of blessing in effect – it's a sacramental – whereas
the Sacrament of Penance is actually a sacrament,” the bishop
explained.
“So if we live a good life, a good spiritual life that's sound, we don't need to worry about that.”
Bishop
Paprocki smiled as he clarified that exorcism is ”sensationalized in
the movies,” and that demonic possession “is not contagious.”
Usually
it's needed “because people have willingly and freely opened the door
to the Devil, looking for that kind of involvement and enjoying the
pleasures that the Devil has to offer,” he said.
“It's a relationship – a relationship between a human person and a fallen angel – a devil.”
“Exorcism,” he explained, “is breaking that relationship,” and it “starts with the person renouncing Satan.”
Primarily,
it “involves getting a person to renounce that relationship,” and
“secondly, for a priest to intervene and invoke the power of Christ to
break that relationship.”
Speaking on what determines the need for
an exorcism, Bishop Paprocki said that “we use the principle that you
have to exclude all the natural explanations before you resort to the
supernatural.”
“That means getting a medical exam” and a
“psychiatric assessment” first, he clarified. If a person is mentally
unwell, bringing up the suggestion that he or she is possessed would
undoubtedly make the situation worse.
“That's why a careful screening and permission from the bishop is needed,” he explained.
SIC: CNA/INT'L