Exorcism Part 3 - Prolonged Exorcisms...What does the Church say?

 

Exorcisms Part 3 - Prolonged Exorcisms.... What does the Church say?

 The newspapers and Internet accused the exorcisms performed by the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer as being "prolonged". 

The accusation of "prolonged" exorcism means that the priests performing the exorcisms were abusive and in the wrong from the get-go. They were "prolonged" therefore they were certainly abusive.

What does the Rite of Exorcism itself say about the length of exorcisms?

Standard 17.

Standard 17 has the answer:

"17. He will pay attention as to what words in particular cause the evil spirits to tremble, repeating them the more frequently. And when he comes to a threatening expression, he recurs to it again and again, always increasing the punishments. If he perceives that he is making progress, let him persist for two, three, four hours, and longer if he can until victory is attained."

The sessions that our priests conducted were usually as follows:
Preparation: First Holy Mass was offered for the person receiving the Rite of Exorcism.
Rubric 1 of the Rite says in red:
The priest delegated by the Ordinary to perform the office shall have gone to confession, or at least elicited an act of contrition, and offered the holy sacrifice of the Mass, if it was convenient to do so; he ought, moreover, to have implored God's help in devout prayer. Vested in surplice and purple stole, and having before him the person possessed (in fetters if there is any danger) he traces the sign of the Cross over him, over himself, and the bystanders, then sprinkles them with holy water. Kneeling down he prays the Litany of the Saints exclusive of the prayers that follow it, with the others making the responses. Thereupon he says:
Antiphon. Ne reminiscaris...

Session 1 Then the priest reads the Rite as prescribed 60 - 90 minutes.
Refreshment Break 30 minutes. (Priest and assistants have been fasting from the night before).
Session 2 Ususlly shorter than 60 minutes.

The Rite of Exorcism as laid down by the Roman Ritual is the law and the standard by which all judgments should be made.
By the Rite of Exorcism a 90 minute session could in no way be considered to be "prolonged" since it does not hit the two hour base line.

The Rite itself encourages a session to be 3 or 4 hours long, and even longer. (cf Standard 17 above)

Conclusion:

The traditional Rite of Exorcism sets the standards.

Anyone asking for the traditional Rite must expect it to be 

according to the standards and the rubrics.

The priests worked within the time line structures of the rite.

The statements made about "prolonged" exorcisms indicates ignorance of the Rite. 

at December 23, 2024 No comment