Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Re: Line between Deliverance Prayer and Exorcist	Maria	Sunday, August 1, 2010
Question: Hello- Thank you for your very detailed answer to my question. I wanted to clarify that the priest said he could not say "In the Name of Jesus Christ, I cast you out" because he believed that constituted an exorcism and could not be done without the authorization of the bishop. He said that would cross the line from deliverance prayer to exorcism. The diocesan exorcist, his mentor, told him this. Is there anything that could be done in this situation, short of seeking help in another diocese? The person with the demonic issues basically begged the priest to say, "In the Name of Jesus Christ, I bind you, I break you, and I cast you out.... In the name of Jesus Christ, go to the foot of the Cross where you will be dealt with accordingly." He says that's an exorcism. Meanwhile, the person is suffering a wide variety of manifestations. The deliverance prayers provide relative peace for 3-4 days, and the manifestations begin anew.
Question Answered by Mr. Joe Meineke Dear Maria, You are very welcome. Technically speaking, the priest is correct that it is an exorcism (with a little 'e'), but it is not a Solemn Exorcism. For example, the Rite of Baptism contains a simple exorcism, as do prayers that the priest may pray over salt and water (e.g., I exorcise thee, creature salt..."). Simple exorcisms such as these are perfectly within the priest's authority to perform. It is only the Solemn Exorcism defined in the Roman Ritual that he cannot perform without the express permission of the local ordinary. Imperative commands given against demons, on the other hand, are not forbidden. Again, Fr. Euteneuer, who is also an Exorcist, elucidates this very well in his book, Exorcism and the Church Militant. If you can get a copy of this book into the priest's hands, perhaps that would help give him a proper understanding of what he is and is not allowed to do. As an aside, I should add here that this is precisely why we call it deliverance prayer and reserve the word "exorcism" to refer solely to the rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. Much confusion has arisen because of the use of the word "exorcism" outside of the context of the Church when describing what would properly be called prayers for deliverance. To reiterate, the imperative words that you are referring to, namely "In the Name of Jesus Christ, I bind you, I break you, and I cast you out.... In the name of Jesus Christ, go to the foot of the Cross where you will be dealt with accordingly" do not constitute a Solemn Exorcism and can be prayed by the priest for the person. Now, if on the other hand he were to open the Ritual Romanum, pray the Rite of Exorcism over the person and begin asking the demon questions trying to determine, for example, their names, numbers, how they entered, etc.; namely, if he were to follow the rubrics defined in the Rite, he indeed would be crossing the line. You ask the question if there is anything that can be done short of seeking another exorcist and the answer is yes, there are things that can be done. First, if the person is able, I recommend that he visit the Saint Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling website and read the Self Help section, paying particular attention to the Seven Steps for Self Deliverance. Second, the Saint Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling will be opening for new clients again on September 16th. If the Seven Steps for Self Deliverance do not resolve the issue, then you may want to advise this person to fill out the help request form that will be active (and will be on the Self Help page) on or after the 16th. We will be praying for the person and for this whole situation. May God bless you, Joe Meineke For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Re: Line between Deliverance Prayer and Exorcist

Maria

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Question:

Hello-

Thank you for your very detailed answer to my question.

I wanted to clarify that the priest said he could not say "In the Name of Jesus Christ, I cast you out" because he believed that constituted an exorcism and could not be done without the authorization of the bishop. He said that would cross the line from deliverance prayer to exorcism.

The diocesan exorcist, his mentor, told him this. Is there anything that could be done in this situation, short of seeking help in another diocese? The person with the demonic issues basically begged the priest to say, "In the Name of Jesus Christ, I bind you, I break you, and I cast you out.... In the name of Jesus Christ, go to the foot of the Cross where you will be dealt with accordingly." He says that's an exorcism.

Meanwhile, the person is suffering a wide variety of manifestations. The deliverance prayers provide relative peace for 3-4 days, and the manifestations begin anew.

Question Answered by Mr. Joe Meineke

Dear Maria,

You are very welcome.

Technically speaking, the priest is correct that it is an exorcism (with a little 'e'), but it is not a Solemn Exorcism. For example, the Rite of Baptism contains a simple exorcism, as do prayers that the priest may pray over salt and water (e.g., I exorcise thee, creature salt..."). Simple exorcisms such as these are perfectly within the priest's authority to perform.

It is only the Solemn Exorcism defined in the Roman Ritual that he cannot perform without the express permission of the local ordinary. Imperative commands given against demons, on the other hand, are not forbidden. Again, Fr. Euteneuer, who is also an Exorcist, elucidates this very well in his book, Exorcism and the Church Militant. If you can get a copy of this book into the priest's hands, perhaps that would help give him a proper understanding of what he is and is not allowed to do.

As an aside, I should add here that this is precisely why we call it deliverance prayer and reserve the word "exorcism" to refer solely to the rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. Much confusion has arisen because of the use of the word "exorcism" outside of the context of the Church when describing what would properly be called prayers for deliverance.

To reiterate, the imperative words that you are referring to, namely "In the Name of Jesus Christ, I bind you, I break you, and I cast you out.... In the name of Jesus Christ, go to the foot of the Cross where you will be dealt with accordingly" do not constitute a Solemn Exorcism and can be prayed by the priest for the person. Now, if on the other hand he were to open the Ritual Romanum, pray the Rite of Exorcism over the person and begin asking the demon questions trying to determine, for example, their names, numbers, how they entered, etc.; namely, if he were to follow the rubrics defined in the Rite, he indeed would be crossing the line.

You ask the question if there is anything that can be done short of seeking another exorcist and the answer is yes, there are things that can be done.

First, if the person is able, I recommend that he visit the Saint Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling website and read the Self Help section, paying particular attention to the Seven Steps for Self Deliverance.

Second, the Saint Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling will be opening for new clients again on September 16th. If the Seven Steps for Self Deliverance do not resolve the issue, then you may want to advise this person to fill out the help request form that will be active (and will be on the Self Help page) on or after the 16th.

We will be praying for the person and for this whole situation.

May God bless you,

Joe Meineke

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.