In January 1999, the Vatican issued a revised exorcism rite to be used by Catholic priests. The directions for conducting an exorcism comprise a single section in the Roman Ritual (Rituale Romanum), one of the books describing the official rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Prior to 1999, the official exorcism rite dated back to 1614.
To perform the rite, the exorcist dresses in his surplice and purple stole. The ritual of exorcism is mostly a series of prayers, statements and appeals. These prayers are loosely broken down into the “imploring formula,” in which the priest asks God to free the subject from the devil (“God, whose nature is ever merciful and forgiving, accept our prayer that this servant of yours, bound by the fetters of sin, may be pardoned by your loving kindness”), and the “imperative formula,” in which the priest demands in the name of God that the devil leave the subject’s body (“Depart, then, impious one, depart, accursed one, depart with all your deceits, for God has willed that man should be His temple”). To read the entire 1999 revised rite, see Catholic Doors Ministry: 1999 Rite of Exorcism.
In addition to these recitations, the priest takes certain actions at particular times during the rite: He sprinkles holy water on everyone in the room, lays his hands on the subject, makes the sign of the cross both on himself and on the subject and touches the subject with a Catholic relic (usually an object associated with a saint).
Malachi Martin, a former Jesuit priest and self-proclaimed (but not official) exorcist, offers additional information on exorcism — information not endorsed by the Church. A controversial figure in the Catholic world, Martin reveals in the book “Hostage to the Devil” what he considers to be the typical stages of an exorcism (Cuneo 19-20):
- Pretense – The demon is hiding its true identity.
- Break-point – The demon reveals itself.
- Clash – The exorcist and the demon fight for the soul of the possessed.
- Expulsion – If the exorcist wins the battle, the demon leaves the body of the possessed.
“Hostage to the Devil” created quite a stir in the Church. The book details supposedly factual exorcisms that Martin claims to have performed, assisted with, or witnessed. The exorcisms Martin describes are on the level with “The Exorcist.” in terms of action and violence. It has been criticized by believers, who think Martin had given in to sensationalism, and belittled the power of the devil.
