The Vatican's Exorcists
Driving Out the Devil in the 21st Century
Chapter One
Introduction
From its very first days, the Roman Catholic Church has formally
sanctioned exorcisms with enthusiasm that has varied through the
centuries-sometimes promoting the ritual overtly, and during other
periods, appearing to be embarrassed by it. Jesus Christ performed exorcisms
more than 2,000 years ago, according to the Bible, as did his more recent
vicar, Pope John Paul II. Believers see the exorcism as a major battle of wills
between God and the superior forces of good on one side and evil on the
other.
An exorcism is a ritual in which prayer is used to banish the devil,
demons, or satanic spirits from a person or place. It is most familiar to
Americans through popular culture, through movies like the 1973 horror classic
The Exorcist, based on William Peter Blatty's novel, and its
sequels and various knockoffs. Most Americans probably associate the ceremonial
flailing and screaming in darkened rooms amid chanting and bizarre,
supernatural antics with rogue cler ... read full excerpt from: The Vatican's Exorcists: Driving Out the Devil in the 21st Century ebook
