Possession, a Brief Insight

''Choosing not to believe in the devil won't protect you from him.''The Rite (2011)

The above quote is an interesting take on a belief in the devil and demons as a whole and is a common message that permeates through stories, movies and religious organisations. The idea that just because you don't believe in the devil or demons, this non belief won't protect you from their evil intentions. But the other way it can be looked at is, if you don't believe in the devil and demons then is there a reason to believe in god? It could be said that one must exist for the other.

With that said, let's assume all is real, what is exorcism? There are two forms of exorcism, the first being a minor exorcism which can be found in two areas in life as part of the Catholic church. The first of these minor exorcisms can be found by those preparing for baptism, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and the Rite of Baptism for Children, the appendix of Exorcisms and Related Supplications includes a series of prayers which may be used by the faithful.

The second form of exorcism is the major exorcism also known as the soleman. It is a rite that can only be performed by a bishop or a by priest, with the special and express permission of the local ordinary (cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 1172). This form is directed "at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1673).

Regardless of whether you believe in the devil, god, demons or angels there is a documented process with dealing with suspected demonic possessions by the Catholic church. All the details of how a priest should carry out a major exorcism is outlined in De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam.

There are said to be two ways you can become possessed, first is by the Devil either passing directly into you or secondly somebody which is usually said to be a witch or wizard working with the Devil and they send a demon into the victim through bewitchment.

There are a few stages of a possession and depending what source you look at there are 3 or 4 different stages, most commonly used you will find, 3 stages. These stages are Infestation, Oppression and Possession.

There are a few different types of possession of which the most widely known, that you will see in all the movies would be demonic possession or where the Devil or demons possess a victim. There is another lesser known form of possession called 'familirisation', in 'Hostage to the Devil', father Malachi Martin describes familiarisation, "The possessing spirit in 'familiarisation' is seeking to 'come and live with' the subject. If accepted, the spirit becomes the constant and continuously present companion of the possessed. The two "persons", the familiar and the possessed, remain separate and distinct. The possessed is aware of his familiar"

In 1999 the Vatican updated the rite of exorcism, in the new rite "the language is more sombre and fewer adjectives are used. However, the expression of faith in the power of God to expel the devil is the same", said Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estavez.

Canon Law calls for an exorcist to be available in every diocese but that hasn't and still isn't always the case. When it comes to Ireland there have been very few requests for exorcisms to date.

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