VATICAN CITY — The Vatican university is offering a course for Roman Catholic priests wishing to brush up their exorcism skills, the BBC reported Thursday.
The history of Satanism and its biblical context, psychology and the law will be part of the course at the prestigious Athenaeum Pontificium Regina Apostolorum.
There will also be seminars on the spiritual, liturgical and pastoral work involved in being a caster-out of demons.
Milan’s official exorcist for more than 20 years, Father Giulio Savoldi, told the BBC each case of possession is different and therefore requires extensive background training.
"Those studying to become exorcists should also study psychology and know how to distinguish between a mental illness and a possession," he said. "And — finally — they need to be very patient." [Source]
Over the last couple of weeks I have seen this story reported over and over in different outlets. Why exactly though is this a story. This comes under what Mark Shea would call a "Water is wet" or possibly "Dog bites dog" story. This is more of a implied "isn’t that quaint" story as if the Catholic Church still believing what it has always believed is news.
Speaking of Mark Shea does anybody have a suggestion of a saint who is the patron of rapid manuscript writing to ask intercession for?
11 comments
I think it’s a story because so many people, including many Catholics, have ceased to truly believe in Satan or evil. I’d go so far as to suggest that perhaps a few bishops might think that way as well.
So, the mainstream press points and laughs at the “medieval” beliefs that would underly a course of this sort.
And, heck, in this case…we’re talking about the BBC. They were the ones that wanted to run “Popetown.”
Given his prodigious literary output, JPII might someday be that patron saint you’re looking for, Jeff. In the meantime, I nominate the patron saint of writers, St. Francis de Sales.
Speaking of exorisms, does anyone know where one could find a copy of the revised rite released in ~1999? Feel free to send me an e-mail. Thanks!
B. Knotts,
“I’d go so far as to suggest that perhaps a few bishops might think that way as well.”
Welcome back from your 40 year vacation. How was Mars?
I was wondering what the labs would be like for this course. Pretty scary I’d guess. And how would you write them up? I hate to imagine field trips!
“Given his prodigious literary output, JPII might someday be that patron saint”
Oohhhh, is *that* how you get canonized? You write a lot? Do you have to kiss the Koran and send symbolic pectoral crosses to heretics pretending to be bishops too?
PJPII attempted to reach out to our Muslim brothers– and sisters and that would be wrong or sinful how? His Holiness attempts reconciliation by sending a heretical bishop a cross to remind him of the central thrust of Christianity and to call him back to the truth–and that is wrong or sinful how?
If we we only embodied the life of Christ as this man has? I distinctly remember our Lord being chided for eating with publicans and sinners.
yes, yes. Heard it all. Thanks.
And thanks to you, too, Hilary, for turning an innocuous comment into an opportunity to stump for your pet anti-Church, anti-papal agendas. Must be nice being wiser than the Pope.
Hm, didn’t know I had pet peeves. I suppose no one else does either?
Having ears to hear ye hear not……
Of course, no one could possibly have a differing opinion about the prudence of the Pope’s prudential judgements. It could only be either stupidity, malice or willful ignorance. That’s why I refer to it as Catholic Political Correctitude. I guess I am just evil then. Please excuse my thinking.
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