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Mark 9:17-29 The Apostles, even using the authority
given to them were not able to cast out a demon from a possessed boy, Jesus
had to do the exorcism personally, he criticized the lack of faith and
explained that some evil spirits could only come out through prayer and
fasting.
Acts 19:13-17 Some Jews and the seven sons of Sceva tried to exorcise a man in
the name of Jesus, who was preached by the Apostle Paul, but to their
disappointment, the possessed man jumped over them giving them such a beating
that they left the place naked and bleeding.
First we realize that to exorcise is a difficult job even
for the apostles themselves who were authorized by Jesus personally. Now
regarding those who are not genuine believers, to try to give orders to an
evil spirit is a very high risk that may even cause the evil spirit to
take possession of them or any one present.
Only priests authorized by a Bishop may officially do the solemn rite of Exorcism to persons who after psychological examination are accepted as being influenced or possessed by evil spirits and are in need of an exorcism.
Solemn. This term is applied to an exorcism done officially under the authority of the Catholic Church to a person possessed by evil spirits. A rigorous psychological evaluation must be conducted on the victim, to establish if this is a case of possession, diabolical influence or to determine if it is a fraud.
The victim must show the typical signs that accompany
those who are possessed, among them the knowledge of other languages,
prediction of the future, blasphemies and abhorrence of holy things such as
holy water, salt or blessed oil, he may display supernatural strength,
levitation, etc.
Only an authorized priest can do the exorcism following the official rite of
the Church. The devil or devils present in the possessed person receive orders
from the exorcist to leave and never to come back, in the name of Jesus Christ
and the Church in general, which received from Christ the promise that the
gates of hell would not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
According to Canon 1172 of the Code of Canon Law no one may licitly perform exorcisms on those who are possessed, unless he has obtained particular and express permission from the local ordinary (section 1), and it decrees that this permission is to be granted by the Ordinary only to priests who are outstanding in piety, knowledge, prudence, and integrity of life (section 2).
Private. The faithful of the Church may say prayers of deliverance, in
which they ask divine intervention to cast out the evil influence on any
person, place or object. Because of the extreme danger involved, and the lack
of knowledge about the enemy, it is very important to know more deeply all
about the devil and his angels, and this is why the Church doesn't allow
exorcisms to be done by any one, except by a priest officially qualified by a
Bishop.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Saint Peter, the head of the apostles exhorts us to have discipline and to be alert, because the devil, our adversary is like a roaring lion who is prowling around seeking for someone to devour. Saint Peter tells us to resist him by remaining firm in our faith.
Let us then be armed with great faith in God, let us grow in spiritually, so that God will listen to our prayers of deliverance.
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Work of God
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