Exorcist: Encyclopedia - Exorcist

Exorcist

An exorcist is a person who performs exorcism, the driving off of demons or other supernatural beings who have possessed a person, or (sometimes) a building or other object.

Exorcist - Exorcists in various religions

Since the Council of Trent, "Exorcist" was one of the three minor orders in the ministry Roman Catholic Church, received after Porter. At the time this order was formally defined, its role was confined exclusively to perform exorcism of the catechumen in the rite of Baptism, leaving exorcisms of demons to priests; but its role was later expanded. As a minor order, the Exorcist wore the surplice. The office of Exorcist was not a part of the sacrament of Holy Orders but was instead first conferred on those who had the special charism to carry out its duties and later to those studying for the priesthood.

The minor order of Exorcist was suppressed during the reforms of the minor orders after the Second Vatican Council by Paul VI. It is thought by some that ordination to the position of Acolyte in post-Council practices implies ordination to the minor orders which used to be below it, such as Exorcist and Porter — although this has not been officially defined.

Recently, many dioceses have formally appointed priests to the function of Exorcist; partly to respond to an increase in requests for the practice after the relase of the 1973 movie The Exorcist, and partly as a result of reaffirmation of exorcism as a necessary ritual by Pope John Paul II (who reportedly performed three exorcisms himself during his pontificate) and Pope Benedict XVI. Gabriele Amorth is the chief exorcist of the Diocese of Rome, and founder of the association of Catholic exorcists. [1] [2]

Exorcist - Islam

Muslim exorcists expel Jinns from the humans they possess.

Exorcist - Messianic Judaism

Messianic Jewish (MJ) exorcists receive the power and authority of their calling directly from the consecration anointing by the Lord, Yeshua Ha Mashiach, known as Jesus the Christ. MJ exorcist are educators, and facilitators who intervene for the possessed, oppressed individuals, and lead them through the phases of the exorcism process. Physical force, idols, amulets, or other religious items are not used in MJ exorcisms.

See also

• The Exorcist, a 1973 horror movie inspired on Catholic exorcism.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Exorcist", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcist, used and available under the GNU Free Documentation License.