Is an exorcist afraid? How is your ministry different from magic?

The coordinator of the Spanish section of the International Association of Exorcists (AIE), Fr. Luis Casanova Cases, explains to ACI Prensa what an exorcist fears, what his greatest danger is and how his ministry differs from magic.

In the documentary promoted by the IEA Libera Nos. The combat of the exorcistswhich premieres in Spain On October 25, it is stated that “being an exorcist is dangerous.”

In this regard, Father Casanova specifies that the risk “is not, as someone might imagine, a retaliation or revenge from the devil. The most dangerous thing is sin. “The temptations of the devil lie in wait for everyone, including the exorcist.”

Thus, the priest designated by his bishop to carry out this apostolate of “mercy and light” can be deceived into carrying it out “with arrogance, pride and vanity.”

“This can manifest itself by teaching erroneous doctrines or acting in ways not endorsed by the Church, which may even be abusive, performing invented ‘more effective’ rites, or even falling into the trap of using mediums or spiritualist techniques for discernment or liberation. ”.

To avoid this temptation, several conditions are necessary, among which are “living the ministry with humility, in obedience to the bishop and the provisions that the Church indicates in the ritual.”

To this we must add “adequate training” that includes remembering “the precautions and prudence that the exorcistic experience teaches us” or the convenience of maintaining “a fraternal relationship with other exorcist priests.” But above all, Father Casanova emphasizes, “a spiritual experience of piety and integrity of life” is essential.

Is an exorcist afraid?

The ritual of exorcism is one of the many liturgical rites that the Church has, but only bishops or priests designated by them can use it. Therefore, receiving this assignment can create, at the very least, a certain amount of concern. And even some fear.

Father Casanova relates that “when you begin to exercise this ministry, an initial insecurity is mixed, a certain fear of what will happen, how I will do it… but, at the same time, knowing that you have been sent by the bishop gives an interior certainty of faith ”.

This security lies in becoming aware that “it is not I who liberates, it is Christ who makes himself present in the Church with the power of his cross and resurrection,” adds the director of the IEA.

“As it is said in the film: the exorcist is like a poor person who calls on the heart of God and confidently asks for the liberation of those who suffer,” adds Father Casanova.

Superstition and esotericism, traps of the devil

On September 25, Pope Francis warned that our technological and secularized world “is full of magicians, occultism, spiritualism, astrologers, sellers of amulets and spells and, unfortunately, true satanic sects.”

However, Father Casanova laments, many people are only aware that they have fallen into these traps when they “suffer their consequences firsthand or from others close to them.” Then, the alarms go off.

In his opinion, “to the extent that the Christian faith disappears, we are seeing how superstitious beliefs increase and are spread – sometimes in a planned way – through children’s cartoons, youth social networks, movies, music groups, therapies in hospitals, school teachings, public government events… It is like a ‘culture of the esoteric and occult’ that is permeating all social strata.”

To avoid falling into it, it is necessary to distance ourselves from “all superstitious practices, not even under the excuse of curiosity” and to pray and love as the Curé of Ars advised: “the most effective thing is prayer, formation and living together the Christian joy of service to others,” he points out.

This involves “lovingly meditating on the Word of God, frequently celebrating the sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession”, observing a “tender devotion to the Virgin Mary and the saints”, seeking a “good Christian formation” and, if possible, , “be part of some parish group or ecclesial movement.”

What differentiates exorcism from magic?

Asked about the difference between magic and exorcism, Father Casanova explains that the first “seeks its effectiveness in the mastery or channeling of hidden forces to put them at its service through the rituality and formulas it uses, its objective is to obtain a benefit.” or cause harm to another person.”

“The preternatural actions of these hidden forces, covered by various names, some called ‘energies’, ‘angels’ or ‘saints’, are done by demons. None of that is exorcism,” he adds.

For its part, the exorcism “is a prayerful moment, a sacramental, where from humble faith and trust one pleads with God and orders oneself in the name of Jesus Christ, with the authority that He has entrusted to His Church, so that a person , object or place is protected against the snares of the evil one and removed from his domain.”