www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall The Exorcism of Emily Rose

I'm curious...has anyone here seen the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose"? I saw it last week while in CT. I found it overall to be a very positive and affirming movie insofar as Catholicism is concerned. Tom Wilkinson, who plays the role of a priest (he also played the priest in the hilarious movie version of "The Importance of Being Earnest". His character in the Emily Rose movie takes on a slightly more serious tone .)

Evidently, the story is based on true accounts of an exorcism that took place in Germany in the 1970's. The ending of the movie is a bit curious, and I am not so sure what to make of it, to be quite honest. The director of the film is an Evangelical Christian (a grad from Biola, I believe) whom, I am told, is close to converting to Catholicism due to his research for this film.

Certainly, this movie is not for the faint of heart, but I must admit that I enjoyed it far more than the original "Exorcist".

BTW, is there a specifically Byzantine rite of exorcism that exists? I know of the exorcisms that are used at Baptisms, and i know that they recently revised the Roman Ritual.

Gordo

I saw this movie with my wife on Wednesday. It is the most powerful movie to come out of Hollywood since The Passion of the Christ.

It is nothing short of miraculous that a film so sensitive towards Roman Catholicism and so respectful of her beliefs and rituals, without even a hint of mockery or derision, could actually make it into main stream theaters today.

Drop everything and go so this movie. Do NOT take children, it is simply too frightening.

But see it!

Dear Gordo,

Yes, there is a Byzantine rite of "minor exorcism" and I'm sure of "major exorcism" but I only witnessed the former rite.

It was performed over my brother in the attic where we shared a room after the goings-on there.

At the end of the rite, we were all at peace and we knew we wouldn't have any more trouble.

And, DocBrian, your imprimatur is good enough for me!

Alex

Gordo,

I was very impressed with the movie also.

Yes there is a Byzantine exorcism, but it is not as intricate as the Roman Ritual. The only English translation I am aware of is in the Trebnyk published by St. Tikhon's Seminary.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Anneliese Michel-the real Emily Rose

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090200559.html

http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_1253.html

While the movie was not perfect, I did find it to be better than _The Exorcist_. Not because it was a horror movie (which to me, it wasn't), but because it went more in depth into the question of demon possession, and tried to do it without ridiculing the notion. Also, unlike _The Exorcist_ it tried to establish the reason for the possession, although it clearly tried to raise more questions than it answered.

On the other hand, it is difficult to determine how accurate the movie is to the original, real incident in Germany. I've read a few things, and it does look like the movie hit many of the key events, but it did not fully portray how she died and what had been happening to her knees, for example (they ruptured from too much fasting and prostrations). Indeed, it has been suggested the real case is the reason why there has been a revision in the Rite of Exorcism in the West.

As a side note, I found out that the pastor who was involved with the case went into hiding, but did write a book on the Coptics.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...772826?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 is a link to his book.

The belief that there are "demons" or "wayward spirits" was, probably, at the root of a decision by the Archdiocese of Chicago to appoint a full-time exorcist in 1999 for the first time in its history.

The archdiocese has not disclosed the identity of its exorcist, largely to maintain the privacy of those seeking his services.

The Archdiocese of New York (City) has 4, including the Rev. James J. LeBar, its chief exorcist!

Overall, the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. has at least 10 official exorcists!

So, you little imps and playful and "preyful" demons: BEWARE!

Amado

Someone spoke of the very recent revision of the Roman Ritual. The new Ritual is laughable and at the same time frightening to those "in the know."

The Vatican's chief exorcist claimed that he was dismayed over the new Ritual and that it basically isn't even efficacious because - (I'm jogging this from memory here, so I'm open to correction) - it approarches the Rite of Exorcism from an almost purely secular pyschological viewpoint and refrains from commanding the spirit to depart in the Name of Christ, etc.

I saw The Exorcism of Emily Rose and loved it. It was not derogatory towards Catholicism whatsoever; in fact it was quite respectful of the Church. I really enjoyed how almost every scene had a "counter-scene," like when the Blessed Mother appeared to Emily and gave her the Stigmata and when Emily simply walked up to the barbed wire fence and threw her hands on the barbs.

Logos Teen

Gordo this is a strong support for your movie by Father Brian W. Harrison, O.S. a good article on it.
http://www.spiritdaily.com/emilyreview.htm

Thanks for this link. It was Fr. Harrison's review that led us to go see this movie.

Hello,

In the Roman Rite there are also minor and solemn exorcisms.

Both are considered "sacramentals", and the minor one can be celebrated ordinarily by any ordained cleric, and extraordinarily by a lay person authorized by the Local Ordinary.

The solemn exorcism must be celebrated by a priest with explicit permission from the Local Ordinary.


Regarding another post, I do not agree with the comment that "The Exorcist" doesn't explore the reasons for the possession. I agree, the issue is only touched upon, but there was a Ouija board involved.

I have not seen the new movie, so I cannot compare them, but the original Exorcist was pretty good, especially considering it was filmed in the early 70's. None of its sequels have any value beyond mediocre horror movies, but the original was well researched.

Shalom,
Memo.

"Someone spoke of the very recent revision of the Roman Ritual. The new Ritual is laughable and at the same time frightening to those "in the know."

The Vatican's chief exorcist claimed that he was dismayed over the new Ritual and that it basically isn't even efficacious because - (I'm jogging this from memory here, so I'm open to correction) - it approarches the Rite of Exorcism from an almost purely secular pyschological viewpoint and refrains from commanding the spirit to depart in the Name of Christ, etc."

The interview with Fr. Amorth is here:

http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/amorth.html

An article by Fr. X is here:

http://www.latinmassmagazine.com/articles/articles_2002_SU_Father_X.html

The new Ritual has two prayers that may be used: one that is imperative and one that is deprecatory. It is the deprecatory prayer that is called into question. However by doing so all Eastern Churches sacraments are then called into question as we universally use deprecatory form rather than imperative. Baptism is an example: Latin form is I baptize you..., Byzantine form is the Servant of God is baptized... The depractory form is used in the baptismal exorcisms as well.

http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/liturgical_texts/Catechumen.asp

So those "in the know" should spend some time learning Eastern Christian sacramental theology before decalring something laughable.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Well, Father Deacon, that seems to be an issue between you and Father Amorth.

I did claim that I was jogging that from memory and that I was open to correction. There is no reason to be passive-aggressive about it.

Logos Teen

An example of a deprecatory exorcism:

Prayer for a building afflicted by evil spirits

0 Lord God of our salvation, Son of the living God, Who art upborne by the cherubim and art infinitely more exalted than all the principalities and virtues, powers and dominions: Thou art great and fillest all around Thee with dread; Thou art He that set heaven like a chamber; Thou art He that created the earth in Thy might and hast ordered the universe in Thy wisdom, Who hast shaken the nethermost parts of the earth from their foundations and made its pillars immovable, Who speakest to the sun, and it shineth not; Who sealest the stars; Who forbiddest the sea, and driest it up; Whose wrath melteth the principalities and virtues; by Whose power the rocks are ground to powder! Thou didst break down the gates of bronze, and the gates of iron didst Thou destroy; Thou didst bind mighty [Satan] and didst shatter his vessels; by Thy Cross didst Thou cast down the tyrant [of hell], didst draw forth the serpent with the hook of Thine incarnation and, having set him in Tartarus, didst bind him with bonds of darkness. Therefore, 0 Lord, Thou confirmation of them that place their hope on Thee, mighty rampart of them that trust in Thee: drive away, put to flight and cause to depart every machination of the devil and every satanic assault, every attack of the adversary and oppressive power, from this roof and from them that are sheltered thereby and walk about beneath it, who bear the sign of the victory of Thy Cross, which terrifieth the demons, and who call upon Thy good name. Yea, 0 Lord, Who expelled a legion of demons and commanded the deaf and dumb demon and the unclean possessing spirit to depart from man and to leave, never to return; Who destroyest all the array of our invisible foes, Who hast made wise the faithful who know Thee, [saying]: Behold, I give you power to tred on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: do Thou Thyself, 0 Master, Who art beyond all harm and temptation, preserve all who are in this habitation, delivering them from terror by night and the arrow that flieth by day, from the thing that walketh in darkness, from the mishap and demon of noonday; that Thy servants, handmaids and children, who enjoy Thine aid, may all, in oneness of mind, faithfully chant as with one voice: the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me; and again: I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.
For Thou, 0 God, art my confirmation, the mighty Lord, the prince of peace, the Father of the age to come, and Thy kingdom is eternal; and Thine alone is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Translated by Reader Isacc Lambertson from the Euchologion (Trebnik) published by the St. Job of Pochaev Press (Jordanville, N.Y.), Vol. II, pp. 15a-16b.

I had read the book by the exorcist of the Vatican and there were so many different cases. One exorcism was finally completed by an Evangelical and he made mention of it. All in all, he tried to make the cases in his book as broad based as possible.

I know that Saint Nektarios kept trying to exorsize a girl in Greece with a very powerful demon. Saint Nektarios was told by the demon that there were three of them and the other ones were in Russia, (it was the time of the revolution), and in China. I found that interesting.

Another thing that is interesting is that no one can be around an exorcism with the stain of an unconfessed sin. The demon is aware of it and will blurt it out to everyone...more so if it is the exorcist.

Zenovia