Laity And Deliverance/ Exorcism

[Shana]

Could you direct me to some authoritative sources that could give me a better idea of the role of laity, and of priests who haven't been assigned by their bishops as exorcists, in deliverance and exorcism? I'm not talking about the solemn exorcism rite that can only be done by authorized priests. Is it OK, and if so when, for say- a lay person, to pray against evil spirits in the name of Jesus? I want to know what the Church officially teaches on this as I'm getting different answers from some more charismatic resources and from other sources. Thanks.

Edited August 28, 2011 by Shana

[phatcatholic]

I am certainly no expert on this, but my understanding is that the laity only have authority to expel evil by way of intercession (for example, by praying the Lord's Prayer, or requesting the aid of Mary and the saints -- particularly one's guardian angel or St. Michael the Archangel) in conjunction with the use of sacramentals (holy water, rosary, crucifix, etc.). The laity have been doing this almost from the very beginning of the Church. However, only a duly authorized exorcist can actually [i][b]command[/b][/i] a demon to be gone or perform an exorcism on someone who is oppressed or possessed by the devil.

For more on this, I suggest the following books:

-- [i]An Exorcist Tells His Story[/i] by Fr. Gabriele Amorth
-- [i]An Exorcist: More Stories[/i] by Fr. Gabriele Amorth
-- [i]Interview with an Exorcist[/i] by Fr. Jose Antonio Fortea
-- [i]Deliverance from Evil Spirits: A Weapon for Spiritual Warfare[/i] by Fr. Michael Scanlan,TOR
-- [i]Exorcism and the Church Militant[/i] by Fr. Thomas Euteneuer
-- [i]The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist[/i] by Matt Baglio

Also, these articles:

-- [url="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5786"]"The Dark Backward"[/url] by Tom Hoopes
-- Fr. John A. Hardon Archives: "[url="http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Demonology.htm"]Demonology"[/url] (11 articles)
-- [url="http://www.catholiceducation.org/links/jump.cgi?ID=2728"]"Demonic Possession and Exorcism"[/url] by Fr. William Saunders
-- [url="http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features/framorth_excerpt1_aug04.asp"]"The Power of Satan"[/url] by Fr. Gabriele Amorth
-- [url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/NEWAGE/EXORPOW.HTM"]"Who Has the Power to Exorcise Demons?"[/url], EWTN "Cults and New Age" Forum
-- [url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/NEWAGE/EXORPROT.TXT"]"Mk 9:38-41 and the Validity of Protestant and Other Unauthorized Exorcisms"[/url], EWTN "Cults and New Age" Forum
-- [url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/ritereflexorc.HTM"]"Movie Review of 'The Rite' and a Reflection on the Church's Rite of Exorcism"[/url] by Msgr. Charles Pope

Relevant Church documents:
-- [url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFEXORC.HTM"][i]Inde Ab Aliquot Annis[/i] (On the Current Norms Governing Exorcisms)[/url], by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Sept. 29, 1984)
-- [i]Code of Canon Law[/i] (1983), [url="http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P46.HTM#7F"]Can. 1172[/url]
-- [i]Catechism of the Catholic Church[/i], [url="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c4a1.htm#1673"]Art. 1673[/url]