exorcism
Derivation
- Greek: ex, out; horkizo, solemnly command
About
The act or ceremony of driving out demons from possessed persons, places, or things, or of protecting them from the influence of evil spirits. The practise is based on teachings of the Bible. Certain things are exorcised in blessing them, as holy water. In the prayer used in blessing holy water, God is besought to protect those who use it against the influence of the devil. Exorcism is part of the ceremonies of baptism. The Roman Ritual contains the ceremony of exorcism proper.
Associations in Art
- Saint Ambercius Marcellus; performing an exorcism on the daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius
- Saint Anselm of Canterbury; performing an exorcism on a monk
- Saint Tryphon of Lampsacus; exorcising a demon from a girl in a palace
MLA Citation
- “exorcism”. New Catholic Dictionary. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 February 2010. Web. 25 April 2024. <http://catholicsaints.info/exorcism/>