exorcises

Exorcises refers to rites or acts aimed at expelling demons or other malevolent spirits from a person, place, or object. Across cultures and religions, such practices appear in both formal religious institutions and folk traditions. The word exorcise comes from Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein, meaning to adjure or bind by oath.

In Catholic tradition, exorcism is a formally regulated rite performed by a priest with authorization from hierarchical authority. There are two categories often described: minor exorcisms, which are prayers of intercession used in ordinary pastoral care, and major exorcisms, which are extended rituals specific to cases believed to involve possession. A major exorcism typically requires careful discernment, medical evaluation to rule out physical or mental illness, and the consent of church authorities. The ritual commonly includes biblical invocations, commands to the suspected evil entity, prayers for relief, the sign of the cross, and the use of sacred objects. The aim is to compel the entity to depart and to restore the person to health and Christian life.

Other Christian traditions, including the Orthodox Church, practice exorcisms with similar aims but distinct liturgical forms and oversight. In non-Christian contexts, rituals described as exorcisms appear in Islam (ruqyah), Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and various folk practices, often focusing on cleansing, blessing, or protecting spaces.

In contemporary discourse, explanations for experiences labeled possession range from theological interpretations to medical or psychiatric explanations. Exorcisms can raise ethical concerns, such as consent, safety, and medical neglect, and are subject to legal and professional scrutiny in some jurisdictions.