Wednesday Liturgy: Deacons and Exorcisms

ROME, FEB. 1, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.

Q: Can deacons perform the rite of exorcism or be appointed by their bishops to serve as exorcists? I'm not interested in doing so, but with more movies coming out recently on the topic, I am trying to anticipate this question from parishioners. -- J.L., Oswego, New York

A: The word exorcism is used in two ways. First of all, it is used to describe certain rites in which the minister asks God to keep someone or something from the power of the evil one. This is the general sense of the rite of exorcism performed during baptism, and a deacon can obviously perform this rite since he is an ordinary minister of the sacrament.

Second, an exorcism is an order made to a demon in Christ's name to leave a person he has possessed or a place or thing he has infested. With respect to this rite, No. 11 of the Rite of Exorcism says, "The minister of the rite is exclusively a priest who by reason of his piety, knowledge, prudence and integrity of life is considered by the Ordinary as suitable to this ministry and has been expressly authorized by him to exercise it" [my translation].

Therefore, in this sense a deacon may not perform an exorcism.