EXCERPTED FROM: Fr John Corrigan: Lessons learned from an exorcism course, By Fr John Corrigan – June 13, 2019, The Catholic Weekly
If you read reports in secular media, you might conclude that the Vatican runs an annual “crash course” on exorcism which certifies 250 or so new exorcists each year.Having just returned from the so-called “Exorcism Course,” I can confirm it is nothing like that. Seven Aussies and two Kiwis attended this year’s course, and only one of us was an exorcist — an assignment he received some 40 years ago, quite independent of the Vatican course.
Most of the Australians present were priests like me, less than ten years ordained, who have recognised a deficiency in our priestly training. (In saying that, I don’t mean to criticise our seminary formation. It’s an impossible task, to condense the expanse
of the Church’s pastoral wisdom and practice into seven years of study.)
In ordinary parish settings, we have encountered people who are fearful of demonic activity in their lives, and others who are happily and obstinately ensconced in New Age practices.
We all felt that we lacked sufficient means to competently and confidently respond to our people’s needs.
THE CONFERENCE WAS A GREAT HELP IN RESOLVING A REAL PASTORAL DEFICIENCY. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO INTERESTED PRIESTS.
While most participants were priests, there were also many lay faithful. Some were medical professionals: physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists. Some were experts in demonology; others run healing retreats and prayer apostolates.
For the first time, an invitation was extended to Christians from other denominations, which attracted a small number of Anglicans, Episcopalians and Evangelical Protestants.
Continue reading at: Fr John Corrigan: Lessons learned from an exorcism course
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