Books

Manual of Minor Exorcisms, Prayers for those in Spiritual Affliction, Porteous

Fr Nicholas Dillon

Contents - Oct 2012 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The Year of Faith and Catechism of the Catholic Church - Michael Gilchrist Anglican Ordinariate: Melbourne ordinations: historic day for Church in Australia - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World Universities: Cardinal Pell's tertiary ministry at Sydney's universities - Br Barry Coldrey The Year of Faith and true unity of faith - Cardinal Raymond Burke Missions: Father Raphael: dynamic Nigerian parish priest - Madonna Brosnan History: Melbourne Catholics: Dr Mannix's impact - Patrick Morgan The new evangelisation and the culture of life - Anne Lastman Liturgical Music: Vatican II: Singing nourishes faith ... raises minds to God - Bishop Arthur Serratelli G.K. Chesterton on the decay of Western Christianity - Donald Boland Schools: Saint Mary MacKillop Colleges, Wagga Wagga: progress report - Charles Morton Letters: Information - Robert Bom Letters: Nuclear family - Leon Voesenek Letters: Harm-minimisation - Arnold Jago Letters: Financial capitalism - Peter D. Howard Letters: Christian unity - Andrew Sholl Letters: Real Presence - Cedric Wright Letters: Biblical assertions - Frank Mobbs Books: AN AMAZING LOVE, by Father Ken Barker - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: Manual of Minor Exorcisms, Prayers for those in Spiritual Affliction, Porteous - Fr Nicholas Dillon Support: 2012 Fighting Fund Progress Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: The Year of Faith and the Church's missionary role - Fr Dennis W. Byrnes

MANUAL OF MINOR EXORCISMS
(Catholic Truth Society, 2012, 80pp, $14.95. ISBN: 978-1-86082-802-7.

PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN SPIRITUAL AFFLICTION
(Catholic Truth Society, 2012, 35pp, $4.95. ISBN: 978-1-86082-792-1. Both available through Freedom Publishing)

Both compiled and introduced by Bishop Julian Porteous

Over recent years various claims have been made that suspected diabolical manifestations are on the increase. This has run parallel with a tendency by many in the Church to downplay the notion of evil, relegating the demonic to a bygone era when we did not enjoy the bright and enlightened reasoning of the modern age.

In 2001 Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, then Archbishop of Genoa, created quite some controversy by dedicating his Lenten pastoral letter to the topic of resisting Satan. He listed ten rules, the first of which is "Do not forget that the Devil exists". A good and necessary reminder for us all!

Two booklets compiled by Bishop Julian Porteous of Sydney are a valuable aid to priests and people in the daily battle that exists between good and evil in the world.

The Manual of Minor Exorcisms is a very helpful resource that fills a noticeable gap in the tools available to priests for assisting those experiencing spiritual affliction. In the first part Bishop Porteous offers a good introduction to the reality of the Devil, the varying degrees of oppression and possession, the danger of being exposed to the powers of darkness, and a description of the various forms of exorcism (a priestly ministry) and prayers of deliverance (open to all the baptised).

Bishop Porteous is careful to point out the need for prudent discernment as to the nature of any affliction that a person presents with. Sometimes this will mean a priest working in co-operation with other professionals, particularly if the person exhibits psychological problems.

The second part of the booklet provides various prayers of minor exorcism. This begins with the reminder that a priest should first investigate whether there is need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, emphasising that the person's own spiritual dispositions are important.

Two prayers that will be welcomed are the blessing of holy water and salt and the various forms for blessing a home. To have these readily at hand in a small book will appeal to many priests. The other prayers are a rich source from which priests may draw to assist people seeking help.

The other booklet aims to provide prayers, consolation and support for those experiencing spiritual affliction. Here Bishop Porteous responds to a pastoral need that is becoming more and more apparent in our time, given the widespread oppression caused by gambling, pornography and substance abuse.

Often through a lack of formation people have a weakened sense of right and wrong and are easily coerced into sinful habits. Bishop Porteous is careful to point out that demonic attack is not just a danger for those who have fallen into sinful lifestyles or have fragile personalities. He reminds us that people well advanced in the Christian life can experience intense struggles against demonic activity.

In the various prayers and litanies for protection and deliverance which Bishop Porteous has compiled, the faithful will find a sure source of spiritual comfort and a means for obtaining God's grace and protection. This booklet would be a very useful addition to any Catholic home and a helpful gift for those we know to be experiencing spiritual affliction.

These booklets deserve wide circulation and Bishop Porteous is to be commended for addressing a topic that has been ignored for too long.

Fr Nicholas Dillon is Parish Priest of St Philip's, Blackburn North, in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 25 No 9 (October 2012), p. 17