Fr. Z's Blog

St. Margaret beating the Devil with a hammer.

UPDATE 17 April 2019:

A while ago I had a request from an exorcist of a US diocese for a recording not only of Chapter 3, but also of Chapter 2.  “Euge! Euge!”, quoth I, “It is, however, long.   But I’ll tackle it.”

It’s long, alright.  I broke it into three files.  Actually, four, since I snipped off the final prayer into its own file.  I did NOT, as last time, provide a half-speed version.  Too much.  And if you are at this point, Father, where you need half speed for the Latin, you might need more than my recordings, if you get my drift.

I will NOT give these to lay people, so don’t even ask.   I will give them to priests who are “on the job”, as it were, especially working as exorcists.

Drop me a line: HERE 

Put in the email subject line: LATIN EXORCISM RECORDING [Exactly that, please, if you want me to respond]. Tell me who you are and where you are and WHICH CHAPTER you need.  

The new recording is NOT half speed, but I speak quite deliberately, compared to my usual pace.  I try to be precise, especially in the exorcism prayers.   There are… whew… a lot of psalms and I might speed up a little.

Again, bishops and priests only.

I will not divulge who asked.  So, even if you are a bishop whose Latin isn’t great, I won’t give you up.

BTW… Once upon a time, I asked an an exorcist about my comment (below) about demons mocking bad Latin.  He related to me what another exorcist told him.  The demon mocked the bad Latin but said that, even as bad as it was, it was still killing him!

The Devil hates Latin.

So, now I have both the entirety of Title XI Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.

___ Originally Published on: Sep 30, 2016

Dunstan 1 – Devil 0

UPDATE:

From a priest reader:

I have been a priest of the archdiocese for 32 years and I am a good friend and co-worker in exorcism and deliverance ministry with….  Demons frequently mock and ridicule poor pronunciation of Latin when they manifest during the rite. We are tired of this distracting tactic.

Original Published on: Sep 30, 2016
___

This is the time of year when we give special attention to the Holy Angels, who do so much for us.   At the same time, we also remember the vile work of the Enemy of the soul and the fallen angels, who hate us with brilliant and undying malice.

On that last note, I was contacted by a priest friend who is doing some training of exorcists.  He asked me to record in Latin the Chapter 3 of Title XI from the Rituale Romanum, used for exorcisms of infested places, etc.  This is not the exorcism of possessed persons.  That’s Chapter 2.

The rubrics at the beginning of this chapter say:

Sequens exorcismus recitari potest ab Episcopis, nec non a Sacerdotibus, qui ab Ordinariis suis ad id auctoritatem habeant.

The following exorcism can be pronounced by bishops, as well as by priests who have  authorization for this from their Ordinaries.

The Devil and fallen angels hate Latin.  Exorcists will often say that the older rite, from the Rituale Romanum in Latin is more effective.  I have also heard them say that demons mock badly used Latin.   Consider how a soldier drills and drills with his weapon, even stripping it down and reassembling it blindfolded, so that when he uses it, it functions properly and he doesn’t do more harm than good with it.  It is important to get it right.   The higher the stakes and the more potent the weapon, the more important it is to get it right.

This is my little contribution to exorcists so that they can be more effect in the field.

I will make my recordings available to priests, with the understanding that they use them properly and with the support of their Ordinaries.   Remember that “Ordinary” can mean many things in law.  A Vicar General of the Diocese is an “Ordinary”.  The rubric says “Ordinary”, not the Diocesan Bishop.  There are times when there is not diocesan bishop in a diocese, but there are ordinaries.  But I digress.

If you are not a priest or bishop, don’t bother asking for the recording.  Period.  If I get an email that says something like, “I’m not a priest, but…”, I will delete it.  If I get an email saying, “I’m Father’s parish secretary.  Father asked me to write to you because he doesn’t use email”, I’ll delete it.

“But Father! But Father!”, some of you might be complaining.  “I’m not a priest, but I want to hear this!  You have to make this available to everyone! We have RIGHTS, but you hate Vatican II, don’t you.  Give us these recordings NOW!”

No.

“But Father! But Father!”, you persist.  “We’ll complain that you aren’t sharing!  We’ll write nasty letters to your bishop and make incessant phone calls just like certain writer for the Fishwrap!  We’ll….”

I gave my short answer.  Here’s my longer anser.

Nooooooooo.

I made two recordings. I have a recording of

• Chapter 3 read deliberately, pedantically, with careful pronunciation.  I omit rubrics, which you would not read aloud.
• that same recording of Chapter 3 slowed down to 0.7 speed.

I did these recordings in mp3 at 128 bits, but I also saved them in 64 bits, slightly lesser quality but also less bulky, easier to send.

Drop me a line: HERE 

Put in the email subject line: LATIN EXORCISM RECORDING [Exactly that, please.]. Tell me who you are and where you are.  Again, bishops and priests only.  

BISHOPS NB: I won’t tell anyone who wrote to me, so if you are not comfortable yet with Latin, your secret is safe with me.  It seems to me that some of you avoid traditional rites in Latin because you don’t want to be seen not to be comfortable with it.  Don’t let that stop you.  Also, if you need to do something in Latin, CONTACT ME and I’ll record it for you, speaking or singing.  Entirely sub stola.

If there is need for Chapter 2, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

Moderation queue is ON.

PS: Once upon a time I had a bit of a series for priests called PRAYERCAzTs.  I am not averse to reviving it, if there is interest.