本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Vatican training 120 exorcists
Church-linked university offers second year of exorcism course
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROME — A Vatican-recognized university is offering a course in exorcism and diabolic possession for a second year, worried about the devil's lure, particularly among young Italians.
Standing in solemn prayer, about 120 priests, lay people and theology students began the course, which is intended to clear up misconceptions and increase understanding about what makes people turn to the occult.
The opening class of the Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation on Thursday at the Pontifical Academy Regina Apostolorum featured lectures about liturgical and spiritual aspects of Satanism and problems related to exorcism.
"The aim of this course is to express a clear vision of the phenomenon," said Italian Bishop Andrea Gemma, a leading exorcist who delivered the opening lecture.
"Exorcism ... is an important prayer of the Church to help those who are believed to be, or who really are, suffering from a diabolic infestation," he told his audience.
Lectures, which will be broadcast via video to other Pontifical institutes, focus on subjects that range from theological and historical aspects of Satanism to legal and medical issues.
The course is being offered for the second year, after an introductory one was held in February.
Exorcism, the Roman Catholic rite in which demons are expelled from "possessed" persons, is usually administered by priests with the permission of a bishop.
"Devil's action is much more common than people may think," Gemma said, adding that he performs at least four exorcisms a week. He also said that youngsters were particularly at risk.
When the first course opened in February, Italy was gripped by a gruesome case of Satanism, with members of a Satanic sect being investigated in the deaths of three people. Two band members were later convicted of the murders, which occurred in woods near Milan.
In recent years, police have discovered sites in the Castelli hill towns outside Rome where they say Satanic cult followers hold black masses.
Pope Benedict recently welcomed a large group of Italian exorcists who visited the Vatican and encouraged them to carry on in their work "in the service of the Church."
The Rev. Gabriele Nanni, an exorcist and lecturer of the course, told The Associated Press that there were four widely accepted signs of possession by the devil — "speaking in unknown languages, showing a disproportionate physical strength beyond one's natural capacity, the repulsion to sacred things, such as crucifix and prayers, and knowledge of events that have happened far away, in terms of times and places."
Students received a paper detailing a 10-point guide to recognizing and preventing interest in the occult. It includes a suggestion to parents to monitor whether their children wear strange pendants or T-shirts, listen to loud music on home stereos or watch too many horror movies.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Church-linked university offers second year of exorcism course
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROME — A Vatican-recognized university is offering a course in exorcism and diabolic possession for a second year, worried about the devil's lure, particularly among young Italians.
Standing in solemn prayer, about 120 priests, lay people and theology students began the course, which is intended to clear up misconceptions and increase understanding about what makes people turn to the occult.
The opening class of the Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation on Thursday at the Pontifical Academy Regina Apostolorum featured lectures about liturgical and spiritual aspects of Satanism and problems related to exorcism.
"The aim of this course is to express a clear vision of the phenomenon," said Italian Bishop Andrea Gemma, a leading exorcist who delivered the opening lecture.
"Exorcism ... is an important prayer of the Church to help those who are believed to be, or who really are, suffering from a diabolic infestation," he told his audience.
Lectures, which will be broadcast via video to other Pontifical institutes, focus on subjects that range from theological and historical aspects of Satanism to legal and medical issues.
The course is being offered for the second year, after an introductory one was held in February.
Exorcism, the Roman Catholic rite in which demons are expelled from "possessed" persons, is usually administered by priests with the permission of a bishop.
"Devil's action is much more common than people may think," Gemma said, adding that he performs at least four exorcisms a week. He also said that youngsters were particularly at risk.
When the first course opened in February, Italy was gripped by a gruesome case of Satanism, with members of a Satanic sect being investigated in the deaths of three people. Two band members were later convicted of the murders, which occurred in woods near Milan.
In recent years, police have discovered sites in the Castelli hill towns outside Rome where they say Satanic cult followers hold black masses.
Pope Benedict recently welcomed a large group of Italian exorcists who visited the Vatican and encouraged them to carry on in their work "in the service of the Church."
The Rev. Gabriele Nanni, an exorcist and lecturer of the course, told The Associated Press that there were four widely accepted signs of possession by the devil — "speaking in unknown languages, showing a disproportionate physical strength beyond one's natural capacity, the repulsion to sacred things, such as crucifix and prayers, and knowledge of events that have happened far away, in terms of times and places."
Students received a paper detailing a 10-point guide to recognizing and preventing interest in the occult. It includes a suggestion to parents to monitor whether their children wear strange pendants or T-shirts, listen to loud music on home stereos or watch too many horror movies.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net