EYNATTEN, Maximilian

by Maximilian Eynatten

£1,750 · Offered by Sokol Books

A popular and practical manual of exorcism, first published 1619. The first part, a general preparation for putative exorcists, encourages them to work closely with doctors. Indeed, the first sign of a possession is that a doctor has been unable to identify the source of an illness and that their cure is not working. Exorcists are instructed to look for signs of demonic possession that are identical with many of the symptoms of natural diseases; because demons are created by God and have only been traduced into hating him, it makes sense that they should try to hide behind symptoms of illnesses that are likewise part of His creation. It is therefore incumbent upon exorcists to study both medical and theological works to identify when symptoms are natural or otherwise, something Eynatten admits is very difficult. Bewitched people often exhibit the signs of common fevers, for example, or the kinds of seizures suffered by epileptics. He goes on to say that doctors will very rarely attribute symptoms to the poison of demonic possession, believing most illnesses to be caused by noxious imbalances in the body, but that the exorcist must nonetheless follow advice given by doctors. There are, however, specific signs of possession: aversion to the scriptures; extraordinary thrashing about; being unable to enter churches; extreme perturbation when in contact with the eucharistic wafer, relics or holy water. Before entering, many demons will appear to their victims in nightmares, in hor

• Binding: Hardcover

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