MENGHI, Girolamo

by Girolamo Menghi

£4,950 · Offered by Sokol Books

Excellent editions of two of the most important and influential works on exorcism of the sixteenth century by the most authoritative exorcist of Renaissance Italy, the Franciscan, Girolamo Menghi. Both these works were later included in the authoritative collection on exorcisms the Thesaurus exorcismorum . Menghi was born in Viadana in the province of Mantua. At the age of 20 he joined the Fransciscan order, rising to the level of provincial superior in 1598. A theologian and exorcist, he practised in Bologna, and was known as the father of the exorcists art . His best known work, Flagellum Daemonum was translated into Italian and published in 1576, as Compendio dell arte essorcisica so it would reach the widest audience possible. Girolamo Menghi s Flagellum Daemonum (the Devil s Scourge), (was) originally published in Venice in 1576. This was a collection of seven rites of exorcism with detailed instructions on the preparation of the priest and the victim and what sorts of gestures or paraphernalia the priest should employ. No magic wands are mentioned, but the priest could make the Sign of the Cross with great frequency and drape the victim with his stole. He could use his book of exorcism, holy water, fire, or images of the devil. Various herbs or minerals burnt in smudges could help drive out the devil. Various sacramentals had to be specially blest - in essence, purified to make sure they had no diabolic residue - and there are rites of blessing given in this manual as w

• Binding: Hardcover

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