2023-10-10 16:50:00
The one we met, by the name of Robert Erpicum, was chosen by the Belgian Church to occupy the position of official exorcist of the Church. He didn’t respond to us in Latin but has a soft Belgian accent. On the other hand, like the hero of the film, he was confronted with strange phenomena. On the eve of the release of the film “THE EXORCIST: DEVOTION” (The Exorcist: Believer), he tells us everything regarding his mission.
What exactly is an exorcist?
“The exorcist has two functions: listening, but real listening at the level of the heart. And then prayer with great confidence.”
What makes you different from other priests?
“In the old days, all priests were exorcists. Before, everyone was automatically without practice. Now it’s different.”
What exactly does an exorcism session consist of?
“People come to see us. We sit down, we ask them why they come and then we try to get them to say as clearly as possible what is making them suffer. One person talks, the other stays silent and prays. it creates a climate of listening and very slowly, people speak and explain to us what is happening to them. When we have listened carefully, we ask the person if they want a prayer of deliverance to give them peace. We often begin with a psalm then we take a formula for prayer of liberation.”
Exorcism is still popular within the Catholic Church: “Trembling, grimaces, vomiting, there are sometimes impressive reactions”
What do you think of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist?
“I have not seen it. I’ve only seen a few pictures. This film was made for people who like horror stories but not to help better understand what an exorcism really is, which is a fight between good and evil.”
“The Exorcist: Believer.” sort en salles ce mercredi. © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Are there any sessions that particularly struck you?
“One day, a young Armenian girl arrived with her mother. She was experiencing a split personality. Sometimes she would start speaking with a deep and aggressive voice. When we prayed for her, she said with a different voice “you will not be able to make me go away!”. I felt unable to control the situation. I prayed silently until she said “that’s it, she’s gone”.
Don’t cases like this fall more within the purview of psychiatry?
“Most often, the people who consult me have already been to psychologists. Our attitude is to say: ‘have you seen a doctor or a psychologist? Start by taking the treatment you have been prescribed.’ Sometimes we have meetings between psychologists and exorcists where we share our experiences. Some psychiatrists tell us that they feel incapable of doing something.”
How often do we contact you?
“Every week. Some people only come once, others come back. Indeed, I remember a young man who was full of talent but who was schizophrenic and came regularly for eight years. He told us he felt at peace when he left.”
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Do you feel that there is an evolution in what is expected of you?
“What struck me more and more is that the public reflects the public of Brussels: an astonishing mix of origins with different cultures. You must always be careful not to talk to just anyone.”
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