Article 1 SACRAMENTALS

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church

1673
When
the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a
person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn
from his dominion, it is called exorcism. Jesus performed exorcisms and from
him the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing.¹⁷⁶ In a
simple form, exorcism is performed at the celebration of Baptism. the solemn
exorcism, called “a major exorcism,” can be performed only by a priest
and with the permission of the bishop. the priest must proceed with prudence,
strictly observing the rules established by the Church. Exorcism is directed at
the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through
the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church. Illness,
especially psychological illness, is a very different matter; treating this is
the concern of medical science. Therefore, before an exorcism is performed, it
is important to ascertain that one is dealing with the presence of the Evil
One, and not an illness.¹⁷⁷