"Believe not every spirit" : possession, mysticism, & discernment in early modern Catholicism

From 1400 through 1700, the number of reports of demonic possessions among European women was extraordinarily high. During the same period, a new type of mysticism—popular with women—emerged that greatly affected the risk of possession and, as a result, the practice of exorcism. Many feared that in moments of rapture, women, who had surrendered their souls to divine love, were not experiencing the work of angels, but rather the ravages of demons in disguise. So how then, asks Moshe Sluhovsky, were practitioners of exorcism to distinguish demonic from divine possessions? Drawing on unexplored accounts of mystical schools and spiritual techniques, testimonies of the possessed, and exorcism manuals, __Believe Not Every Spirit__ examines how early modern Europeans dealt with this dilemma. The personal experiences of practitioners, Sluhovsky shows, trumped theological knowledge. Worried that this could lead to a rejection of Catholic rituals, the church reshaped the meaning and practices of exorcism, transforming this healing rite into a means of spiritual interrogation. In its efforts to distinguish between good and evil, the church developed important new explanatory frameworks for the relations between body and soul, interiority and exteriority, and the natural and supernatural. "From 1400 through 1700, the number of reports of demonic possessions among European women was extraordinarily high. During the same period, a new type of mysticis--popular with women--emerged that greatly affected the risk of possession and, as a result, the practice of exorcism. Many feared that in moments of rapture, women, who had surrendered their souls to divine love, were not experiencing the work of angels, but rather the ravages of demons in disguise. So how then, asks Moshe Sluhovsky, were practitioners of exorcism to distinguish demonic from divine possessions? Drawing on unexplored accounts of mystical schools and spiritual techniques, testimonies of the possessed, and exorcism manuals, Believe Not Every Spirit examines how early modern Europeans dealt with this dilemma. The personal experiences of practitioners, Sluhovsky shows, trumped theological knowledge. Worried that this could lead to a rejection of Catholic rituals, the church reshaped the meaning and practices of exorcism, transforming this healing rite into a means of spiritual interrogation. In its efforts to distinguish between good and evil, the church developed important new explanatory frameworks for the relations between body and soul, interiority and exteriority, and the natural and supernatural." http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0827/2006018189-d.html

from 1400 Through 1700, The Number Of Reports Of Demonic Possessions Among European Women Was Extraordinarily High. During The Same Period, A New Type Of Mysticism—popular With Women—emerged That Greatly Affected The Risk Of Possession And, As A Result, The Practice Of Exorcism. Many Feared That In Moments Of Rapture, Women, Who Had Surrendered Their Souls To Divine Love, Were Not Experiencing The Work Of Angels, But Rather The Ravages Of Demons In Disguise. So How Then, Asks Moshe Sluhovsky, Were Practitioners Of Exorcism To Distinguish Demonic From Divine Possessions?

 

drawing On Unexplored Accounts Of Mystical Schools And Spiritual Techniques, Testimonies Of The Possessed, And Exorcism Manuals, believe Not Every Spirit examines How Early Modern Europeans Dealt With This Dilemma. The Personal Experiences Of Practitioners, Sluhovsky Shows, Trumped Theological Knowledge. Worried That This Could Lead To A Rejection Of Catholic Rituals, The Church Reshaped The Meaning And Practices Of Exorcism, Transforming This Healing Rite Into A Means Of Spiritual Interrogation. In Its Efforts To Distinguish Between Good And Evil, The Church Developed Important New Explanatory Frameworks For The Relations Between Body And Soul, Interiority And Exteriority, And The Natural And Supernatural.

Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 Part I Possession & Exorcism......Page 22 1 Trivializing Possession......Page 24 2 The Prevalence of a Mundane Practice......Page 44 3 From Praxis to Prescribed Ritual......Page 72 Part II Mysticism......Page 106 4 La Spiritualité à la Mode......Page 108 5 Contemplation, Possession, & Sexual Misconduct......Page 148 Part III Discernment......Page 178 6 Anatomy of the Soul......Page 180 7 Discerning Women......Page 218 Part IV Intersections......Page 242 8 The Devil in the Convent......Page 244 9 Conclusions......Page 276 Notes......Page 280 Bibiliography......Page 336 Index......Page 372 From 1400 through 1700, many feared that in moments of rapture European women who had surrendered their souls to divine love were not experiencing the work of angels, but rather the ravages of demons in disguise. This work examines how early modern Europeans dealt with this dilemma.