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Sunday, June 7
Method of Initiating an Inquistion
by
mammon
on Sun 07 Jun 2009 09:00 AM AKDT
The Malleus Maleficarum Series
The Malleus Maleficarum by Kramer and Sprenger, 1489, Excerpts
The first is when someone accuses a person before a judge of the crime of heresy, or of protecting heretics, offering to prove it, and to submit himself to the penalty of talion if he fails to prove it. The second method is when someone denounces a person, but does not offer to prove it and is not willing to embroil himself in the matter. The third method involves an inquisition, that is, when there is no accuser or informer, but a general report that there are witches in some town or place. Let him take note that there are ways by which a witch can be convicted, namely, by witnesses, by direct evidence of the fact, and by her own confession.
First, that her house should be searched as thoroughly as possible, in all holes and corners and chests, top and bottom; and if she is a noted witch, then without doubt, unless she has previously hidden them, there will be found various instruments of witchcraft, as we have shown above.
Secondly, if she has a maid-servant or companions, that she or they should be shut up by themselves; for though they are not accused, yet it is presumed that none of the accused's secrets are hidden from them.
Thirdly, in taking her, if she be taken in her own house, let her not be given time to go into her room; for they are wont to secure in this way, and bring away with them, some object or power of witchcraft which procures them the faculty of keeping silent under examination.
Nicolay Bessonov
Saturday, June 6
Punishment for High Treason against God's Majesty: Torture and Burning
by
mammon
on Sat 06 Jun 2009 09:00 AM AKDT
The Malleus Maleficarum Series
The Malleus Maleficarum by Kramer and Sprenger, 1489, Excerpts
Our main object here is to show how, with God's pleasure, we Inquisitors of Upper Germany may be relieved of the duty of trying witches, and leave them to be punished by their own provincial Judges; and this because of the arduousness of the work: provided always that such a course shall in no way endanger the preservation of the faith and the salvation of souls. And therefore we engaged upon this work, that we might leave to the Judges themselves the methods of trying, judging and sentencing in such cases.
Their opinion is, then, that all witches, diviners, necromancers, and in short all who practise any kind of divination, if they have once embraced and professed the Holy Faith, are liable to the Inquisitorial Court
Witchcraft is high treason against God's Majesty. And so they are to be put to the torture in order to make them confess. Any person, whatsoever his rank or position, upon such an accusation may be put to the torture, and he who is found guilty, even if he confesses his crime, let him be racked, let him suffer all other tortures prescribed by law in order that he may be punished in proportion to his offences.
The Inquisitor of Como has informed us that last year, that is, in 1485, he ordered forty-one witches to be burned, after they had been shaved all over. And this was in the district and county of Burbia, commonly called Wormserbad, in the territory of the Archduke of Austria, towards Milan.
Friday, June 5
Witches Punished as Apostates
by
mammon
on Fri 05 Jun 2009 09:00 AM AKDT
The Malleus Maleficarum Series
The Malleus Maleficarum by Kramer and Sprenger, 1489, Excerpts
The crimes of witches exceed the sins of all others; and we now declare what punishment they deserve, whether as Heretics or as Apostates. Now Heretics are punished in various ways, as by excommunication, deposition, confiscation of their goods, and death.
Heretics, together with their patrons, protectors and defenders, and with their children to the second generation on the father's side, and to the first degree on the mother's side, are admitted to no benefit or office of the Church. And if a Heretic have Catholic children, for the heinousness of his crime they are deprived of their paternal inheritance. And if a man be convicted, and refuse to be converted and abjure his heresy, he must at once be burned, if he is a layman. For if they who counterfeit money are summarily put to death, how much more must they who conterfeit the Faith?
But to punish witches in these ways does not seem sufficient, since they are not simple Heretics, but Apostates. They must not be punished like other Heretics with lifelong imprisonment, but must be made to suffer the extreme penalty.
Thursday, June 4
Changelings
by
mammon
on Thu 04 Jun 2009 09:00 AM AKDT
The Malleus Maleficarum Series
The Malleus Maleficarum by Kramer and Sprenger, 1489, Excerpts
Another terrible thing which God permits to happen to men is when their own children are taken away from women, and strange children are put in their place by devils. And these children, which are commonly called changelings, or in the German tongue Wechselkinder.
And it can be said that the Divine pity permits such things for two reasons. First, when the parents dote upon their children too much, and this a punishment for their own good. Secondly, it is to be presumed that the women to whom such things happen are very superstitious, and are in many other ways seduced by devils.
Wednesday, June 3
Exorcise the Devil
by
mammon
on Wed 03 Jun 2009 09:00 AM AKDT
The Malleus Maleficarum Series
The Malleus Maleficarum by Kramer and Sprenger, 1489, Excerpts
There are still some means by which these devils may be driven away, five ways by which girls or men can be delivered: first, by Sacramental Confession; second, by the Sacred Sign of the Cross, or by the recital of the Angelic Salutation; third, by the use of exorcisms; fourth, by moving to another place; and fifth, by means of excommunication prudently employed by holy men.
In the exorcism of one who is bewitched; he should first have made a good confession, and if possible he is to hold a lighted candle, and receive the Holy Communion; and instead of putting on a chrisom, he is to remain bound naked to a Holy Candle of the length of Christ's body or of the Cross. And then may be said the following:
“I exorcise thee, Peter, or thee, Barbara, being weak but reborn in Holy Baptism, by the living God, by the true God, by God Who redeemed thee with His Precious Blood, that thou mayest be exorcised, that all the illusions and wickedness of the devil's deceits may depart and flee from thee together with every unclean spirit, adjured by Him Who will come to judge both the quick and the dead, and who will purge the earth with fire. Amen.”
And let the exorcist continually sprinkle him with Holy Water. And note that this method is recommended, not because it must be rigidly observed, or that other exorcisms are not of greater efficacy, but that there should be some regular system of exorcism and adjuration. And this sort of exorcism may be continued at least three times a week, that so through many intercessions the grace of health may be obtained.
When the exorcist is not ordained to the Order of Exorcist, then he may proceed with prayers
But if anyone asks what is the difference between the aspersion of Holy Water and exorcism, since both are ordained against the plagues of the devil, the answer is supplied by S. Thomas, who says: The devil attacks us from without and from within. Therefore Holy Water is ordained against his attacks from without; but exorcism against those from within.
But in exorcising a bewitched person both methods are to be used, because he is tormented both within and without.
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