The Rite

Don't be afraid.

Do you believe in sin?

There's nothing to believe.

"The battle against the Devil, which is the principal task of Saint Michael the Archangel, is still being fought today, because the Devil is still alive and active in the world." Pope John Paul II

What follows is inspired by true events.

- You finished? - Yep.

Then wash up and come eat.

I've washed up.

Well, then eat.

And when you're done, I'll need a hand with the casket.

How'd she do it?

What?

Kill herself.

Michael, I've told you this many times.

We serve the dead, but we don't talk about them.

It brings bad things.

We keep dead people in the house, Dad.

How much worse could it get?

- Are you kidding me? - No, Eddie. I'm not kidding.

Wait, why?

So I can get out of here.

Why not tell him you wanna go to college? I mean, you got the grades. You can do it.

- You think he'd pay for that? - Shit, man. Seminary school?

Wait, wait, wait. Wait. Seminary school, really?

Wait, is this your way of telling me you're gay? I'm just joking. Okay? Joking.

Man, you don't get it. In my family, you're either a mortician or a priest. That's it.

Well, then change your name.

It's too late. I took the entrance exam.

- You what? I passed.

I'm leaving Monday.

That's- That's crazy.

Dude, I've looked into it.

It's a four-year degree before you even take your first vows.

If it doesn't work out, I can always leave.

Wow. Such faith.

You know what, Eddie? You're such a dick.

Cool. Awesome. Whatever, dude.

I will never confess to you. You know that, right?

These are on the house.

Wow. - Gonna get heat for giving away beers?

Not if they don't know.

How about for banging the customers?

Screw you, Eddie.

Drink up. I'm off in 10.

Lickety-split.

"Lickety-split"? Pbbb.

You better make the most of that before they chop your wiener off.

Goodbye, wiener.

Don't worry.

The pain is gone.

God has taken it...

...away.

Michael. Come.

Don't be afraid.

Four years later

This is always a special Mass for me...

...as I look upon our new deacons...

...as they prepare to go into the world with Christ's message.

So in the next few months, you will face your last assessments...

...and then be asked to take your final vows to become priests.

So I leave you with these words to consider, from the Gospel of Saint John:

You did not choose me...

...it was I who chose you...

...and I send you forth to bear fruit that will last.

Michael.

Exam results.

You aced psychology.

- Art history too. Congratulations. - Thank you.

So, what happened with theology?

It's like you blew it on purpose.

I've been distracted. End of the year, that's all.

Drop by my office this week. We'll discuss it.

Okay.

[GUNFIRE PLAYING ON VIDEO GAME]

Yeah, jump. Take him out.

Dude, honestly?

Michael!

Michael, wait!

Call an ambulance!

Bless me, Father.

Father.

Bless me.

Please, Father.

I don't wanna die like this.

Uh, through the power vested in me:

Let the fire of the Holy Spirit descend, that this being may be awakened...

...in the world beyond the life of this earth...

...and infused with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus Christ, I ask that you receive this child-

What's your name?

Sandra.

I ask you to receive this child, Sandra, into your loving arms...

...that she might pass in safety from this crisis...

...as you have taught us with infinite passion.

By this sign, you are anointed with the grace of the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ...

...and absolved of all past error and freed to take your place...

...in the world he has prepared for us.

Amen.

Michael.

I still don't even understand how it happened.

You shouldn't think about it.

It was an accident. Really.

It's hard not to think about.

I feel somewhat responsible.

You know the average age of a nun these days?

Sixty-nine.

Three thousand parishes across the U.S. Don't even have a priest anymore.

You give this speech to everyone who tries to leave?

No, just those I believe in.

I quit smoking and now I'm addicted to these.

You know, what I saw the other night, it was really something.

I know experienced priests who wouldn't have handled that.

I just repeated a few prayers over a suffering girl.

And the words meant nothing to you?

Father, listen to me, did you understand my letter?

Yes, I decided not to pass it on to my superiors.

- Why not? - I think you're making a mistake.

I think this is the part where I say, "It's not you, it's me" and "Let's just be friends."

Here's the thing.

Tastes like shit.

If a seminarian doesn't complete his vows, then under Article 15...

...the Church has the right to convert the scholarship to a student loan.

That's over 100 grand of education you'd owe us.

Why would you do that?

Oh, no, no, no. I'm not saying I'm going to do it...

...just yet.

You were a mortician before you joined us, am I right?

I imagine that means you're not very squeamish.

What is this about?

Last year, the Vatican received over a half a million reports of demonic possession.

- That's something of a record. - I'm still not following.

An order has been passed down...

...to place an exorcist in every diocese across the U.S. By this time next year.

As you might imagine, it's not a highly sought-after position.

There's a new program at the Vatican...

...designed to reteach the clergy the rite of exorcism.

I've been asked to keep an eye out for potential candidates.

Wait a minute, you...

You want me to be an exorcist?

Why?

Why would you want me?

I don't know what I believe in.

That's right.

I remember in your letter...

...you explained how you used the priesthood to run away from things.

The truth is, you could have run in any direction, but you ran here.

Why?

Just take the course.

And then if you still wanna leave when you get back, we can talk about it then.

Two months in Rome. How bad could that be?

Keep the change. Thank you.

I'm guessing there's no cable.

By the time an exorcist is called to assess a possible possession...

...the parish priest would have ensured...

...that all psychiatric explanations had been exhausted.

He would have questioned the possessed himself...

...and forwarded his assessment on to his bishop.

With the bishop's permission...

...an exorcist is then summoned to determine possession.

Often, early signs of a possession are subtle.

Social withdrawal...

...apathy...

...a persistent tremor in a limb.

It can go unnoticed until the victim is deep within...

...the demonic spirit's grasp.

This was taken at an exorcism in Turin.

The woman survived without food or water for eight weeks...

...before the demon released her.

This man's jaw spontaneously dislocated while being read the Lord's Prayer.

He made no physical contact with any object...

...nor was he met with any physical force.

Demons are the devil's foot soldiers...

...often operating in groups much like a squadron...

...infesting their victims.

It is the job of an exorcist...

...to determine the number of possessing demons and their names...

...something the demons protect with great ferocity.

And when the exorcist has a name...

...he can then begin to assert control over the entity...

...and cast it out.

Who have we here?

- Michael Kovak. - I'm sorry?

Michael Kovak.

Oh, yes.

The American.

- Yeah. Sorry I'm late. - Yes, I prefer punctuality to apologies.

Welcome. Sit down.

Die, priest, die!

The most identifiable sign of a possession...

...is the negative reaction to sacred objects.

Crucifixes, holy water.

The man that you have just heard...

...was reacting to a crucifix placed on his head.

Excuse me, Father. Yes?

What if he was suffering from the delusion that he's possessed?

Wouldn't he react in the same way?

Admittedly, it's very easy to confuse psychotic illness with possession.

It's up to the exorcist to discern the difference.

So how do you do that?

Well, there are many ways.