The acknowledgment of evil as an undesirable and fearsome force, capable of individual or collective harm, is known in virtually every culture of the world. Ancient man sought answers to questions ranging from how the universe came to be to why man’s life must ultimately come to an end. The grandeur and complexity of the cosmos and human life led inquisitive man to seek answers outside of his immediate realm, beyond the natural world. Consequently, he sought answers from forces beyond his immediate control, powers or spirits that at times favored him and at other times opposed him. These forces he could only deduce were divine in nature, possessing qualities and temperaments similar to those experienced by humans.
In the three monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the one true revealed God is accepted as Creator, fully omnipotent, fully omniscient, and fully good toward mankind and the created order. A covenantal relationship was established between God and man, which each religion understands and implements differently. Nevertheless, evil exists and wreaks havoc of all sorts, thus challenging people of faith to take a closer, more insightful look at the nature and intricacies of evil and how it relates to the already well-established premise of an all-loving and all-powerful God (known as theodicy). However, every religion, on the basis of its understanding of evil, also utilizes means to minimize or eradicate evil’s power or influence over persons or in areas populated by people.
Several institutions and programs have been developed to empower individuals in spiritual warfare, providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to confront and overcome the forces of darkness. Here's an overview of some notable exorcism schools and training programs:
The International School of Exorcism® and Advanced Academy of Deliverance® (ISE & AAD)
The International School of Exorcism® and Advanced Academy of Deliverance® have been developed to empower spiritual warriors so they may more effectively fight and overcome the forces of darkness. The curriculum was developed by Dr. Get your very own Cross of Deliverance symbolizing the aggressive approach of this ministry in confronting the Forces of Darkness. Each Cross is anointed and prayed over personally by Bob. He declares that each one will be recognized in Hell as a visible extension of confidence in the victory over Satan by the Crucifixion of Christ.
Cross of Deliverance
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Key aspects of ISE & AAD:
- Curriculum: Developed to empower spiritual warriors.
- Cross of Deliverance: Symbolizes an aggressive approach in confronting forces of darkness, anointed and prayed over personally.
The Pope Leo XIII Institute
The Pope Leo XIII Institute, a private, non-profit organization has been established for the total education & training of priests in the holy ministry of exorcism and deliverance. The Institute is independent. It is not associated with, and receives no funds from any diocese or formal organization in the current structure of the Catholic Church. It functions solely on private contributions.
Everything the Institute does occurs within the context of contemplative prayer. The spiritual development and prayer life of each priest is the bedrock to this ministry. The Holy Spirit confers the gifts of spiritual discernment necessary to ascertain the presence of evil, and Jesus Christ is the true exorcist who works through the actions of His priests.
Relying upon experienced exorcists and theologians, as well as experts in the field of medicine, and psychiatry, law, and education, the Institute formulated a broad curriculum of intensive, in-depth educational programming. Mentoring and consultation services exist to support clergy and laity in ensuring fidelity with standards of church teaching and health care.
In accordance with psychiatric medicine and formal church teaching, the Institute provides clergy with a font of rudimentary background information and basic knowledge concerning fundamental spiritual manifestations, the myriad types and functions of spirits, and the dynamics of multiple destructive manifestations of evil. Learn more about our programs and curriculum today.
The Eucharist is at the heart of our days, anchoring all our study and prayer, as both their source and summit. The Institute regards adoration as one of the most precious treasures in priestly formation because it is a time when what is learned during the academic sessions can be brought before Christ. We begin each module with a silent retreat, in order to allow participants to focus on Christ and to prepare for the courses through prayer.
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Key features of the Pope Leo XIII Institute:
- Focus: Total education and training of priests in exorcism and deliverance.
- Independence: Not associated with any diocese or formal Catholic Church organization.
- Approach: Contemplative prayer, spiritual discernment, and reliance on experienced experts.
- Curriculum: Intensive and in-depth educational programming.
- Eucharist and Adoration: Central to study and prayer.
Pope Leo XIII Institute
Course on Trauma, Dissociation, and Spiritual Bondage
Combining biblical truth, deliverance principles, and trauma-informed ministry techniques, students will learn how to recognize alters, communicate with them safely, and partner with the Holy Spirit to bring restoration and freedom. Trauma often creates emotional pain that the core person cannot carry. Alters form as a God-designed survival response, holding memories, emotions, and experiences the individual is unable to process.
This course equips ministers to discern the difference between emotional wounds, dissociation, and demonic interference-while applying spiritual authority and compassion to bring healing. Through practical teaching, real-world examples, guided ministry scripts, and step-by-step protocols, students will learn how to:
- Identify alters and understand their purpose
- Detect signs of dissociation and “loss of time”
- Recognize the emotional legal rights demons use to torment alters
- Communicate effectively with wounded inner parts
- Facilitate healing through Scripture, prayer, and Holy Spirit direction
- Deal with problem alters such as angry, destructive, protector, and hysterical alters
- Break generational trauma patterns and minister to generational alters
- Help clients integrate healed alters and close demonic doors permanently
This course is essential for deliverance ministers, pastoral counselors, inner-healing workers, and anyone serving individuals suffering from deep trauma, dissociation, or spiritual bondage.
Key Skills Taught:
- Identifying and understanding alters
- Detecting dissociation
- Recognizing emotional legal rights of demons
- Effective communication with wounded inner parts
- Facilitating healing through Scripture and prayer
- Dealing with problem alters
- Breaking generational trauma patterns
- Integrating healed alters
Eligibility and Requirements:
- Age Requirements: Generally, anyone 18 years or older is eligible. Minors require legal, parental permission and adult supervision.
- Who May Take These Courses? The courses are open to everyone of legal age; however, certification requires adherence to a Statement of Faith and Doctrine (based on historic, orthodox Christian creeds) and a Statement of Ethics and Practices.
- Application Process:
- Fill out the first contact form.
- Fill in and submit the Admission Form. Complete the form with your information and upload the documents required for admission.
- Confirmation of admission and payment. Once submitted, your application will be evaluated by the Academic Secretariat.
Letters of Recommendation:
- Lay Catholics: the letter must be signed by the bishop; if signed by the parish priest or other religious figure, it must be validated by the bishop with a stamp and signature.
- Clergy and laypeople of other Christian denominations: the letter must be signed by a Catholic bishop; if the letter comes from an authority of another Christian denomination, it must still bear the signature and stamp of a Catholic bishop.
Course Structure and Evaluation:
- Self-Paced Learning: These courses are self-guided, allowing you to proceed at your own pace.
- Testing: Each lesson typically has a quiz that must be passed before proceeding.
- Certification: Certification often requires the personal approval of a designated authority.
Financial Aspects:
- Tuition: All Tuition is Non-Refundable All course tuition and fees are non-refundable once payment is submitted, except as provided in the limited exception below.
- Scholarships: Currently, there are generally no scholarships available, though some programs may introduce assistance in the future.
- Discounts: Some institutions offer discounts for pastors, full-time Christian service members, and military members.
Important Considerations:
- Purpose of the Course: The course has academic and educational purposes and does not confer the qualification to exercise the ministry of exorcism.
- Transferability of Certification: Whether the certification transfers to other institutions depends on a case-by-case basis.
- Technology Requirements: It is the responsibility of the enrollee to ensure they have the necessary electronic devices, internet connection, and browser compatibility to access the course platform and materials.
Available Languages for Training
- Currently, we only have training in English but will expand to other languages as time and resources allow. The School of Exorcism is available in Russian.
Meg Greenfield, in writing about the tragedy of the Jim Jones cult in Ghana (Newsweek, Dec. 4, 1978, p. This elective will study the concept of evil from the perspective of both an ontological force (demonology) and the voluntary rejection and absence of good. The understanding of evil from various ideologies and religions will then be explored, with particular emphasis on the Judaeo-Christian Tradition.
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Following a historical survey of how ancient indigenous cultures throughout the world dealt with the problem of evil and evil spirits (magic, shamanism, witchcraft, necromancy, mantras, and other rituals), attention will be given to the Eastern Church’s practice of baptismal exorcisms and their theological significance vis-à-vis Christian salvation. Exorcism prayers from the sacrament of baptism will then be examined, in addition to isolated prayers of exorcism performed in individual cases of adults.
These exorcism schools and training programs provide a structured approach to understanding and combating evil, equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and spiritual foundation necessary for this challenging ministry.