Part III (Secunda Secundae) Part 145 (1/2)
Therefore it is lawful to adjure.
_I answer that,_ A man who utters a promissory oath, swearing by his reverence for the Divine name, which he invokes in confirmation of his promise, binds himself to do what he has undertaken, and so orders himself unchangeably to do a certain thing. Now just as a man can order himself to do a certain thing, so too can he order others, by beseeching his superiors, or by commanding his inferiors, as stated above (Q. 83, A. 1). Accordingly when either of these orderings is confirmed by something Divine it is an adjuration. Yet there is this difference between them, that man is master of his own actions but not of those of others; wherefore he can put himself under an obligation by invoking the Divine name, whereas he cannot put others under such an obligation unless they be his subjects, whom he can compel on the strength of the oath they have taken.
Therefore, if a man by invoking the name of G.o.d, or any holy thing, intends by this adjuration to put one who is not his subject under an obligation to do a certain thing, in the same way as he would bind himself by oath, such an adjuration is unlawful, because he usurps over another a power which he has not. But superiors may bind their inferiors by this kind of adjuration, if there be need for it.
If, however, he merely intend, through reverence of the Divine name or of some holy thing, to obtain something from the other man without putting him under any obligation, such an adjuration may be lawfully employed in respect of anyone.
Reply Obj. 1: Origen is speaking of an adjuration whereby a man intends to put another under an obligation, in the same way as he would bind himself by oath: for thus did the high-priest presume to adjure our Lord Jesus Christ [*Matt. 26:63].
Reply Obj. 2: This argument considers the adjuration which imposes an obligation.
Reply Obj. 3: To adjure is not to induce a man to swear, but to employ terms resembling an oath in order to provoke another to do a certain thing.
Moreover, we adjure G.o.d in one way and man in another; because when we adjure a man we intend to alter his will by appealing to his reverence for a holy thing: and we cannot have such an intention in respect of G.o.d Whose will is immutable. If we obtain something from G.o.d through His eternal will, it is due, not to our merits, but to His goodness.
_______________________
SECOND ARTICLE [II-II, Q. 90, Art. 2]
Whether It Is Lawful to Adjure the Demons?
Objection 1: It would seem unlawful to adjure the demons. Origen says (Tract. x.x.xv, super Matth.): ”To adjure the demons is not accordance with the power given by our Saviour: for this is a Jewish practice.”
Now rather than imitate the rites of the Jews, we should use the power given by Christ. Therefore it is not lawful to adjure the demons.
Obj. 2: Further, many make use of necromantic incantations when invoking the demons by something Divine: and this is an adjuration.
Therefore, if it be lawful to adjure the demons, it is lawful to make use of necromantic incantations, which is evidently false. Therefore the antecedent is false also.
Obj. 3: Further, whoever adjures a person, by that very fact a.s.sociates himself with him. Now it is not lawful to have fellows.h.i.+p with the demons, according to 1 Cor. 10:20, ”I would not that you should be made partakers with devils.” Therefore it is not lawful to adjure the demons.
_On the contrary,_ It is written (Mk. 16:17): ”In My name they shall cast out devils.” Now to induce anyone to do a certain thing for the sake of G.o.d's name is to adjure. Therefore it is lawful to adjure the demons.
_I answer that,_ As stated in the preceding article, there are two ways of adjuring: one by way of prayer or inducement through reverence of some holy thing: the other by way of compulsion. In the first way it is not lawful to adjure the demons because such a way seems to savor of benevolence or friends.h.i.+p, which it is unlawful to bear towards the demons. As to the second kind of adjuration, which is by compulsion, we may lawfully use it for some purposes, and not for others. For during the course of this life the demons are our adversaries: and their actions are not subject to our disposal but to that of G.o.d and the holy angels, because, as Augustine says (De Trin.
iii, 4), ”the rebel spirit is ruled by the just spirit.” Accordingly we may repulse the demons, as being our enemies, by adjuring them through the power of G.o.d's name, lest they do us harm of soul or body, in accord with the Divine power given by Christ, as recorded by Luke 10:19: ”Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you.”
It is not, however, lawful to adjure them for the purpose of learning something from them, or of obtaining something through them, for this would amount to holding fellows.h.i.+p with them: except perhaps when certain holy men, by special instinct or Divine revelation, make use of the demons' actions in order to obtain certain results: thus we read of the Blessed James [*the Greater; cf. Apocrypha, N.T., Hist.
Certam. Apost. vi, 19] that he caused Hermogenes to be brought to him, by the instrumentality of the demons.
Reply Obj. 1: Origen is speaking of adjuration made, not authoritatively by way of compulsion, but rather by way of a friendly appeal.
Reply Obj. 2: Necromancers adjure and invoke the demons in order to obtain or learn something from them: and this is unlawful, as stated above. Wherefore Chrysostom, commenting on our Lord's words to the unclean spirit (Mk. 1:25), ”Speak no more, and go out of the man,”
says: ”A salutary teaching is given us here, lest we believe the demons, however much they speak the truth.”
Reply Obj. 3: This argument considers the adjuration whereby the demon's help is besought in doing or learning something: for this savors of fellows.h.i.+p with them. On the other hand, to repulse the demons by adjuring them, is to sever oneself from their fellows.h.i.+p.
_______________________
THIRD ARTICLE [II-II, Q. 90, Art. 3]
Whether It Is Lawful to Adjure an Irrational Creature?
Objection 1: It would seem unlawful to adjure an irrational creature.