The Exorcist of Sombor: The Mentality of an Eighteenth-Century Franciscan Friar

The Exorcist of Sombor is a book that examines the life course, practice, and mentality of an eighteenth-century Franciscan friar, based on his own letters and documentation. It analyzes the series of exorcism scandals that erupted in the Hungarian town of Sombor from the perspectives of social and cultural history, employing a method that reflects historical anthropology, the history of ideas, and the influence of Italian microhistory. The research questions aim to identify the causes for the conflict between correct and wrong methods of exorcism, the criteria used when certain practices were deemed superstitious, the changes in the attitude of priests and friars, and the variants of demonology in clerical thinking. The book will be of great interest to early modern historians, anthropologists, and culture researchers interested in microhistory and themes such as religion, magic, occultism, and witchcraft.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Exorcist of Sombor delves into the life, practices, and mentality of an eighteenth-century Franciscan friar, drawing from his own letters and documentation to create a comprehensive frame surrounding the tightly packed history of events that unfolded between 1766 and 1769. It also examines the series of exorcism scandals that erupted in the Hungarian town of Sombor, exploring these events from the perspectives of social and cultural history.

The author employs a method that combines historical anthropology, the history of ideas, and the influence of Italian microhistory. By thoroughly examining the documents of ecclesiastical courts and a substantial body of autograph correspondence, the author gains insight into the way of thinking of a person from the eighteenth century. The research questions posed in connection to the documentation aim to identify the causes of conflicts within the practice of exorcism within the same church. How did correct and wrong methods of exorcism coexist within the practice of a single church? What criteria were used to label certain previously accepted practices as superstitious in the second half of the eighteenth century? What changes occurred in the attitudes of priests and friars within the ecclesiastical society of the period? How can a conflict be focused on a practice with roots dating back thousands of years? How many different variants of demonology existed in the clerical thinking of the age?

As a remarkable source analysis within microhistory, The Exorcist of Sombor holds significant interest for early modern historians, anthropologists, and culture researchers who are passionate about microhistory and themes related to it.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367505776