{{Short description|American Roman Catholic exorcist}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = The Reverend | name = Vincent Lampert | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|04|07}} | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|Indiana University Bloomington|Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology (MDiv)|Pontifical North American College}} | occupation = Catholic priest <br /> Exorcist (since 2005) | module = {{Infobox clergy |child=yes | religion = Christianity | church = Roman Catholic Church | ordained = June 1, 1991 | writings = | congregations = St. Peter's Church, Brookville and <br /> St. Michael the Archangel Church, Brookville (2018-2025) <br /> St. Simon the Apostle Catholic Church, Indianapolis (since July 2025) | offices_held = }}
}}
'''Vincent Lampert''' (born 1963) is an American Catholic priest and the designated exorcist of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Father Lampert was appointed to become an exorcist by Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlien.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2011/03-18/exorcist.html|title='Evil is a reality': Archdiocesan exorcist has busy ministry helping people restore relationships with God|last=Gallagher|first=Sean|date=March 18, 2011|work=The Criterion Online Edition|access-date=June 30, 2018}}</ref> He is one of the few exorcists known to use social media like Twitter (@FrVinceLampert) on a regular basis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/frvincelampert?lang=en|title=Fr. Vincent Lampert @FrVinceLampert|last=Lampert|first=Vincent|website=twitter.com|access-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref>
== Life and work == Vincent Lampert was born April 7, 1963, and was ordained on June 1, 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lampert, Rev. Vincent, MDiv|url=https://www.archindy.org/staff/priests/lampert-vincent.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701111657/https://www.archindy.org/staff/priests/lampert-vincent.html|archive-date=July 1, 2018|access-date=May 6, 2021|website=Archdiocese of Indianapolis}}</ref> He is assigned as the Pastor of both St. Peter and St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Churches in Brookville, Indiana. He grew up in a large Roman Catholic family that was active in the faith on the west side of Indianapolis, Indiana. His favorite quote is also known as the Jesus Prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.stmalachy.org/church-staff/fr-vince-lampert/|title=St. Malachy Staff Directory|website=www.stmalachy.org|access-date=June 6, 2018|archive-date=June 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604110826/http://www.stmalachy.org/church-staff/fr-vince-lampert/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1981 he graduated from Cardinal Ritter High School. For a couple of years he studied political sciences at Indiana University - Bloomington, before transferring to the Saint Meinrad Seminary to study for the priesthood.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/news-opinion/indy-exorcist-vincent-lampert/|title=Indy Exorcist Vincent Lampert on the Devil and Saving Souls|last=Rammel|first=Keegan|date=October 30, 2016|work=Indianapolis Monthly|access-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref> Father Vince received his Master of Divinity degree from the Benedictine monks who own and operate Saint Meinrad Archabbey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archindy.org/directory/chaplaincies.html|title=Archdiocese of Indianapolis - Directory - Chaplaincies - Seminaries - Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology|access-date=June 30, 2018}}</ref>
== Exorcism == Father Vince Lampert received his exorcism classroom training at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy. He was in the same training class with Father Gary Thomas, the exorcist for San Jose, California US. Matt Baglio wrote the book, ''The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist'' based on Father Gary Thomas, that later became the 2011 movie, The Rite.<ref name=":1" /> Father Lampert received practical experience, by assisting on over 40 exorcisms with Father Carmine de Filippis, who is the mentor for exorcists in the Diocese of Rome.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://saint-mike.org/warfare/library/directory-exorcists-deliverance/|title=Directory of Exorcists, Deliverance Counselors, and Investigators|website=saint-mike.org|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630104937/http://saint-mike.org/warfare/library/directory-exorcists-deliverance/|url-status=dead}}</ref> While speaking to students about exorcism at Seton Hall University about his training, he told them he spent three months training to be an exorcist.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.shu.edu/news/the-power-of-christ-compels-you-to-see-the-exorcist.cfm|title='The Power of Christ Compels You' to See the Exorcist|last=Ricciardelli|first=Michael|date=October 26, 2017|work=Seton Hall University News|access-date=June 30, 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630105619/https://www.shu.edu/news/the-power-of-christ-compels-you-to-see-the-exorcist.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
At the invitation of the Newman Center of Montclair State, Father Lampert gave a talk to the students. He told them about how he went to a local ice cream shop to celebrate, after a year long series of prayers over a person, who was finally released from their demonic situation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://themontclarion.org/vatican-exorcist-vincent-lampert/|title=Vatican-Trained Exorcist Vincent Lampert Visits Montclair State|last=Falkenheim|first=Daniel|date=October 6, 2016|work=The Montclarion|access-date=June 30, 2018}}</ref>
During a 2016 talk with students at Purdue University, Father Vince Lampert identified various occult practices that could lead a person to be tied to evil. The presence of an evil spirit include bodily contortions, changes in the person's voice, unpleasant odors, and temperature changes in a room.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.purdueexponent.org/features/article_94b8c90d-2376-50f5-ba5c-36b37eab1c59.html|title=Exorcist informs community on common misconceptions about exorcism|last=Judge|first=Brittany|date=March 11, 2016|work=All Things Purdue|access-date=July 14, 2018}}</ref>
Father Vince Lampert consulted on a famous case, as the designated exorcist of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Father Michael Maginot, pastor of St. Stephen Martyr Church in Merrillville, Indiana, had permission from his Bishop Dale Joseph Melczek to work with Father Vince on a house then owned by Zak Bagans. After various prayers and blessings, including the use of holy water, the house was demolished in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/33497/demonic-house-in-indiana-demolished|title=Demonic house in Indiana demolished|last=Amstrong|first=Patti|date=February 29, 2016|work=CNA Catholic News Agency|access-date=July 14, 2018}}</ref>
As a noted expert on exorcism,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/news-opinion/ask-anything-father-vincent-lampert/|title=Ask Me Anything: Father Vincent Lampert|last=Petry|first=Ashley|date=October 26, 2014|work=Indianapolis Monthly|access-date=June 30, 2018}}</ref> who is willing to be published in the media about his work, Father Lampert has spoken about the difference between exorcisms that are authorized by the local bishop, compared to fee-based "private exorcists" that work independent of the church.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/36557/why-this-catholic-priest-objects-to-the-private-exorcist-trend|title=Why this Catholic priest objects to the 'private exorcist' trend|last=Slama|first=Joe|date=August 6, 2017|work=Catholic News Agency|access-date=February 22, 2019}}</ref> Lampert has met with other exorcists in Rome during meetings with the International Association of Exorcists. When he was appointed as an exorcist in 2005, there were perhaps only 12 exorcists in the US. Today, there are more than 50 that he knows personally in the USA.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/us-exorcists-demonic-activity-on-the-rise|title=US Exorcists: Demonic Activity on the Rise|last=Armstrong|first=Patti|date=March 11, 2017|work=National Catholic Register|access-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref> As one of the noted authorities on exorcism, he was interviewed in documentary movie ''The Rite of Exorcism: Myth, Mystery & Hope'' along with other noted exorcists like Fr. Gabriele Amorth and Fr. José Antonio Fortea. His first exorcism case as documented in an episode during the 2013 season of the cable television network Syfy series ''Paranormal Witness.''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/26/leading-us-exorcists-explain-huge-increase-in-demand-for-the-rit/|title=Leading US exorcists explain huge increase in demand for the Rite - and priests to carry them out.|last=Ray|first=Rachel|date=September 26, 2016|work=The Telegraph|access-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref> When the Fox TV Show ''The Exorcist'' was released a Fox TV News crew did a two-minute interview with the exorcist that is sought out for interviews from around the world for his commentary on the series.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fox59.com/2016/09/23/indianapolis-exorcist-weighs-in-on-foxs-new-show-the-exorcist/|title=Indianapolis exorcist weighs in on Fox's new show, "The Exorcist"|last=Eaton|first=Lindsey|date=September 23, 2016|work=Fox59|access-date=June 30, 2018}}</ref> Father Lampert was quoted in an article by ''The Atlantic'' that as of October 2018 he had received 1,700 phone or email requests for exorcisms, the most he had ever in a year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/12/catholic-exorcisms-on-the-rise/573943/|title=American Exorcism|last=Mariani|first=Mike|date=December 2018|work=The Atlantic|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref>
Father Lampert once said that exorcisms were on the rise due to a wavering faith in the Church and factors like drug abuse. As his case load increased, a center to provide training for exorcist priests and deacons was set up in the United States to teach courses to clergy only. The Pope Leo XIII Institute was founded in Milwaukee in 2012 to assist in training for exorcists.
== Movies and television ==
*''The Rite of Exorcism: Myth, Mystery & Hope'' (2011) *''Paranormal'' Witness (2011-) (episode aired November 20, 2013) *''Paranormal Declassified'': S1E6 “Gateway to Hell” 1/26/2021y
== References == <references />
==External links== *[https://fox59.com/2016/09/23/indianapolis-exorcist-weighs-in-on-foxs-new-show-the-exorcist/ Fox 59 TV News interview] *[https://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/brownsburg-priest-who-performs-exorcisms-says-the-number-of-people-requesting-them-is-on-the-rise ABC 6 TV News interview] *[http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/04/20/exorcisms-demand-catholic-priest WBUR 90.9 audio interview - 5 minutes with Eric Westervelt & Father Vince Lampert] *[http://wnpr.org/post/power-christ-compels-you-listen-show-about-exorcism WNPR audio interview - 49 minutes with Dr. Francis Young; Father Vince Lampert; Dr. Richard Gallagher] *[https://txstatecatholic.org/father-vince-lampert-on-exorcisms Bobcat Catholic Videos - 1 hour 45 minute segment "Father Vince Lampert on Exorcism"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701140209/https://txstatecatholic.org/father-vince-lampert-on-exorcisms |date=2018-07-01 }} *[http://www.stsppchurch.com/fr-vince-lampert-talk.html Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Haubstadt, IN USA - 1 hour "Exorcism Talk 10.5.2015 - Fr. Vince Lampert"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715094124/http://www.stsppchurch.com/fr-vince-lampert-talk.html |date=2018-07-15 }} *[https://popeleo13institute.org/media-requests Pope Leo XIII Institute] *[http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/sacramentals-blessings/exorcism.cfm United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) FAQ about Exorcism]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lampert, Vincent}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American Roman Catholic priests Category:21st-century American Roman Catholic priests Category:Catholic exorcists Category:American Christian religious leaders Category:Catholic Church in popular culture