Peter Drach News Today

Twenty-eight editions of the “Malleus” were published between 1486 and 1600, making it the definitive guide on witchcraft and demonology for many years – and helping the prosecution of witches take off

The library of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULeuven) wishes to restore and digitize one of its most precious incunabula: “Peregrinatio in Terram Sanctam.”

The “Hammer of Witches” served as a guidebook to persecuting women.

The “Hammer of Witches” served as a guidebook to persecuting women.

As fear of witches reached a fever pitch in Europe, witch hunters turned to the “Malleus Maleficarum,” or “Hammer of Witches,” for guidance.

As fear of witches reached a fever pitch in Europe, witch hunters turned to the “Malleus Maleficarum,” or “Hammer of Witches,” for guidance.

As fear of witches reached a fever pitch in Europe, witch hunters turned to the “Malleus Maleficarum,” or “Hammer of Witches,” for guidance.

As fear of witches reached a fever pitch in Europe, witch hunters turned to the “Malleus Maleficarum,” or “Hammer of Witches,” for guidance.

By Melissa Chim, General Theological SeminaryBooks have always had the power to cast a spell over their readers – figuratively. But one book that was quite popular from the 15th to 17th centuries, and infamously so, is literally about spells: what witches do, how do identify them, how to get them to...