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St. Michael the Archangel
Exorcism Against Satan and the Rebellious Angels
 
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF HIS HOLINESS, Pope LEO XIII, May
18th 1890 (translation)
*The Holy Father exhorts priests to
make use of this exorcism as often as possible.
It is therefore worthy of propagation.
The faithful also may say it as any approved prayer.
(Note: where the symbol (†) is found, in
the prayer of exorcism, the sign of the cross is to be
made.)
In the Name of The Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Ghost, Amen.
Let GOD arise and let His enemies be scattered: and
let them that hate Him flee from before His Face!
As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish away: as wax
melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the
Presence of GOD (Ps 67:1-2). Judge Thou, O' Lord, them
that wrong me: overthrow them that fight against me.
Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my
soul. Let them be turned back and be confounded that
devise evil against me. Let them become as dust before
the wind: and let the Angel of the Lord straighten them.
Let their way become dark and slippery: and let the
Angel of the Lord pursue them.
For without cause they have hidden their net for me
unto destruction: without cause they have upbraided my
soul.
Let the snare which he knoweth not, come upon him:
and let the net which he hath hidden, catch him: and
into that very snare let him fall. But my soul shall
rejoice in the Lord, and shall be delighted in His
Salvation (Ps 34:1, 4-9).
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever
shall be, world without end, Amen.
O' Most Glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, St.
Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in
our wrestling against principalities and powers against
the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the
spirits of wickedness in the high places (Ephes 6:12).
Come to the aid of men, whom GOD created incorruptible,
and to the Image of His own Likeness He made him (Wis
2:23); and from the tyranny of the devil He bought him
at a great price (Cor 7:23).
Fight the battles of the Lord today with the Army of
the Blessed Angels, as once thou didst fight against
lucifer, the leader of pride, and his apostate angels;
and they prevailed not: neither was their place found
anymore in Heaven. But that great dragon was cast out,
the old serpent, who is called the devil and satan, who
seduceth the whole world. And he was cast unto the
earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Apoc
12:8-9).
Behold, the ancient enemy and murderer strongly
raises his head! Transformed into an angel of light,
with the entire horde of wicked spirits he goes about
everywhere and takes possession of the earth, so that
therein he may blot out the Name of GOD and of His
Christ and steal away, afflict and ruin into everlasting
destruction the souls destined for a Crown of Eternal
Glory. On men depraved in mind and corrupt in heart the
wicked dragon pours out like a most foul river, the
poison of his villany, a spirit of lying, impiety and
blasphemy; and the deadly breath of lust and of all
iniquities and vices. Her most crafty enemies have
engulfed the Church, the Spouse of the Immaculate Lamb,
with sorrows, they have drenched her with wormwood; on
all her desirable things they have laid their wicked
hands.
Where the See of the Blessed Peter and the Chair of
Truth have been set up for the light of the gentiles,
there they have placed the throne of the abomination of
their wickedness, so that, the Pastor having been
struck, they may also be able to scatter the flock.
Therefore, O' thou unconquerable Leader, be present with
the people of GOD and against the spiritual wickedness
which are bursting in upon them; and bring them the
victory.
The Holy Church venerates thee as its Guardian and
Patron; and it glories in the fact that thou art its
Defender against the wicked powers of earth and hell. To
thee the Lord has assigned the souls of the redeemed to
be placed in Heavenly bliss. Beseech the GOD of Peace to
crush satan under our feet, that he may no more be able
to hold men captive and to harm the Church. Offer our
prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that the
mercies of the Lord may quickly come to our aid, that
thou mayest seize the dragon, the ancient serpent, who
is the devil and satan and that having bound him, thou
mayest cast him into the bottomless pit, so that he may
no more seduce the nations (Apoc 20:3).
Hence confiding in thy protection and guardianship,
by the sacred authority of our ministry, we confidently
and securely begin the task in the Name of Jesus Christ
our GOD and Lord, of driving away the attacks of
diabolical deceit.
Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee away ye
hostile forces.
All: The lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of
David hath conquered
May Thy mercy, O' Lord, be upon us.
All: Since we have hoped in Thee.
O' Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto Thee.
The Lord be with you,
All: And with thy spirit.
LET US PRAY:
O' GOD and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we invoke
Thy Holy Name, and we humbly implore Thy mercy, that by
the intercession of the Mother of GOD Mary Immaculate
Ever Virgin, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of
Blessed Joseph the Spouse of the same Blessed Virgin, of
the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and of all the
Saints, Thou wouldst deign to afford us help against
satan and all the other unclean spirits and against
whatever wanders throughout the world to do harm to the
human race and to ruin souls, through the same Christ
Our Lord, Amen.
We exorcize thee, O' every unclean spirit, satanic
power, infernal invader, wicked legion, assembly and
sect; in the Name and by the power of Our Lord Jesus
Christ (+); may thou be snatched away and driven from
the Church of GOD and from the souls made to the Image
and Likeness of GOD and redeemed by the Precious Blood
of the Divine Lamb (+). Most cunning serpent, thou shalt
no more dare to deceive the human race, persecute the
Church, torment GOD's elect and sift them as wheat (+).
The Most High GOD commands thee (+). He with whom in
your great insolence, thou still claimest to be equal;
He who wants all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the Truth (1 Tim 2:4).
GOD the Father commands thee (+), GOD the Son
commands thee (+), GOD the Holy Ghost commands thee (+).
The Majesty of Christ, the Eternal Word of GOD made
flesh, commands thee (+); He Who to save our race
outdone through thy envy, "humbled himself, becoming
obedient even unto death" (Phil 2:8). He who has built
His Church on the firm rock and declared that the gates
of hell shall never prevail against Her, because He will
dwell with Her "all days even to the end of the world"
(Mat 28:20). The Sacred Sign of the Cross commands thee
(+), as does also the power of the Mysteries of the
Christian Faith (+), the Glorious Mother of GOD, the
Virgin Mary, commands thee (+); She who by Her humility
and from the first moment of Her Immaculate Conception,
crushed thy proud head. The faith of the Holy Apostles
Peter and Paul and of the other Apostles command thee
(+). The Blood of the Martyrs and the pious intercession
of all the Saints command thee (+).
Thus, cursed dragon and thee diabolical legion, we
adjure thee by the Living GOD (+), by the True GOD (+),
by the Holy GOD (+), by the GOD "who so loved the world
that He gave up His Only Son, that every soul believing
in Him might not perish but have life everlasting" (John
17:1-3); stop deceiving human creatures and pouring out
to them the poison of eternal damnation; stop harming
the Church and ensnaring her liberty. BEGONE, satan,
inventor and master of all deceit, enemy of man's
salvation. Give place to Christ in whom thou hast found
none of your works; give place to the One, Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church acquired by Christ at the
price of His Blood. Stoop beneath the powerful Hand of
GOD; tremble and flee when we invoke the Holy and
terrible Name of Jesus, this Name which cause hell to
tremble, this Name to which the Virtues, Powers and
Dominations of Heaven are humbly submissive, this Name
which the Cherubim and Seraphim praise unceasingly
repeating: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, the GOD of
Armies!
O' Lord, hear my prayer,
All: And let my cry come unto Thee
May the Lord be with thee,
All: And with thy spirit.
LET US PRAY:
GOD of Heaven, GOD of Earth, GOD of Angels, GOD of
Archangels, GOD of Patriarchs, GOD of Prophets, GOD of
Apostles, GOD of Martyrs, GOD of Confessors, GOD of
Virgins, GOD Who has power to give life after death and
rest after work, because there is no other GOD than Thee
and there can be no other, for Thou art the Creator of
all things, visible and invisible, of whose Reign there
shall be no end. We humbly prostrate ourselves before
Thy Glorious Majesty and we beseech Thee to deliver us
by Thy Power from all the tyranny of the infernal
spirits, from their snares, their lies and their furious
wickedness; deign, O' Lord, to grant us Thy powerful
protection and to keep us safe and sound. We beseech
Thee through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.
From the snares of the devil,
All: Deliver us O' Lord.
Grant that Thy Church may serve Thee in secure
liberty,
All: We beseech Thee, hear us.
Deign to crush down the enemies of the Holy Church,
All: We beseech Thee, hear us.
(Holy Water is sprinkled in the place where he may
be)
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day
of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and
snares of the devil. May GOD rebuke him, we humbly pray
and do thou, O' Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the
Power of GOD, cast into hell satan and all the other
evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world, seeking
the ruin of souls, Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Have mercy on us. |
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Only to be used under the Authority of the Roman Catholic
Bishop. (This is the Official Rite for expelling demons from people
certified as being possessed by authorized Catholic priests.)
RITE OF EXORCISM
The priest delegated by the Ordinary to perform this office should first go
to confession or at least elicit an act of contrition, and, if convenient,
offer the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and implore God's help in other
fervent prayers. He vests in surplice and purple stole. Having before him
the person possessed (who should be bound if there is any danger), he traces
the sign of the cross over him, over himself, and the bystanders, and then
sprinkles all of them with holy water. After this he kneels and says the
Litany of the Saints, exclusive of the prayers which follow it. All present
are to make the responses.
LITANY OF THE SAINTS
The Litany of the Saints is used in ordination, Forty Hours', processions,
and other occasions. Both the Roman Ritual and the Roman Pontifical direct
that the first three invocations be repeated. The music for this litany is
given in the music supplement. The invocations are sung (or recited) by the
chanters or the priest; the responses by all.
P: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
P: Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
P: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
P: Christ, hear us.
All: Christ, graciously hear us.
P: God, the Father in heaven.
All: Have mercy on us.
P: God, the Son, Redeemer of the world.
All: Have mercy on us.
P: God, the Holy Spirit.
All: Have mercy on us.
P: Holy Trinity, one God.
All: Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us,*
* After each invocation: "Pray for us."
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
St. Michael,
St. Gabriel,
St. Raphael,
All holy angels and archangels,
All holy orders of blessed spirits,
St. John the Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All holy patriarchs and prophets,
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. Andrew,
St. James,
St. John,
St. Thomas,
St. James,
St. Philip,
St. Bartholomew,
St. Matthew,
St. Simon,
St. Thaddeus,
St. Matthias,
St. Barnabas,
St. Luke,
St. Mark,
All holy apostles and evangelists,
All holy disciples of the Lord,
All holy Innocents,
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
St. Vincent,
SS. Fabian and Sebastian,
SS. John and Paul,
SS. Cosmas and Damian,
SS. Gervase and Protase,
All holy martyrs,
St. Sylvester,
St. Gregory,
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
St. Martin,
St. Nicholas,
All holy bishops and confessors,
All holy doctors,
St. Anthony,
St. Benedict,
St. Bernard,
St. Dominic,
St. Francis,
All holy priests and levites,
All holy monks and hermits,
St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Agatha,
St. Lucy,
St. Agnes,
St. Cecilia,
St. Catherine,
St. Anastasia,
All holy virgins and widows,
P: All holy saints of God,
All: Intercede for us.
P: Be merciful,
All: Spare us, 0 Lord.
P: Be merciful,
All: Graciously hear us, 0 Lord.
From all evil, deliver us, 0 Lord.*
* After each invocation: "Deliver us, 0 Lord."
From all sin,
From your wrath,
From sudden and unprovided death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, hatred, and all ill will,
From all lewdness,
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earthquakes,
From plague, famine, and war,
From everlasting death,
By the mystery of your holy incarnation,
By your coming,
By your birth,
By your baptism and holy fasting,
By your cross and passion,
By your death and burial,
By your holy resurrection,
By your wondrous ascension,
By the coming of the Holy,
Spirit, the Advocate,
On the day of judgment,
P: We sinners,
All: We beg you to hear us.*
* After each invocation: "We beg you to hear us."
That you spare us,
That you pardon us,
That you bring us to true penance,
That you govern and preserve your holy Church,
That you preserve our Holy Father
and all ranks in the Church in holy religion,
That you humble the enemies of holy Church,
That you give peace and true concord to all Christian rulers.
That you give peace and unity to the whole Christian world,
That you restore to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from
the truth, and lead all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel,
That you confirm and preserve us in your holy service,
That you lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
That you grant everlasting blessings to all our benefactors,
That you deliver our souls and the souls of our brethren, relatives, and
benefactors from everlasting damnation,
That you give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
That you grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That you graciously hear us, Son of God,
At the end of the litany he (the priest) adds the following:
P: Antiphon: Do not keep in mind, 0 Lord, our
offenses or those of our parents, nor take vengeance on our sins.
P: Our Father
who are in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earh as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
All: But deliver us from evil.
Psalm 53
P: God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
All: God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.
P: For haughty men have risen up against me,
and fierce men seek my life;
they set not God before their eyes.
All: See, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
P: Turn back the evil upon my foes;
in your faithfulness destroy them.
All: Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, Lord, for its goodness,
P: Because from all distress you have rescued me,
and my eyes look down upon my enemies.
All: Glory be to the Father.
P: As it was in the beginning.
After the psalm the priest continues:
P: Save your servant.
All: Who trusts in you, my God.
P: Let him (her) find in you, Lord, a fortified tower.
All: In the face of the enemy.
P: Let the enemy have no power over him (her).
All: And the son of iniquity be powerless to harm him (her).
P: Lord, send him (her) aid from your holy place.
All: And watch over him (her) from Sion.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
God, whose nature is ever merciful and forgiving, accept our prayer that
this servant of yours, bound by the fetters of sin, may be pardoned by your
loving kindness.
Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who once and for all consigned that fallen and apostate tyrant to
the flames of hell, who sent your only-begotten Son into the world to crush
that roaring lion; hasten to our call for help and snatch from ruination and
from the clutches of the noonday devil this human being made in your image
and likeness. Strike terror, Lord, into the beast now laying waste your
vineyard. Fill your servants with courage to fight manfully against that
reprobate dragon, lest he despise those who put their trust in you, and say
with Pharaoh of old: "I know not God, nor will I set Israel free." Let your
mighty hand cast him out of your servant, (The name of the person), so he
may no longer hold captive this person whom it pleased you to make in your
image, and to redeem through your Son; who lives and reigns with you, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Then he commands the demon as follows:
I command you, unclean spirit, whoever you are, along with all your minions
now attacking this servant of God, by the mysteries of the incarnation,
passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the
descent of the Holy Spirit, by the coming of our Lord for judgment, that you
tell me by some sign your name, and the day and hour of your departure. I
command you, moreover, to obey me to the letter, I who am a minister of God
despite my unworthiness; nor shall you be emboldened to harm in any way this
creature of God, or the bystanders, or any of their possessions.
The priest lays his hand on the head of the sick person, saying:
They shall lay their hands upon the sick and all will be well with them. May
Jesus, Son of Mary, Lord and Savior of the world, through the merits and
intercession of His holy apostles Peter and Paul and all His saints, show
you favor and mercy.
All: Amen.
Next he reads over the possessed person these selections
from the Gospel, or at least one of them.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
P: The beginning of the holy Gospel according to St. John.
All: Glory be to you, 0 Lord.
A Lesson from the holy Gospel according to St. John
(John 1:1-14)
As he says these opening words he signs himself and the possessed on the
brow, lips, and breast.
When time began, the Word was there, and the Word was face to face with God,
and the Word was God. This Word, when time began, was face to face with God.
All things came into being through Him, and without Him there came to be not
one thing that has come to be. In Him was life, and the life was the light
of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not lay hold
of it. There came upon the scene a man, a messenger from God, whose name was
John. This man came to give testimony to testify in behalf of the light that
all might believe through him. He was not himself the light; he only was to
testify in behalf of the light. Meanwhile the true light, which illumines
every man, was making its entrance into the world. He was in the world, and
the world came to be through Him, and the world did not acknowledge Him. He
came into His home, and His own people did not welcome Him. But to as many
as welcomed Him He gave the power to become children of God those who
believe in His name; who were born not of blood, or of carnal desire, or of
man's will; no, they were born of God. (Genuflect here.) And the Word became
man and lived among us; and we have looked upon His glory such a glory as
befits the Father's only-begotten Son full of grace and truth!
All: Thanks be to God.
Lastly he blesses the sick person, saying:
May the blessing of almighty God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
come upon you and remain with you forever.
All: Amen.
Then he sprinkles the person with holy water.
A Lesson from the holy Gospel according to St. Mark
(Mark 16:15-18)
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: "Go into the whole world and
preach the Gospel to all creation. He that believes and is baptized will be
saved; he that does not believe will be condemned. And in the way of proofs
of their claims, the following will accompany those who believe: in my name
they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will take
up serpents in their hands, and if they drink something deadly, it will not
hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and these will recover."
A Lesson from the holy Gospel according to St. Luke
(Luke 10:17-20)
At that time the seventy-two returned in high spirits. "Master," they said,
"even the demons are subject to us because we use your name!" "Yes," He said
to them, "I was watching Satan fall like lightning that flashes from heaven.
But mind: it is I that have given you the power to tread upon serpents and
scorpions, and break the dominion of the enemy everywhere; nothing at all
can injure you. Just the same, do not rejoice in the fact that the spirits
are subject to you, but rejoice in the fact that your names are engraved in
heaven."
A Lesson from the holy Gospel according to St. Luke
(Luke 11:14-22)
At that time Jesus was driving out a demon, and this particular demon was
dumb. The demon was driven out, the dumb man spoke, and the crowds were
enraptured. But some among the people remarked: "He is a tool of Beelzebul,
and that is how he drives out demons!" Another group, intending to test Him,
demanded of Him a proof of His claims, to be shown in the sky. He knew their
inmost thoughts. "Any kingdom torn by civil strife," He said to them, "is
laid in ruins; and house tumbles upon house. So, too, if Satan is in revolt
against himself, how can his kingdom last, since you say that I drive out
demons as a tool of Beelzebul. And furthermore: if I drive out demons as a
tool of Beelzebul, whose tools are your pupils when they do the driving out?
Therefore, judged by them, you must stand condemned. But, if, on the
contrary, I drive out demons by the finger of God, then, evidently the
kingdom of God has by this time made its way to you. As long as a mighty
lord in full armor guards his premises, he is in peaceful possession of his
property; but should one mightier than he attack and overcome him, he will
strip him of his armor, on which he had relied, and distribute the spoils
taken from him."
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty Lord, Word of God the Father, Jesus Christ, God and Lord of all
creation; who gave to your holy apostles the power to tramp underfoot
serpents and scorpions; who along with the other mandates to work miracles
was pleased to grant them the authority to say: "Depart, you devils!" and by
whose might Satan was made to fall from heaven like lightning; I humbly call
on your holy name in fear and trembling, asking that you grant me, your
unworthy servant, pardon for all my sins, steadfast faith, and the power -
supported by your mighty arm - to confront with confidence and resolution
this cruel demon. I ask this through you, Jesus Christ, our Lord and God,
who are coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.
All: Amen.
Next he makes the sign of the cross over himself and the one possessed,
places the end of the stole on the latter's neck, and, putting his right
hand on the latter's head, he says the following in accents filled with
confidence and faith:
P: See the cross of the Lord;
begone, you hostile powers!
All: The stem of David,
the lion of Juda's tribe has conquered.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I appeal to your holy name, humbly
begging your kindness, that you graciously grant me help against this and
every unclean spirit now tormenting this creature of yours; through Christ
our Lord.
All: Amen.
Exorcism
I cast you out, unclean spirit, along with every Satanic power of the enemy,
every spectre from hell, and all your fell companions; in the name of our
Lord Jesus +Christ. Begone and stay far from this creature of God.+ For it
is He who commands you, He who flung you headlong from the heights of heaven
into the depths of hell. It is He who commands you, He who once stilled the
sea and the wind and the storm. Hearken, therefore, and tremble in fear,
Satan, you enemy of the faith, you foe of the human race, you begetter of
death, you robber of life, you corrupter of justice, you root of all evil
and vice; seducer of men, betrayer of the nations, instigator of envy, font
of avarice, fomentor of discord, author of pain and sorrow. Why, then, do
you stand and resist, knowing as you must that Christ the Lord brings your
plans to nothing? Fear Him, who in Isaac was offered in sacrifice, in Joseph
sold into bondage, slain as the paschal lamb, crucified as man, yet
triumphed over the powers of hell. (The three signs of the cross which
follow are traced on the brow of the possessed person). Begone, then, in the
name of the Father, + and of the Son, + and of the Holy + Spirit. Give place
to the Holy Spirit by this sign of the holy + cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God,
forever and ever.
All: Amen.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
God, Creator and defender of the human race, who made man in your own image,
look down in pity on this your servant, N., now in the toils of the unclean
spirit, now caught up in the fearsome threats of man's ancient enemy, sworn
foe of our race, who befuddles and stupefies the human mind, throws it into
terror, overwhelms it with fear and panic. Repel, 0 Lord, the devil's power,
break asunder his snares and traps, put the unholy tempter to flight. By the
sign + (on the brow) of your name, let your servant be protected in mind and
body. (The three crosses which follow are traced on the breast of the
possessed person). Keep watch over the inmost recesses of his (her) + heart;
rule over his (her) + emotions; strengthen his (her) + will. Let vanish from
his (her) soul the temptings of the mighty adversary. Graciously grant, 0
Lord, as we call on your holy name, that the evil spirit, who hitherto
terrorized over us, may himself retreat in terror and defeat, so that this
servant of yours may sincerely and steadfastly render you the service which
is your due; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Exorcism
I adjure you, ancient serpent, by the judge of the living and the dead, by
your Creator, by the Creator of the whole universe, by Him who has the power
to consign you to hell, to depart forthwith in fear, along with your savage
minions, from this servant of God, N., who seeks refuge in the fold of the
Church. I adjure you again, + (on the brow) not by my weakness but by the
might of the Holy Spirit, to depart from this servant of God, N. , whom
almighty God has made in His image. Yield, therefore, yield not to my own
person but to the minister of Christ. For it is the power of Christ that
compels you, who brought you low by His cross. Tremble before that mighty
arm that broke asunder the dark prison walls and led souls forth to light.
May the trembling that afflicts this human frame, + (on the breast) the fear
that afflicts this image + (on the brow) of God, descend on you. Make no
resistance nor delay in departing from this man, for it has pleased Christ
to dwell in man. Do not think of despising my command because you know me to
be a great sinner. It is God + Himself who commands you; the majestic Christ
+ who commands you. God the Father + commands you; God the Son + commands
you; God the Holy + Spirit commands you. The mystery of the cross commands
+you. The faith of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and of all the saints
commands + you. The blood of the martyrs commands + you. The continence of
the confessors commands + you. The devout prayers of all holy men and women
command + you. The saving mysteries of our Christian faith command + you.
Depart, then, transgressor. Depart, seducer, full of lies and cunning, foe
of virtue, persecutor of the innocent. Give place, abominable creature, give
way, you monster, give way to Christ, in whom you found none of your works.
For He has already stripped you of your powers and laid waste your kingdom,
bound you prisoner and plundered your weapons. He has cast you forth into
the outer darkness, where everlasting ruin awaits you and your abettors. To
what purpose do you insolently resist? To what purpose do you brazenly
refuse? For you are guilty before almighty God, whose laws you have
transgressed. You are guilty before His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whom you
presumed to tempt, whom you dared to nail to the cross. You are guilty
before the whole human race, to whom you prof erred by your enticements the
poisoned cup of death.
Therefore, I adjure you, profligate dragon, in the name of the spotless +
Lamb, who has trodden down the asp and the basilisk, and overcome the lion
and the dragon, to depart from this man (woman) + (on the brow), to depart
from the Church of God + (signing the bystanders). Tremble and flee, as we
call on the name of the Lord, before whom the denizens of hell cower, to
whom the heavenly Virtues and Powers and Dominations are subject, whom the
Cherubim and Seraphim praise with unending cries as they sing: Holy, holy,
holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. The Word made flesh + commands you; the Virgin's
Son + commands you; Jesus + of Nazareth commands you, who once, when you
despised His disciples, forced you to flee in shameful defeat from a man;
and when He had cast you out you did not even dare, except by His leave, to
enter into a herd of swine. And now as I adjure you in His + name, begone
from this man (woman) who is His creature. It is futile to resist His +
will. It is hard for you to kick against the + goad. The longer you delay,
the heavier your punishment shall be; for it is not men you are condemning,
but rather Him who rules the living and the dead, who is coming to judge
both the living and the dead and the world by fire.
All: Amen.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
God of heaven and earth, God of the angels and archangels, God of the
prophets and apostles, God of the martyrs and virgins, God who have power to
bestow life after death and rest after toil; for there is no other God than
you, nor can there be another true God beside you, the Creator of heaven and
earth, who are truly a King, whose kingdom is without end; I humbly entreat
your glorious majesty to deliver this servant of yours from the unclean
spirits; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Exorcism
Therefore, I adjure you every unclean spirit, every spectre from hell, every
satanic power, in the name of Jesus + Christ of Nazareth, who was led into
the desert after His baptism by John to vanquish you in your citadel, to
cease your assaults against the creature whom He has, formed from the slime
of the earth for His own honor and glory; to quail before wretched man,
seeing in him the image of almighty God, rather than his state of human
frailty. Yield then to God, + who by His servant, Moses, cast you and your
malice, in the person of Pharaoh and his army, into the depths of the sea.
Yield to God, + who, by the singing of holy canticles on the part of David,
His faithful servant, banished you from the heart of King Saul. Yield to
God, + who condemned you in the person of Judas Iscariot, the traitor. For
He now flails you with His divine scourges, + He in whose sight you and your
legions once cried out: "What have we to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most
High God? Have you come to torture us before the time?" Now He is driving
you back into the everlasting fire, He who at the end of time will say to
the wicked: "Depart from me, you accursed, into the everlasting fire which
has been prepared for the devil and his angels." For you, 0 evil one, and
for your followers there will be worms that never die. An unquenchable fire
stands ready for you and for your minions, you prince of accursed murderers,
father of lechery, instigator of sacrileges, model of vileness, promoter of
heresies, inventor of every obscenity.
Depart, then, + impious one, depart, + accursed one, depart with all your
deceits, for God has willed that man should be His temple. Why do you still
linger here? Give honor to God the Father + almighty, before whom every knee
must bow. Give place to the Lord Jesus + Christ, who shed His most precious
blood for man. Give place to the Holy + Spirit, who by His blessed apostle
Peter openly struck you down in the person of Simon Magus; who cursed your
lies in Annas and Saphira; who smote you in King Herod because he had not
given honor to God; who by His apostle Paul afflicted you with the night of
blindness in the magician Elyma, and by the mouth of the same apostle bade
you to go out of Pythonissa, the soothsayer. Begone, + now! Begone, +
seducer! Your place is in solitude; your abode is in the nest of serpents;
get down and crawl with them. This matter brooks no delay; for see, the
Lord, the ruler comes quickly, kindling fire before Him, and it will run on
ahead of Him and encompass His enemies in flames. You might delude man, but
God you cannot mock. It is He who casts you out, from whose sight nothing is
hidden. It is He who repels you, to whose might all things are subject. It
is He who expels you, He who has prepared everlasting hellfire for you and
your angels, from whose mouth shall come a sharp sword, who is coming to
judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.
All: Amen.
All the above may be repeated as long as necessary, until the one possessed
has been fully freed.
It will also help to say devoutly and often over the afflicted person the
Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Creed, as well as any of the prayers given
below.
The Canticle of our Lady, with the doxology; the Canticle of Zachary, with
the doxology.
P: Antiphon: Magi from the East came to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and
opening their treasure chests they presented Him with precious gifts: Gold
for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His
burial. Alleluia.
Canticle of Our Lady
(The Magnificat)
(Luke 1:46-55)
P: "My soul extols the Lord;
All: And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior.
P: How graciously He looked upon His lowly maid!
Oh, see, from this hour onward age after age will call me blessed!
All: How sublime is what He has done for me,
the Mighty One, whose name is `Holy'!
P: From age to age He visits those
who worship Him in reverence.
All: His arm achieves the mastery:
He routs the haughty and proud of heart.
P: He puts down princes from their thrones,
and exalts the lowly;
All: He fills the hungry with blessings,
and sends away the rich with empty hands.
P: He has taken by the hand His servant Israel,
and mercifully kept His faith,
All: As He had promised our fathers
with Abraham and his posterity forever and evermore."
P: Glory be to the Father.
All: As it was in the beginning.
Antiphon: Magi from the East came to Bethlehem
to adore the Lord;
and opening their treasure chests
they presented Him with precious gifts:
Gold for the great King, incense for the true God,
and myrrh in symbol of His burial. Alleluia.
Meanwhile the home is sprinkled
with holy water and incensed. Then the priest says:
P: Our Father
who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth
As it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation.
All: But deliver us from evil.
P: Many shall come from Saba.
All: Bearing gold and incense.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May he also be with you.
Let us pray.
God, who on this day revealed your only-begotten Son to all nations by the
guidance of a star, grant that we who now know you by faith may finally
behold you in your heavenly majesty; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Responsory: Be enlightened and shine forth,
0 Jerusalem, for your light is come;
and upon you is risen the glory
of the Lord Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.
P: Nations shall walk in your light,
and kings in the splendor of your birth.
All: And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
Let us pray.
Lord God almighty, bless +this home,
and under its shelter let there be health,
chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness,
mildness, obedience to your commandments,
and thanksgiving to God
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
May your blessing remain always in this home
and on those who live here;
through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
P: Antiphon for Canticle of Zachary:
Today the Church is espoused to her heavenly bridegroom,
for Christ washes her sins in the Jordan;
the Magi hasten with gifts to the regal nuptials;
and the guests are gladdened with water made wine,
alleluia.
Canticle of Zachary(Luke 1:68-79
P: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has visited His people and
brought about its redemption.
All: He has raised for us a stronghold of salvation
in the house of David His servant,
P: And redeemed the promise He had made
through the mouth of His holy prophets of old
All: To grant salvation from our foes
and from the hand of all that hate us;
P: To deal in mercy with our fathers
and be mindful of His holy covenant,
All: Of the oath he had sworn to our father Abraham,
that He would enable us
P: Rescued from the clutches of our foes
to worship Him without fear,
All: In holiness and observance of the Law,
in His presence, all our days.
P: And you, my little one, will be hailed
`Prophet of the Most High';
for the Lord's precursor you will be to prepare His ways;
All: You are to impart to His people knowledge
of salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
P: Thanks be to the merciful heart of our God!
a dawning Light from on high will visit us
All: To shine upon those who sit in darkness
and in the shadowland of death,
and guide our feet into the path of peace."
P: Glory be to the Father.
All: As it was in the beginning.
Antiphon:
Today the Church is espoused to her heavenly bridegroom,
for Christ washes her sins in the Jordan;
the Magi hasten with gifts to the regal nuptials;
and the guests are gladdened with water made wine,
alleluia.
Then the celebrant sings:
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
God, who on this day revealed your only-begotten Son
to all nations by the guidance of a star,
grant that we who now know you by faith
may finally behold you in your heavenly majesty;
through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Athanasian Creed
P: Whoever wills to be saved
must before all else hold fast to the Catholic faith.
All: Unless one keeps this faith whole and untarnished,
without doubt he will perish forever.
P: Now this is the Catholic faith:
that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity;
All: Neither confusing the Persons one with the other,
nor making a distinction in their nature.
P: For the Father is a distinct Person;
and so is the Son;
and so is the Holy Spirit.
All: Yet the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit possess one Godhead,
co-equal glory, co-eternal majesty.
P: As the Father is, so is the Son,
so also is the Holy Spirit.
All: The Father is uncreated,
the Son is uncreated,
the Holy Spirit is uncreated.
P: The Father is infinite,
the Son is infinite,
the Holy Spirit is infinite.
All:
The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal,
the Holy Spirit is eternal.
P: Yet they are not three eternals,
but one eternal God.
All: Even as they are not three uncreated,
or three infinites,
but one uncreated and one infinite God.
P: So likewise the Father is almighty,
the Son is almighty,
the Holy Spirit is almighty.
All: Yet they are not three almighties,
but they are the one Almighty.
P: Thus the Father is God,
the Son is God,
the Holy Spirit is God.
All: Yet they are not three gods,
but one God.
P: Thus the Father is Lord,
the Son is Lord,
the Holy Spirit is Lord.
All: Yet there are not three lords,
but one Lord.
P: For just as Christian truth
compels us to profess that each Person
is individually God and Lord,
so does the Catholic religion forbid us
to hold that there are three gods or lords.
All: The Father was not made by any power;
He was neither created nor begotten.
P: The Son is from the Father alone,
neither created nor made, but begotten.
All: The Holy Spirit is from
the Father and the Son,
neither made nor created nor begotten,
but He proceeds.
P: So there is one Father, not three;
one Son, not three;
one Holy Spirit, not three.
All: And in this Trinity one Person
is not earlier or later,
nor is one greater or less;
but all three Persons are co-eternal
and co-equal.
P: In every way, then,
as already affirmed,
unity in Trinity and Trinity in unity is to be worshiped.
All: Whoever, then, wills to be saved
must assent to this doctrine of the Blessed Trinity.
P: But it is necessary for everlasting salvation
that one also firmly believe in the incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
>All: True faith, then, requires us
to believe and profess
that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
is both God and man.
P: He is God, begotten of the substance
of the Father from eternity;
He is man, born in time of the substance of His Mother.
All: He is perfect God, and perfect man
subsisting in a rational soul and a human body.
P: He is equal to the Father
in His divine nature,
but less than the Father in His human nature as such.
All: And though He is God and man,
yet He is the one Christ, not two;
P: One, however, not by any change
of divinity into flesh,
but by the act of God assuming a human nature.
All: He is one only,
not by a mixture of substance,
but by the oneness of His Person.
P: For, somewhat as the rational soul
and the body compose one man,
so Christ is one Person who is both God and man;
All: Who suffered for our salvation,
who descended into hell,
who rose again the third day from the dead;
P: Who ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty,
from there He shall come to judge
both the living and the dead.
All: At His coming all men shall rise
again in their bodies,
and shall give an account of their works.
P: And those who have done good shall
enter into everlasting life,
but those who have done evil into everlasting fire.
All: All this is Catholic faith,
and unless one believes it truly and firmly
one cannot be saved.
P: Glory be to the Father
All: As it was in the beginning.
Here follows a large number of psalms which may be used by the exorcist at
his discretion but these are not a necessary part of the rite. Some of them
occur in other parts of the Ritual and are so indicated; the others may be
taken from the Psalter. Psalm 90; psalm 67; psalm 69; psalm 53; psalm 117;
psalm 34; psalm 30; psalm 21; psalm 3; psalm 10; psalm 12.
Prayer Following Deliverance
P: Almighty God,
we beg you to keep the evil spirit
from further molesting this servant of yours,
and to keep him far away,
never to return.
At your command, 0 Lord,
may the goodness and peace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer,
take possession of this man (woman).
May we no longer fear any evil
since the Lord is with us;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
All: Amen.
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