Published by Order of His Holiness Pope Leo
XIII
The following is a simple exorcism prayer
that can be said by priests or laity. The term “exorcism”
does NOT always denote a solemn exorcism involving a person
possessed by the devil. In general, the term denotes prayers to
“curb the power of the devil and prevent him from doing harm.”
As St. Peter had written in Holy Scripture, “your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may
devour.” (1 St.Peter 5,8)
The Holy Father exhorts priests to say
this prayer as often as possible, as a simple exorcism to curb
the power of the devil and prevent him from doing harm. The
faithful also may say it in their own name, for the same
purpose, as any approved prayer. Its use is recommended whenever
action of the devil is suspected, causing malice in men, violent
temptations and even storms and various calamities. It could be
used as a solemn exorcism (an official and public ceremony, in
Latin), to expel the devil. It would then be said by a priest,
in the name of the Church and only with a Bishop's permission.
Prayer to St. Michael the
Archangel
In the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly
Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in “our battle
against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this
world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high
places” (Eph., 6,12). Come to the assistance of men whom God has
created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great
price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee
as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has entrusted
the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray therefore
the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no
longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our
prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His
mercy down upon us; take hold of “the dragon, the old serpent,
which is the devil and Satan”, bind him and cast him into the
bottomless pit ... “that he may no longer seduce the nations” (Apoc.
20, 2-3).
Exorcism
In
the Name of Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, strengthened by the
intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of
Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and
Paul and all the Saints. (and powerful in the holy authority of
our ministry)*, we confidently
undertake to repulse the attacks and deceits of the devil.
* Lay people
omit the parenthesis above.
Psalm 67
God arises; His enemies are scattered and those who hate Him
flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as
wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish at the presence
of God.
V. Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee bands of
enemies.
R. The Lion of the tribe of Juda, the offspring of David,
hath conquered.
V. May Thy mercy, Lord, descend upon us.
R. As great as our hope in Thee.
(The crosses below indicate a blessing to be given if a
priest recites the Exorcism; if a lay person recites it,
they indicate the Sign of the Cross to be made silently by
that person at each +
sign.)
We drive you from us, whoever you may be,
unclean spirits, all satanic powers, all infernal invaders, all
wicked legions, assemblies and sects. In the Name and by the
power of Our Lord Jesus Christ, +
may you 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, you shall 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 you,
+ He with whom, in your great
insolence, you still claim to be equal. “God who wants all men
to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim.
2,4). God the Father commands you. +
God the Son commands you. + God the
Holy Ghost commands you. + Christ,
God's Word made flesh, commands you; +
He who to save our race outdone through your 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 not prevail against Her, because He will
dwell with Her “all days even to the end of the world” (Matt.
28,20). The sacred Sign of the Cross commands you,
+ as does also the power of the
mysteries of the Christian Faith. +
The glorious Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, commands you;
+ she who by her humility and from
the first moment of her Immaculate Conception crushed your proud
head. The faith of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of the
other Apostles commands you. + The
blood of the Martyrs and the pious intercession of all the
Saints command you. +
Thus, cursed dragon, and you,
diabolical legions, we adjure you 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” (St.John 3, 16);
stop deceiving human creatures and pouring out to them the
poison of eternal damnation; stop harming the Church and
hindering her liberty. Begone, Satan, inventor and master of all
deceit, enemy of man's salvation. Give place to Christ in Whom
you have 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 all-powerful Hand of God; tremble
and flee when we invoke the Holy and terrible Name of Jesus,
this Name which causes 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 Hosts.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. May the Lord be with thee.
R. 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.
V. From the snares of the devil,
R. Deliver us, O Lord.
V. That Thy Church may serve Thee in peace and
liberty:
R. We beseech Thee to hear us.
V. That Thou may crush down all enemies of Thy
Church:
R. We beseech Thee to hear us.
(Holy water is to be sprinkled towards
Florida and the area around you.) |
