Exorcism Orthodox and Roman Rituals · Page 58 EXORCISM ORTHODOX and ROMAN RITUALS clay with His...

EXORCISM ORTHODOX and ROMAN RITUALS


ExorcismOrthodox and Roman Rituals

THE SOCIETY OF CLERKS SECULAR OF SAINT BASILTHE ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE AMERICAS


Holy Innocents Orthodox ChurchHarahan / New Orleans, Louisiana29 April 2009 A. D.

These Rites of Exorcism are authorized for use by both the Eastern and theGregorian (Western) Rites in the English language by members of The Societyof Clerks Secular of Saint Basil, and the Orthodox Catholic Church of theAmericas. Each may use the rite of the other, their customary rite, or both.

This book/publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without furtherpermission. We do request acknowledgment of its source and use be made.

Metropolitan Archbishop Paul, S.S.B.God, please help me love You

Published by The Society of Clerks Secular of Saint BasilNew Orleans, Louisiana U.S.A. Waveland, Mississippi U.S.A.Copyright © 29 April 2009 A.D.

Copies may be purchased by requesting Publication No. EXORCISM.PUBfrom:Holy Innocents Orthodox Church311 Hickory AvenueHarahan, Louisiana 70123U.S.A.

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ble from the face of His powerand the wrath of His warningupon thee is uncontainable.

Satan: The Lord rebukes theeby His frightful name!

Shudder, tremble, be afraid,depart, be utterly destroyed,be banished! Thee who fellfrom heaven and togetherwith thee all evil spirits: ev-ery evil spirit of lust, thespirit of evil, a day and noc-turnal spirit, a noonday andevening spirit, a midnightspirit, an imaginative spirit,an encountering spirit,whether of the dry land or ofthe water, or one in a forest,or among the reeds, or intrenches, or in a road or acrossroad, in lakes, orstreams, in houses, or onesprinkling in the baths andchambers, or one altering themind of man.

Depart swiftly from this crea-ture of the Creator Christ ourGod! And be gone from theservant (handmaid) of God N.,from his (her) mind, from his(her) soul, from his (her)heart, from his (her) reins,from his (her) senses, from allhis (her) members, that he(she) might become wholeand sound and free, knowingGod, his (her) own Master andCreator of all things, He Whogathers together those whohave gone astray and Whogives them the seal of salva-

tion through the rebirth andrestoration of divine Baptism,so that he may be countedworthy of His immaculate,heavenly and awesome Mys-teries and be united to Histrue fold, dwelling in a placeof pasture and nourished onthe waters of repose, guidedpastorally and safely by thestaff of the Cross unto theforgiveness of sins and life ev-erlasting.

For unto Him belong all glory,honor, adoration and majestytogether with Thy beginning-less Father and His all-holy,good and life-giving Spirit,now and ever, and unto agesof ages.

Amen.

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clay with His immaculatespittle and refashioned thewanting member of the manblind from birth and gave himhis sight.

Attend devil: The Lord re-bukes thee! He Who by Hisword restored to life thedaughter of the ruler of thesynagogue and snatched theson of the widow out from themouth of death and gave himwhole and sound to his ownmother. Devil: The Lord re-bukes thee! The Lord Whoraised Lazarus the four-daysdead from the dead, unde-cayed, as if not having died,and unblemished to the as-tonishment of many.

Attend Satan: The Lord re-bukes thee! He Who de-stroyed the curse by the blowon His face and by the lancein His immaculate side liftedthe flaming sword thatguarded Paradise. Devil: TheLord rebukes thee! He Whodried all tears from every faceby the spitting upon His pre-cious expressed image. Devil:The Lord rebukes thee! HeWho set His Cross as a sup-port, the salvation of theworld, to thy fall and the fallof all the angels under thee.

Attend Devil: The Lord re-bukes thee! He Who spokefrom His Cross and the cur-tain of the temple was torn intwo, and the rocks were split

and the tombs were openedand those who were deadfrom the ages were raised up.Devil: The Lord rebukes thee!He Who by death put death todeath and by His risinggranted life to all men.

May the Lord rebuke thee, Sa-tan! It is, He Who descendedinto Hades and opened itstombs and set free those heldprisoner in it, calling them toHimself; before Whom thegatekeepers of Hades shud-dered when they saw Himand, hiding themselves, van-ished in the anguish of Hades.May the Lord rebuke thee,devil! It is, Christ our GodWho arose from the dead andgranted His Resurrection toall men.

May the Lord rebuke thee, Sa-tan! He Who in glory ascendedinto heaven to His Father, sit-ting on the right of majestyupon the throne of glory.Devil: May the Lord rebukethee! He Who shall comeagain with glory upon theclouds of heaven with Hisholy angels to judge the livingand the dead. Devil: May theLord rebuke thee! He Who hasprepared for thee unquench-able fire, the unsleeping wormand the outer darkness untoeternal punishment.

Attend Devil: May the Lordrebuke thee! For before Himall things shudder and trem-


CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4

EXORCISM OF THE POSSESSED -PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11

CAUTIONS AND ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS TOTHE EXORCIST - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15

THE WESTERN RITE OF EXORCISM (FOR APARTICULAR PERSON) (A Single Individual) - - - - - 16

EXORCISM AGAINST SATAN AND THEFALLEN ANGELS (FOR A PARTICULARGEOGRAPHIC PLACE) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 48

ORTHODOX EXORCISM RITUALS

PRAYER OF EXORCISM: FOR THOSEIMPASSIONED OR IMPRISONED BYDEMONS, AND EVERY MANNER OFDEMONIC ILLNESS OR CONTROL ofSt. Basil the Great - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 51

EXORCISMS or PRAYERS OF DELIVERANCEFOR GENERAL USE of St. John Chrysostom - - - - - 56


EXORCISMORTHODOX and ROMAN

RITUALS

- INTRODUCTION -

While this introduction is pri-marily from Volume II, TheRoman Ritual in Latin andEnglish, translated andedited with introduction andnotes by the Reverend PhilipT. Weller, it should be care-fully read, studied, and fol-lowed by all whether the Or-thodox or Roman rite is to beused. The two sections enti-tled EXORCISM OF THE POS-SESSED - PRELIMINARY IN-STRUCTIONS, and CAUTIONSAND ADDITIONAL SUGGES-TIONS TO THE EXORCIST,respectively, should likewisebe carefully read, studied,and followed by all whetherthe Orthodox or Roman riteis to be used. The Roman Rit-uals are as found in that sameRoman Ritual in Latin andEnglish, while the Orthodoxrituals are as found in moststandard Orthodox Eucholo-gion.

Man, above all the Christian,must reckon with the realmof the prince of darkness andhis legions, not presumingthat Satan has no experienceoutside of the product of fa-ble, superstition, or figment --an error endemic in material-ists of any age -- not minimiz-

ing his power over the humanperson or in human affairs,without on the other handseeing him lurk in every nookand crevice, like some of theancient desert fathers, or forthat matter like certain ex-otic cults of the present day.There is a world of demons, asrevealed religion teaches, andeven if revelation were not soabsolute, we could conjecturethat the devil is a real personand that his sway is tremen-dous -- a legitimate inferencefrom the magnitude of evil towhich our times, no less thanpast history, bears witness.

Francois Mauriac, referred toin somewhat superciliousfashion as one of the contem-porary novelists of despair,sees the problem of evil as aburden too heavy to be borneby the shoulders of manalone. “Evil is Someone,Someone who is multiple andwhose name is legion. . . . It isone thing to be in the realmof the demons, as we all arewhen we have lost the state ofgrace, and quite another to beheld and surrounded, literallypossessed by him.” (Mauriac,St. Margaret of Cortona.)

But God in Holy Writ long agoforestalled that the questionbe left to purely idle humanspeculation and experimenta-tion, giving His inspired wordon which the Church from thebeginning has based her posi-

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subjected them. Lord, stretchout Thy mighty hand and Thysublime and holy arm and inThy watchful care look downupon this Thy creature andsend down upon him (her) apeaceful angel, a mighty an-gel, a guardian of soul andbody, that will rebuke anddrive away every evil and un-clean demon from him (her),for Thou alone are Lord, MostHigh, almighty and blessedunto ages of ages.

Amen.

Fourth Prayer

We make this great, divine,holy and awesome invocationand plea, O devil, for thineexpulsion, as well as this re-buke for your utter annihila-tion, O apostate!

God Who is holy, beginning-less, frightful, invisible inessence, infinite in power andincomprehensible in divinity,the King of glory and LordAlmighty, He shall rebukethee, devil! He Who composedall things well by his Wordfrom nothingness into being;He Who walks upon the wingsof the air.

The Lord rebukes thee, devil!He Who calls forth the waterof the sea and pours it uponthe face of all the earth. Lordof Hosts is His name. O devil:

the Lord rebukes thee! HeWho is ministered to andpraised by numberless heav-enly orders and adored andglorified in fear by multitudesof angelic and archangelichosts. O Satan: the Lord re-bukes thee! He Who is hon-ored by the encircling Powers,the awesome six-winged andmany-eyed Cherubim andSeraphim that cover theirfaces with two wings becauseof His inscrutable and unseendivinity and with two wingscover their feet, lest they beseared by His unutterableglory and incomprehensiblemajesty, and with two wingsdo fly and fill the heavenswith their shouts of "Holy,holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth,heaven and earth are full ofThy glory!"

Attend devil, the Lord re-bukes thee! He Who camedown from the Father's bo-som and, through the holy,inexpressible, immaculateand adorable Incarnationfrom the Virgin, appeared in-effably in the world to save itand cast thee down fromheaven in His authoritativepower and showed thee to bean outcast to every man.

Attend Satan, the Lord re-bukes thee! He Who said tothe sea, be silent, be still, andinstantly it was calmed at Hiscommand. O devil: The Lordrebukes thee! He Who made

6


EXORCISMS or PRAYERS OFDELIVERANCE FOR

GENERAL USEof

St. John Chrysostom

First Prayer

O Eternal God, Who has re-deemed the race of men fromthe captivity of the devil, de-liver Thy servant (handmaid)N. from all the workings ofunclean spirits. Commandthe evil and impure spiritsand demons to depart fromthe soul and body of N. yourservant (handmaid) and notto remain nor hide in him(her). Let them be banishedfrom this the creation of Thyhands in Thine own holyname and that of Thine onlybegotten Son and of Thylife-creating Spirit, so that,after being cleansed from alldemonic influence, he (she)may live holy, godly, justlyand righteously and may becounted worthy to receivethe Holy Mysteries of Thineonly-begotten Son and ourGod with Whom Thou artblessed and glorified togetherwith the all holy and goodand life-creating Spirit nowand ever and unto the ages ofages.

Amen.

Second Prayer

O Thou Who hast rebuked allunclean spirits and by thepower of Thy Word has ban-ished the legion, come now,through Thine only begottenSon upon this creature, whichThou hast fashioned in Thineown image and deliver him(her) from the adversary thatholds him (her) in bondage, sothat, receiving Thy mercy andbecoming purified, he (she)might join the ranks of Thyholy flock and be preserved asa living temple of the HolySpirit and might receive thedivine and holy Mysteriesthrough the grace and com-passion and loving kindnessof Thine only-begotten Sonwith Whom Thou art blessedtogether with Thine all-holyand good and life-creatingSpirit now and ever and untothe ages of ages.

Amen.

Third Prayer

We beseech Thee, O Lord,Almighty God, Most High, un-tempted, peaceful King. Webeseech Thee Who has cre-ated the heaven and theearth, for out of Thee has is-sued the Alpha and theOmega, the beginning and theend, Thou Who has ordainedthat the fourfooted and irra-tional beasts be under subjec-tion to man, for Thou hast

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tive teaching regarding theevil spirits. The Old Testa-ment dealt with demonologyto some extent, but the sub-ject was amplified consider-ably in the New. (Cf. M. Ha-gen, S.J., “Die Lehere derHeiligen Schrift uber denTeufel,” Simmens aus MariaLaach, Vol. 55, p. 368 ff.)“And there was a great battlein heaven: Michael and hisangels fought with thedragon, and the dragonfought and his angels. . .Therefore rejoice, O heavens,and you that dwell therein.Woe to the earth, and to thesea, because the devil is comedown to you, having greatwrath, knowing that hath buta short time. . . . And I sawfrom the mouth of thedragon, and from the mouthof the beast, and from themouth of the false prophet,three unclean spirits likefrogs. For they are the spiritsof devils working signs, andthey go forth into the kings ofthe whole earth, to gatherthem to battle against thegreat day of the AlmightyGod.” (Apoc. 12:7, 12; 16:13-14) And after hell is createdfor the angels fallen fromheaven, the devil like a roar-ing lion roams about seekingwhom he may devour (1 Pet.5:8-9); so that through the sinof our first parents, who feltthe sting of the ancient ser-pent, mankind is made sub-ject to the domain of Satan,

prince of this world.

Christ overcame Satan on theCross, and the latter’s king-dom is shaken. “For this pur-pose, the Son of God ap-peared, that He might destroythe works of the devil.” (1john 3:18) Man is deliveredfrom the power of darknessand transferred into the king-dom of the Son. (Cf. Col. 1:13)Yet the devil is not com-pletely vanquished nor trod-den underfoot, and the war-fare against him is carried onby Christ and His membersuntil the end of time. “For ourwrestling is not against fleshand blood, but against princi-palities and powers, againstthe rulers of the world of thisdarkness, against the spiritsof wickedness in the highplaces. Therefore, take untoyou the armour of God, thatyou may be able to resist theevil day and to stand in allthings perfect. Stand there-fore, having your loins girtabout with truth, and havingon the breastplate of justice,and your feet shod with thepreparation of the gospel ofpeace: in all things taking theshield of faith, wherewith youmay be able to extinguish allthe fiery darts of the mostwicked one.” (Eph. 6:12-16)

Against unclean spirits theChurch uses prayers, bless-ings, holy water, and othersacramentals as weapons to


combat the ordinary influ-ence which the former wieldover humankind. But apartfrom the general power overmen that Providence allowsto the tempter, there is also aspecial and terrible Satanicinfluence. It is called posses-sion -- the domination by thedemon over man’s bodily or-gans and his lower spiritualfaculties; or in latter times adistinction is made betweenpossession and obsession, thelatter connoting a lessergrade of demonic distur-bance. (Thalhofer and Eisen-hofer, Handbuch derKatholischen Liturgik, p.506 ff.)

It is certain from the NewTestament that Christ under-stood the same as the Churchhas understood themthroughout her centuries.“And when it was evening, af-ter sunset, they brought toHim all that were ill and thatwere possessed with devils,.And all the city was gatheredtogether at the door. And Hehealed many that were trou-bled with divers diseases; andHe cast out many devils, andHe suffered them not tospeak, because they knewHim.” (Mark 1:32-34) TheJews likewise acknowledgedpossession by the evil one,along with the possibility ofexorcizing him.” “And whenthey were gone out, beholdthey brought Him a dumb

man, possessed with a devil.And after the devil was castout, the dumb man spoke,and the multitudes wondered,saying: Never was the likeseen in Israel. But the Phar-isees said: By the prince ofdevils He casteth out devils. .. . [And Jesus said:] And if I byBeelzebub cast out devils, bywhom do your children castthem out?” (Matt. 9:32-34;12:27)

To be possessed can meanthat Satan has gained mas-tery over the will so devastat-ingly that sinfulness passesbeyond ordinary depravity ofthe world, and its cause mustbe sought in a power abovethe order of nature. Possiblythis was true in the case of“Mary who is called Magdalen,out of whom seven devilswere gone forth.” (Luke 8:2)Or more certainly in Judaswhom Jesus called a devil(John 6:71), into whose heartSatan put the thought to be-tray the Master. (John 13:2)Or as St. Paul testifies: “Andthey may recover themselvesfrom the snares of the devil,by whom they are held cap-tive at his will.” (2 Tim. 2:26)To be possessed can mean, atleast in a broad sense, thatSatan has beclouded the intel-lect, so that the light of faithcannot illuminate: “In whomthe god of this world hathblinded the minds of unbe-lievers, that the light of the

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Thy rule, O Lord; Thouthrough Whom life hath ap-peared, hope hath prevailed,through Whom the man ofthe earth was recreated by be-lief in Thee. For Who is likeunto Thee, Almighty God?

Wherefore we beseech Thee,O Father, Lord of mercies,Who existed before the agesand surpasses all good, call-ing upon Thy holy name,through the love of ThyChild, Jesus Christ, the HolyOne, and Thine All-powerfulSpirit. Cast away from his(her) soul every malady, alldisbelief, spare him (her) fromthe furious attacks of un-clean, infernal, fiery,evil-serving, lustful spirits,the love of gold and silver,conceit, fornication, everyshameless, unseemly, darkand profane demon. Indeed,O God, expel from Thy ser-vant (handmaiden) N. everyenergy of the devil, every en-chantment and delusion; allidolatry, lunacy, astrology,necromancy, every bird ofomen, the love of luxury andthe flesh, all greed, drunken-ness, carnality, adultery, li-centiousness, shamelessness,anger, contentiousness, con-fusion and all evil suspicion.Yea, O Lord our God, breatheupon him (her) the Spirit ofThy Peace, watch over him(her) and produce thereby thefruits of faith, virtue, wis-dom, chastity, self-control,

love, uprightness, hope,meekness, longsuffering, pa-tience, prudence and under-standing in Thy servant(handmaiden) that he (she)may be welcomed by Thee inthe name of Jesus Christ, be-lieving in the coessentialTrinity, giving witness andglorifying Thy dominion,along with the Angels andArchangels and all the heav-enly host, guarding our heartsby them; for all things arepossible to Thee, O Lord.

Therefore, we ascribe glory tothe Father, and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit, nowand ever and unto the ages ofages.

Amen.


likeness of the incarnate Godand no longer hide in His ser-vant (handmaid) N.; ratherawait the rod of iron, the fieryfurnace of Tartars, the gnash-ing of teeth as reprisal for dis-obedience. Be afraid, be still,flee, neither return nor hidein him some other kind ofevil, unclean spirits. Departinto the uncultivated, water-less waste of the desert whereno man dwells, where Godalone vigilantly watches, Whoshall bind you that dares withenvy to plot against His im-age and Who, with chains ofdarkness shall hold you inTartars, Who by day and nightand for a great length of timehas devised all manner ofevils, O devil; for great is yourfear of God and great is theglory of the Father, of the Sonand of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Third Prayer of Exorcism

Let us pray to the Lord.Lord, have mercy.

O God of the heavens, God ofLight, God of the Angels andArchangels obedient to ThineAuthority and Power; O GodWho art glorified in ThySaints, Father of our Lord Je-sus Christ, ThineOnly-begotten Son, Who de-livered the souls which werebound to death and Who en-

lightened them that dwelt indarkness; He Who released usfrom all our misery and painand Who has protected usfrom the assaults of the en-emy. And Thou, O Son andWord of God, has purposed usfor immortality by Thy deathand glorified us with Thyglory; Thou Who loosed usfrom the fetters of our sinsthrough Thy Cross, renderingus pleasing to Thyself anduniting us with God; ThouWho didst rescue us from de-struction and cured all ourdiseases; Thou Who set us onthe path to heaven andchanged our corruption to in-corruption. Hear Thou mewho cry unto Thee with long-ing and fear, Thou beforeWhom the mountains and thefirmament under the heavensdo shrink; Thou Who makestthe physical elements totremble, keeping them withintheir own limits; and becauseof Whom the fires of retribu-tion dare not overstep theboundary set for them butmust await the decision ofThy Will; and for Whom allcreation sighs with greatsighs awaiting deliverance; byWhom all adverse natureshave been put to flight andthe legion of the enemy hasbeen subdued, the devil is af-frighted, the serpent tram-pled under foot and thedragon slain; Thou Who hasenlightened the nationswhich confess and welcome


gospel of the glory of Christ,Who is the image of God,should not shine unto them.”(2 Cor. 4:4) To be possessedcan mean that Satan has be-fuddled a person’s reason, infact, simple and superstitiousfolk have wrongly made lu-nacy synonymous with dia-bolical infestation. We havethe account in St. Mark of aman coming to Jesus one dayand saying: “Master, I havebrought my son to thee, hav-ing a dumb spirit, who,wheresoever he taketh him,dasheth him, and he foameth,and gnasheth with his teeth,and pineth away. . . . [AndJesus said:] Bring him untome. And they brought him.And when He has seen him,immediately the spirit trou-bled him; and being throwndown upon the ground, herolled about foaming. And Heasked his father: How long atime is it since this hath hap-pened unto him? But he said:From his infancy: And often-times hath he cast him intothe fire and into waters todestroy him. But if thoucanst do anything, help us,having compassion on us.And Jesus saith to him: Ifthou canst believe, all thingsare possible to him that be-lieveth. . . . And Jesus threat-ened the unclean spirit, say-ing to him: Deaf and dumbspirit, I command thee, goout of him; and enter not anymore into him. And crying

out, and greatly tearing him,he went out of him.” Mark9:13 ff) There are many otherinstances of possession re-counted in the New Testa-ment to the effect that mo-lestation by the enemy ismanifest in various distur-bances of the human body it-self, the devil having gainedcontrol over sight, hearing,speech, or the physical organ-ism in general. “And theycame over the straight of thesea into the country of theGerasens. And as He went outof the ship, immediatelythere met Him out of themonuments a man with anunclean spirit, who had hisdwelling in the tombs; and noman now could bind him, noteven with chains. For havingbeen often bound with fettersand chains, he had burst thechains and broken the fettersin pieces, and no one couldtame him. And he was alwaysday and night in the monu-ments and in the mountains,crying and cutting himselfwith stones. And seeing Jesusafar off, he ran and adoredHim. And crying with a loudvoice, he said: What have I todo with thee, Jesus the Son ofthe most high God? I adjurethee by God that thou tor-ment me not. For He saidunto him: Go out of the man,thou unclean spirit. And Heasked him: What is thy name?And he saith to Him: My nameis Legion, for we are many.


And he besought Him much,that He would not drive himaway out of the country. Andthere was there near themountains a great herd ofswine, feeding. And the spir-its besought Him, saying:Send us into the swine, thatwe may enter into them. AndJesus immediately gave themleave. And the unclean spiritsgoing out entered into theswine. And the heard withgreat violence was carriedheadlong into the sea, beingabout two thousand, and werestifled in the sea. . . . Andthey see him that was trou-bled with the devil, sitting,clothed, and well in his wits.”(Mark 5:1 ff)

The power which Christ exer-cised over demons He passedon to the Church. “And hav-ing called His twelve disciplestogether, He gave them powerover unclean spirits, to castthem out, and to heal allmanner of diseases, and allmanner of infirmities.” (Mark10:1) The early Christianswere deeply influenced bywhat they had learned oftheir Master’s dealings withevil spirits, and there was ontheir part great activity in theuse of charismatic gifts --healing the sick and drivingout devils. (Cf. Adolph Franz,Die Kirchlichen Benedik-tionem im Mittelalter, BandII, De Besessenheit) They hada lively realization that a fol-

lower of Christ must needswage war against the powersof darkness. In fact, the Mas-ter had Himself given themthe example and a scheme toimitate in His own sojourn inthe wilderness, where He sub-mitted to the threefold temp-tation of the evil opponent --the presumptuous attempt todeter Him from following thewill of God and the leading ofthe Holy Spirit, to play falseto His vocation. (Matt. 4:1 ff;Mark 1:12 ff; Luke 4:1 ff)They saw the demon in theheathen gods and in heathenworship. They received mostearnestly St. Paul’s exhorta-tion to put on the armor ofGod so as to be able to standagainst the deceits of thedevil (Eph. 6:12) And in theirready use of the power todrive out evil spirits, directevidence for which is found inthe ritual for baptism, datingfrom the earliest times andcontaining manifold exor-cisms and renunciations,they exhibited their creden-tials of being sent from God tobear witness of His Anointed.(Cf. Heinrich Bacht, S.J., inLiturgie und Monchtum, 2Folge, Heft VIII, Abtei MariaLaach)

The prayers and forms usedfor exorcism in the first cen-turies have not come down tous, outside of the ones in bap-tism. But exorcism becamepart of the baptismal rite

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gels and all the heavenly pow-ers when they beheld God in-carnate in the flesh and alsorevealed at the Jordan His be-ginningless Father and theHoly Spirit with Whom Heshares the unity of the Trin-ity. I expel you, evil one, inthe name of Him Who re-buked the winds and stilledthe turbulent sea; Who ban-ished the legion of demonsand opened the eyes of himwho was born blind from hismother's womb; and Whofrom clay fashioned sight forhim, whereby He re-enactedthe ancient refashioning ofour face; Who restored thespeech of the speechless,purged the stigma of leprosy,raised the dead from thegrave and Who Himself de-spoiled Hades by His deathand Resurrection therebyrendering mankind impervi-ous to death. I expel you, inthe name of Almighty GodWho filled men with the in-breathing of a divinely in-spired voice and Who wroughttogether with the Apostlesthe piety, which has filled theuniverse. Fear and flee, run,leave, unclean and accursedspirit, deceitful and unseemlycreature of the infernaldepths, visible through de-ceit, hidden by pretense. De-part wherever you may ap-pear, Beelzebub, vanish assmoke and heat, bestial andserpentine thing, whetherdisguised as male or female,

whether beast or crawlingthing or flying, whether garru-lous, mute or speechless,whether bringing fear of beingtrampled, or rending apart,conniving, whether oppress-ing him (her) in sleep, bysome display of weakness, bydistracting laughter, or takingpleasure in false tearswhether by lechery or stenchof carnal lust, pleasure, addic-tion to drugs, divination orastrology, whether dwelling ina house, whether possessedby audacity, or contentious-ness or instability, whetherstriking him with lunacy, orreturning to him after thepassage of time, whether yoube of the morning, noonday,midnight or night, indefinitetime or daybreak, whetherspontaneously or sent tosomeone or coming upon him(her) unawares, whether fromthe sea, a river, from beneaththe earth, from a well, aravine, a hollow, a lake, athicket of reeds, from matter,land, refuse, whether from agrove, a tree, a thicket, froma fowl, or thunder, whetherfrom the precincts of a bath,a pool of water or from a pa-gan sepulcher or from anyplace where you may lurk;whether by knowledge or ig-norance or any place notmentioned. Depart, separateyourself from him (her), beashamed before him who wasmade in the image of God andshaped by His hand. Fear the


him from the height of bright-ness. Drive him into banish-ment, commanding him todepart hence, so that noharm might be workedagainst Your sealed Image.And, as You have com-manded, let those who aresealed receive the strength totread upon serpents and scor-pions, and upon all power ofthe Enemy. For manifested,hymned, and glorified withfear, by everything that hasbreath is Your most holyName: of the Father (+), andof the Son (+), and of the Holy(+) Spirit, now and ever andinto ages of ages.

Amen.

Second Prayer of Exorcism


I expel you, primal source ofblasphemy, prince of therebel host, originator of evil.I expel you, Lucifer, who wascast from the brilliance onhigh into the darkness of theabyss on account of your ar-rogance: I expel you and allthe fallen hosts which fol-lowed your will: I expel you,spirit of uncleanness, who re-volted against Adonai, Elo-him, the omnipotent God ofSabaoth and the army of Hisangels. Be gone and departfrom the servant (handmaid)

of God N. . I expel you in thename of Him Who created allthings by His Word, HisOnly-Begotten Son, our LordJesus Christ, Who was ineffa-bly and dispassionately bornbefore all the ages; by Whomwas formed all things visibleand invisible, Who made manafter His Image: Who guardedhim by the angels, Whotrained him in the Law, Whodrowned sin in the flood ofwaters from above and Whoshut up the abysses under theheaven, Who demolished theimpious race of giants, Whoshook down the tower of Ba-bel, Who reduced Sodom andGomorrah to ashes by sulfurand fire, a fact to which theunceasing vapors testify; andWho by the staff of Moses sep-arated the waters of the RedSea, opening a waterless pathfor the people while thetyrannical Pharaoh and hisGod-fighting army weredrowned forever in its wavesfor his wicked persecution ofthem; and Who in these lastdays was inexplicably incar-nate of a pure Virgin who pre-served the seal of her chastityintact; and Who was pleasedto purge our ancient defile-ment in the baptismal cleans-ing. I expel you, Satan, byvirtue of Christ's baptism inthe Jordan, which for us is atype of our inheritance of in-corruption through grace andsanctified waters: the sameOne Who astounded the an-


somewhere around A.D. 200.Thus the ancient liturgicalbooks which date from thethird century, those whichdeal with baptism, give us theprevailing Christian doctrineabout Satan and his interven-tion in the affairs of man. Inthe devil’s hatred for God heturned on man, who is madein God’s image. Followingupon original sin, men are nolonger temples of the HolySpirit; rather they are nowhabitations for the demon.Not too much distinction ismade between the possessedand the unbaptized. Isidore ofSeville places both classes onthe same level, when he tellsus that exorcism is the cere-mony of banishing the mostwicked influence of the devilfrom catechumens and pos-sessed alike. (DictionnaireD’Archeologie Chretienne etde Liturgie, Vol. V, Pt. 1, 963ff.)

It is difficult to fix preciselythe time of origin of a specialrite for exorcism. The evi-dence would indicate that inthe early Church it consistedmainly of the sign of theCross, invoking the name ofJesus, references to the In-carnation, Passion, Resurrec-tion, and the second comingof Christ, along with renunci-ations of and adjurations andthreats made against thedemons. In the Greek Churchthe forms, given in the liturgy

of St. Basil and that of St.John Chrysostom, are verybrief. (Ibid.) In the LatinChurch, on the contrary, wefind a profusion of texts andrites, many of which derivefrom the highly imaginativeMiddle Ages. To this periodwe must attribute beliefs andpractices which in some casesare superstitious to an ex-treme. Devils are believed toexist in the guise of certainmaterial bodies. Demonic pos-session is confounded withepilepsy and other mental orphysical disorders. Rituals ofthis time prescribe that thesubject remain in the pres-ence of the exorcist through-out the period of exorcism,that he observe a strict fastand limit the diet to blessedwater, salt, and vegetables,that he wear new clothes,that he abstain from the mari-tal act. No less complicatedare the injunctions for the ex-orcist. And by the time wecome to the fourteenth cen-tury, magical practices havebeen introduced into the cer-emonies. (Cf. Adolph Franz,op. Cit.)

A great sobriety characterizesthe Western rite of exorcismtoday. Some minds might dis-cern traces therein of a cer-tain naivete, yet at any rate ithas been purged of the unfor-tunate accretions which creptinto the texts during a periodruled much more by human


credulity than by the unadul-terated doctrine of theChurch. No longer, for exam-ple, does the official text af-ford any grounds for the erro-neous notion that diabolicalpossession is necessarily a di-vine retribution visited upona grievous sinner. God allowsthis terrible evil in His wis-dom and power, without theaffected one being at fault. Abetter acquaintance with theGospel should have intimatedthat sometimes demonic mo-lestation afflicts an innocentperson, as in the case of theboy troubled by an evil spiritsince his infancy. (Mark 9:20)It is one thing to have falleninto the slavery of sin or to beafflicted with an bodily infir-mity, and quite another storywhen a devil has literally en-tered into a demoniac andtaken possession. Therefore,in the third rubric given be-low, the exorcist is enjoined“not to believe too readilythat a person is possessed byan evil spirit, but to ascertainthe signs by which a personpossessed can be distin-guished from one who is suf-fering from melancholy orsome other illness.”

The present rite also wiselyprovides that exorcism is notto be attempted by anyoneindiscriminately. Althoughthere is a special order of ex-orcists -- one of the minororders -- it is allowed at pre-

sent only to priests, who ordi-narily are obliged to seek theauthorization of the bishopbefore resorting to exorcism.Moreover, the priest ap-pointed for this undertaking“must be properly distin-guished for his piety, pru-dence, and integrity of life; heought to be of mature years,and revered not alone for hisoffice but for his moral quali-ties.” (See rubrics below.) Heshould prepare himself by im-ploring the divine assistance,above all through prayer andfasting, and induce others todo the same. In order to avoida spectacle for idle curiosity,the possessed person shouldbe led to church or someother sacred and worthyplace, where the exorcism willbe held, away from the crowd.The subject, if in good mentaland physical health, shouldbe exhorted to implore God’shelp, to fast, and to fortifyhimself by frequent receptionof penance and Holy Commu-nion. During the exorcism theexorcists shall preferably em-ploy words from Holy Writ,rather than forms of his ownor of someone else. These rec-ommendations in the presentrite, along with many otherinstructions given in the textwhich follows, indicate thatthe Church has carefullyguarded the extraordinarypower over Satan committedto her by Christ, and that Or-thodox (and Catholic) exor-

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gins! O God, Who hast thepower to bestow life afterdeath and rest after toil; forthere is no other God besidethee, nor could there be atrue God apart from thee, thecreator of all things visibleand invisible, of Whose king-dom there shall be no end.Hence we humbly appeal tothy sublime Majesty, thatthou wouldst graciouslyvouchsafe to deliver us by thymight from every power ofthe accursed spirits, fromtheir bondage and from theirdeceptions, and to preserveus from all harm. ThroughChrist our Lord.

R. Amen.

From the snares of the devil,deliver us, O Lord.That thou wouldst assist thyChurch to serve thee in allsecurity and freedom, we be-seech thee, hear us.That thou wouldst vouchsafeto humble the enemies ofholy Church, we beseechthee, hear us.

The surroundings are sprin-kled with holy water.

ORTHODOX EXORCISMRITUALS

PRAYER OF EXORCISM: FORTHOSE IMPASSIONED ORIMPRISONED BY DEMONS,AND EVERY MANNER OFDEMONIC ILLNESS OR

CONTROLof

St. Basil the Great

The four prayers are allprayed.

First Prayer of Exorcism


O God of gods and Lord oflords, Creator of the fieryranks, and Fashioner of thefleshless powers, the Artisanof heavenly things and thoseunder the heavens, Whom noman has seen, nor is able tosee, Whom all creation fears:Into the dark depths of HellYou hurled the commanderwho had become proud, andwho, because of his disobedi-ent service, was cast downfrom the height to earth, aswell as the angels that fellaway with him, all having be-come evil demons.

Grant that this my exorcismbeing performed in Your awe-some name, be terrible to theMaster of evil and to all hisminions who had fallen with


God the Son + commandeththee! God the Holy + Spiritcommandeth thee! Themajesty of Christ commandsthee, the Eternal Word of Godmade flesh, + Who for the sal-vation of our race, lostthrough thine envy, humbledHimself and was made obedi-ent even unto death; Whobuilt His Church upon solidrock, and proclaimed that thegates of hell should never pre-vail against her, and that Hewould remain with her alldays, even to the end of theworld! The sacred mystery ofthe Cross + commands thee,as well as the powers of allmysteries of Christian faith!+ The most excellent VirginMary, Mother of God + com-mands thee, who in her lowli-ness crushed thy proud headfrom the first moment of herImmaculate Conception! Thefaith of the holy apostles Pe-ter and Paul and the otherapostles + commands thee!The blood of the martyrscommands thee, as well asthe pious intercession + ofholy men and women!

Therefore, accursed dragon,and every diabolical legion,we adjure thee by the living +God, by the true + God, by theholy + God, by the God Whoso loved the world that Hegave His Sole-Begotten Son,that whosoever believeth inHim shall not perish, butshall have life everlasting -

cease thy deception of menand thy giving them to drinkof the poison of eternaldamnation; desist from harm-ing the Church and fetteringher freedom! Get thee gone,Satan, founder and master ofall falsity, enemy of mankind!Give place to Christ in Whomthou didst find none of thyworks; give place to the one,holy, catholic, and apostolicChurch which Christ Himselfbought with His blood! Bethou brought low under God’smighty hand; tremble and fleeas we call upon the holy andawesome name of Jesus, be-fore Whom hell trembles, andto Whom the Virtues, Powers,and Dominations are subject;Whom the Cherubim andSeraphim praise with unfail-ing voices, saying: Holy, holy,holy, the Lord God of Hosts!

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.R. And let my cry come untothee.V. The Lord be with you.R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray

Prayer

O God of heaven and God ofearth, God of the angels andGod of the archangels, God ofthe patriarchs and God of theprophets, God of the apostlesand God of Martyrs, God ofconfessors and God of Vir-


cism is poles removed fromany form of dabbling in thespirit world which springsfrom human chicanery ormalice, or even from the pro-moter of malice himself. (--Slightly modified and editedcomments by the Translator)

EXORCISM OF THEPOSSESSED - PRELIMINARY

INSTRUCTIONS

A priest -- one who is ex-pressly and in special wise(particularly) authorized bythe Ordinary -- when he in-tends to perform an exorcismover persons tormented bythe devil, must be properlydistinguished for his piety,prudence, and integrity oflife. He should fulfill this de-vout undertaking in all con-stancy and humility, being ut-terly immune to any strivingfor human aggrandizement,and relying, not on his own,but on the divine power.Moreover, he ought to be ofmature years, and revered notalone for his office but for hismoral qualities.

2. In order to exercise hisministry rightly, he should re-sort to a great deal morestudy of the matter (whichhas to be passed over here forthe sake of brevity), by exam-ining approved authors andcases from experience; on theother hand, let him carefullyobserve the few more impor-tant points enumerated here.

3. Especially, he should notbelieve too readily that a per-son is possessed by an evilspirit; but he ought to ascer-tain the signs by which a per-son possessed can be distin-guished from one who is suf-


fering from melancholy orsome other illness (especiallyone of a psychological na-ture). Signs of possession are(may be) the following: abilityto speak with some facility ina strange tongue or to under-stand it when spoken by an-other; the faculty of divulgingfuture and hidden events; dis-play of powers which are be-yond the subject's age andnatural condition; and vari-ous other indications which,when taken together as awhole, build up the evidence.

4. In order to understandthese matters better, let himinquire of the person pos-sessed, following upon one orthe other act of exorcism,what the latter experiencedin his body or soul while theexorcism was being per-formed, and to learn alsowhat particular words in theform had a more intimidatingeffect upon the devil, so thathereafter these words may beemployed with greater stressand frequency.

5. He will be on his guardagainst the arts and sub-terfuges which the evil spiritsare wont to use in deceivingthe exorcist. For oftentimesthey give deceptive answersand make it difficult to un-derstand them, so that theexorcist might tire and giveup, or so it might appear thatthe afflicted one is in no wise

possessed by the devil.

6. Once in a while, after theyare already recognized, theyconceal themselves and leavethe body practically free fromevery molestation, so that thevictim believes himself com-pletely delivered. Yet the ex-orcist may not desist until hesees the signs of deliverance.

7. At times, moreover, theevil spirits place whatever ob-stacles they can in the way,so that the patient may notsubmit to exorcism, or theytry to convince him that hisaffliction is a natural one.Meanwhile, during the exor-cism they cause him to fallasleep, and dangle some illu-sion before him, while theyseclude themselves, so thatthe afflicted one appears to befreed.

8. Some reveal a crime whichhas been committed and theperpetrators thereof, as wellas the means of putting anend to it. Yet the afflicted per-son must beware of having re-course on this account to sor-cerers or necromancers or toany parties except the minis-ters of the Church, or of mak-ing use of any superstition,nay any sort of forbiddenpractice.

9. Sometimes the devil willleave the possessed person inpeace `and even allow him to

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leading the souls of the re-deemed into heavenlyblessedness. Intercede for usto the God of peace, that Hewould crush Satan under ourfeet, lest he any longer havepower to hold men captiveand to do harm to theChurch. Present our prayersat the throne of the MostHigh, so that He may all themore speedily favor us withHis mercy. Lay hold of thedragon, the ancient serpent,no other than the demon, Sa-tan, and cast him bound intothe abyss, so that he may nolonger seduce mankind.

Exorcism

IN THE name of Jesus Christ,our Lord and God, with confi-dence in the intercession ofthe Virgin Mary, Mother ofGod, of blessed Michael theArchangel, of the holy apos-tles Peter and Paul, and allthe saints, and with assur-ance in the sacred power ofour ministry, we steadfastlyproceed with the task of ex-pelling the molestations ofthe devil’s frauds.

Psalm 67

Let God arise, and let his ene-mies be scattered: and letthem that hate him flee frombefore his face.

As smoke vanisheth, so letthem vanish away: as waxmelteth before the fire, so letthe wicked perish at the pres-ence of God.

V. Behold the Cross of theLord, begone, ye hostile pow-ers!R. The Lion of Juda’s tribehath conquered, He Who isthe rod of Jesse.V. Let thy mercy, O Lord, beupon us.R. Even as we have trusted inthee.

WE CAST thee out, every un-clean spirit, every devilishpower, every assault of theinfernal adversary, every le-gion, every diabolical groupand sect, by the name andpower of our Lord Jesus +Christ, and command thee tofly far from the Church of Godand from all who are made tothe image of God and re-deemed by the Precious Bloodof the Divine Lamb. + Pre-sume never again, thou cun-ning serpent, to deceive thehuman race, to persecute theChurch of God, nor to strikethe chosen of God and siftthem as wheat. + For the MostHigh God commands thee, +He to Whom thou didst hith-erto in thy great pride pre-sume thyself equal; He Whodesireth that all men mightbe saved, and come to theknowledge of truth, God theFather + commandeth thee!


and reigneth with thee in theunity of the Holy Spirit, God,for endless ages. Amen.

EXORCISM AGAINST SATANAND THE FALLEN ANGELS

(FOR A PARTICULARGEOGRAPHIC PLACE)

(Whereas the preceding rite ofexorcism is designed for aparticular person, the formgiven here is meant to be em-ployed to expel the devil’ssway over a locality (parish,city, etc.)

The following exorcism can beused by bishops, as well as bypriests who have the autho-rization from their Ordinary.

In the name of the Father,and of the Son, and of theHoly Ghost. Amen.

Prayer to St. Michael theArchangel

O MOST illustrious prince ofthe heavenly hosts, holyMichael the Archangel, fromthy heavenly throne defendus in the battle against theprinces and powers, againstthe rulers of this world’s dark-ness. Come to the assistanceof humankind, whom God hascreated in His own image andlikeness, and whom He haspurchased at a great pricefrom Satan’s tyranny. Theethe holy Church does vener-ate as her patron andguardian. To thee the Lordhas entrusted the service of


receive the Holy Eucharist, tomake it appear that he hasdeparted. In fact, the arts andfrauds of the evil one for de-ceiving a man are innumer-able. For this reason the exor-cist must be on his guard, lesthe fall into this trap.

10. Wherefore, he will bemindful of the words of ourLord (Matt. 17.20), to the ef-fect that there is a certaintype of evil spirit who cannotbe driven out except byprayer and fasting. Therefore,let him avail himself of thesetwo means above all for im-ploring the divine assistancein expelling demons, after theexample of the holy fathers;and not only himself, but lethim induce others, as far aspossible, to do the same.

11. If it can be done conve-niently the possessed personshould be led to church or tosome other sacred and wor-thy place, where the exor-cism will be held, away fromthe crowd. But if the personis ill, or for any valid reason,the exorcism may take placein a private home.

12. The subject, if in goodmental and physical health,should be exhorted to im-plore God's help, to fast, andto fortify himself by frequentreception of penance andHoly Communion, at the dis-cretion of the priest. And in

the course of the exorcism heshould be fully recollected,with his intention fixed onGod, whom he should entreatwith firm faith and in all hu-mility. And if he is all themore grievously tormented,he ought to bear this pa-tiently, never doubting the di-vine assistance.

13. He ought to have a cruci-fix at hand or somewhere insight. If relics of the saintsare available, they are to beapplied in a reverent way tothe breast or the head of theperson possessed (the relicsmust be properly and securelyencased and covered). Onewill see to it that these sacredobjects are not treated im-properly or that no injury isdone them by the evil spirit.However, one should not holdthe Holy Eucharist over thehead of the person nor in anyway apply It to his body, ow-ing to the danger of desecra-tion.

14. The exorcist must not di-gress into senseless prattlenor ask superfluous questionsor such as are prompted bycuriosity, particularly if theypertain to future and hiddenmatters, all of which havenothing to do with his office.Instead, he will bid the un-clean spirit keep silence andanswer only when asked. Nei-ther ought he to give any cre-dence to the devil if the latter


maintains that he is the spiritof some saint or of a deceasedparty, or even claims to be agood angel.

15. But necessary questionsare, for example: about thenumber and name of the spir-its inhabiting the patient, thetime when they entered intohim, the cause thereof, andsuch like. As for all jesting,laughing, and nonsense onthe part of the evil spirit --the exorcist should prevent itor contemn it, and he will ex-hort the bystanders (whosenumber must be very limited)to pay no attention to suchgoings on; neither are they toput any question to the sub-ject. Rather they should in-tercede for him to God in allhumility and urgency.

16. Let the priest pronouncethe exorcism in a command-ing and authoritative voice,and at the same time withgreat confidence, humility,and fervor; and when he seesthat the spirit is sorely vexed,then he oppresses and threat-ens all the more. If he noticesthat the person afflicted isexperiencing a disturbance insome part of his body or anacute pain or a swelling ap-pears in some part, he tracesthe sign of the Cross overthat place and sprinkles itwith holy water, which hemust have at hand for thispurpose.

17. He will pay attention as towhat words in particularcause the evil spirits to trem-ble, repeating them the morefrequently. And when hecomes to a threatening ex-pression, he recurs to it againand again, always increasingthe punishment. If he per-ceives that he is makingprogress, let him persist fortwo, three, four hours, andlonger if he can, until victoryis attained.

18. The exorcist should guardagainst giving or recommend-ing any medicine to the pa-tient, but should leave thiscare to physicians.

19. While performing the ex-orcism over a woman, heought always to have assist-ing him several women ofgood repute, who will hold onto the person when she is ha-rassed by the evil spirit.These assistants ought if pos-sible to be close relatives ofthe subject, and for the sakeof decency the exorcist willavoid saying or doing any-thing which might prove anoccasion of evil thoughts tohimself or to the others.

20. During the exorcism heshall preferably employ wordsfrom Holy Writ, rather thanforms of his own or of some-one else. He shall, moreover,command the devil to tell

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done?

The Lord is in his holy tem-ple, the Lord's throne is inheaven. His eyes look on thepoor man: his eyelids exam-ine the sons of men.

The Lord trieth the just andthe wicked: but he thatloveth iniquity, hateth hisown soul.

He shall rain snares upon sin-ners: fire and brimstone, andstorms of winds, shall be theportion of their cup.

For the Lord is just, and hathloved justice: the righteousshall behold his face.

Glory be to the Father, and tothe Son, and to the HolySpirit.R. As it was in the beginning,is now, and ever shall be,throughout all ages of ages.All. Amen

Psalm 12

How long, O Lord, wilt thouforget me unto the end? howlong dost thou turn away thyface from me?

How long shall I take coun-sels in my soul, sorrow in myheart all the day?

How long shall my enemy beexalted over Me? Consider,

and hear me, O Lord, my God.

Enlighten my eyes, that Inever sleep in death: Lest atany time my enemy say: Ihave prevailed against him.

They that trouble me, will re-joice when I have fallen sinceI have trusted in thy mercy.

Let my heart rejoice in thysalvation: I will sing to theLord, who giveth me goodthings: yea, I will sing to thename of the Lord, the mosthigh.


Prayer Following Deliverance

WE BESEECH thee, Oalmighty God, that the spiritof iniquity may no longerhave any power over thy ser-vant N. (Thy handmaid N.),but rather that he may departafar and nevermore return. Atthy command, O Lord, letthere enter into this man(woman) a disposition togoodness and the peace of ourLord Jesus Christ, by Whomwe have been redeemed, andlet us fear no evil, because theLord is with us. Who liveth


For the kingdom is theLord's; and he shall have do-minion over the nations.

All the fat ones of the earthhave eaten and have adored:all they that go down to theearth shall fall before him.

And to him my soul shall live:and my seed shall serve him.

There shall be declared to theLord a generation to come:and the heavens shall shewforth his justice to a peoplethat shall be born, which theLord hath made.


Psalm 3

Many say to my soul: There isno salvation for him in hisGod.

But thou, O Lord, art my pro-tector, my glory, and thelifter up of my head.

I have cried to the Lord withmy voice: and he hath heardme from his holy hill.

I have slept and have taken

my rest: and I have risen up,because the Lord hath pro-tected me.

I will not fear thousands ofthe people surrounding me:arise, O Lord; save me, O myGod.

For thou hast struck all themwho are my adversaries with-out cause: thou hast brokenthe teeth of sinners.

Salvation is of the Lord: andthy blessing is upon thy peo-ple.


Psalm 10

In the Lord I put my trust:how then do you say to mysoul: Get thee away fromhence to the mountain, like asparrow.

For, lo, the wicked have benttheir bow: they have preparedtheir arrows in the quiver, toshoot in the dark the uprightof heart.

For they have destroyed thethings which thou hast made:but what has the just man


whether he is detained inthat body by necromancy, byevil signs or amulets; and ifthe one possessed has takenthe latter by mouth, heshould be made to vomitthem (the exorcist always be-ing conscious of the potentialrequirement this be done bya competent physician); if hehas them concealed on hisperson, he should exposethem; and when discoveredthey must be burned. More-over, the person should be ex-horted to reveal all his temp-tations to the exorcist.

21. Finally, after the pos-sessed one has been freed, lethim be admonished to guardhimself carefully againstfalling into sin, so as to affordno opportunity to the evilspirit of returning, lest thelast state of that man becomeworse than the former.

CAUTIONS AND ADDITIONALSUGGESTIONS TO THE

EXORCIST

A. The exorcist should be pre-pared to have the demon re-veal the exorcist’s sins, espe-cially those which he has for-gotten and not confessed andthose for which he has notreceived absolution. It there-fore is prudent that the exor-cist confess and receive abso-lution immediately prior toeach exorcism session, butnot merely to avoid embar-rassment, but primarily toprotect his own immortalsoul.

B. For this purpose and alsofor his own protection and as-sistance, especially shouldthe demon be exceptionallyviolent, if available, anotherpriest should assist the exor-cist, with it being clear andcertain which is the exorcistor lead, and which is the as-sistant.

C. If the exorcism is to takeplace not in the church orother place where the HolyEucharist is present, it is per-mitted and advised that theexorcist carry It properly se-cured (in a pyx) on his personor place It in a place of rever-ence where the exorcismtakes place, always mindful ofIts safety.

D. When tracing the sign of


the Cross on the person af-flicted it is not necessary thatHoly Oil (Chrism) be used,though its use often is pru-dent or advisable.

E. Be sure to know the full,proper name of the onethought to be possessed, aswell as any familiar names bywhich the person is called. Insome instances it is moreproper to use but the properfirst name, others the fullname, or the first and lastname, and even to use the fullproper name followed by astatement of the familiarname, e.g.: N. JohnathanWestphalt Smithson, whomwe often call John.

F. The Exorcist should readthe ritual to be used prior tousing it. Not just an hour be-fore, but at least severalhours prior, at and in a time,place, and situation where hewill be at peace, in a prayerfulmanner, not skimming orcursorily but contemplativelyand studiously.

THE WESTERN RITE OFEXORCISM

(FOR A PARTICULARPERSON)

(A Single Individual)

1. The priest delegated by theBishop to perform this officeshall have gone to confession,or at least elicited an act ofcontrition, and offered theHoly Sacrifice in the DivineLiturgy if it is possible so todo; he ought, moreover, tohave implored God's help indevout prayer. Vested in sur-plice and purple stole, andhaving before him the personpossessed (in fetters if thereis any danger - rememberingto comply with governmentallaw and medical prudence), hetraces the sign of the Crossover him, over himself, andthe bystanders, then sprin-kles them with holy water.Kneeling down he prays theLitany of the Saints, exclud-ing the prayers which followit, with the others making theresponses.

LITANY OF THE SAINTS

V. Lord Have mercy on usR. Lord Have mercy on us

V. Christ Have mercy onusR. Christ Have mercy onus

V. Lord Have mercy on us

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I was cast upon thee from thewomb. From my mother'swomb thou art my God,

Depart not from me. Fortribulation is very near: forthere is none to help me.

Many calves have surroundedme: fat bulls have besiegedme.

They have opened theirmouths against me, as a lionravening and roaring.

I am poured out like water;and all my bones are scat-tered. My heart is becomelike wax melting in the midstof my bowels.

My strength is dried up like apotsherd, and my tonguehath cleaved to my jaws: andthou hast brought me downinto the dust of death.

For many dogs have encom-passed me: the council of themalignant hath besieged me.They have dug my hands andfeet.

They have numbered all mybones.

And they have looked andstared upon me.

They parted my garmentsamongst them; and upon myvesture they cast lots.

But thou, O Lord, remove notthy help to a distance fromme; look towards my defence.

Deliver, O God, my soul fromthe sword: my only one fromthe hand of the dog.

Save me from the lion'smouth; and my lowness fromthe horns of the unicorns.

I will declare thy name to mybrethren: in the midst of thechurch will I praise thee.

Ye that fear the Lord, praisehim: all ye the seed of Jacob,glorify him.

Let all the seed of Israel fearhim: because he hath notslighted nor despised the sup-plication of the poor man.Neither hath he turned awayhis face form me: and when Icried to him he heard me.

With thee is my praise in agreat church: I will pay myvows in the sight of them thatfear him.

The poor shall eat and shall befilled: and they shall praisethe Lord that seek him: theirhearts shall live for ever andever.

All the ends of the earth shallremember, and shall be con-verted to the Lord: And all thekindreds of the Gentiles shalladore in his sight.


O how great is the multitudeof thy sweetness, O Lord,which thou hast hidden forthem that fear thee! Whichthou hast wrought for themthat hope in thee, in the sightof the sons of men.

Thou shalt hide them in thesecret of thy face, from thedisturbance of men. Thoushalt protect them in thytabernacle form the contra-diction of tongues.

Blessed be the Lord, for hehath shewn his wonderfulmercy to me in a fortifiedcity.

But I said in the excess of mymind: I am cast away frombefore thy eyes. Thereforethou hast heard the voice ofmy prayer, when I cried tothee.

O love the Lord, all ye hissaints: for the Lord will re-quire truth, and will repaythem abundantly that actproudly.

Do ye manfully, and let yourheart be strengthened, all yethat hope in the Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and tothe Son, and to the HolySpirit.R. As it was in the beginning,is now, and ever shall be,throughout all ages of ages.

All. Amen

Psalm 21

O God my God, look upon me:why hast thou forsaken me?Far from my salvation are thewords of my sins.

O my God, I cry by day, andthou dost not answer: and bynight, and thou payest noheed.

Yet thou dwellest in the holyplace, the praise of Israel.

In thee have our fathershoped: they have hoped, andthou hast delivered them.

They cried to thee, and theywere saved: they trusted inthee, and were not con-founded.

But I am a worm, and no man:the reproach of men, and theoutcast of the people.

All they that saw me havelaughed me to scorn: theyhave spoken with the lips,and wagged the head, saying:He hoped in the Lord, let himdeliver him: let him save him,seeing he delighteth in him.

(For) Thou art he that hastdrawn me out of the womb:my hope from the breasts ofmy mother.


R. Lord Have mercy on us

V. Christ Hear usR. Christ Graciously hearus

V. God the Father inheaven,R. Have mercy on us

V. God the Son, redeemerof the world,R. Have mercy on us

V. God the Holy Spirit,R. Have mercy on us

V. Holy Trinity, one God,R. Have mercy on us

V. Holy Mary,R. Pray for us

V. Holy Mother of God,R. Pray for us

V. Holy Virgin of virgins,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Michael,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Gabriel,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Raphael,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy angelsand archangels,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy ranks ofblessed spirits,

R. Pray for us

V. Saint John the Fore-runner,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Joseph,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy patri-archs and prophets,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Peter,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Paul,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Andrew,R. Pray for us

V. Saint James,R. Pray for us

V. Saint John,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Thomas,R. Pray for us

V. Saint James,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Philip,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Bartholomew,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Matthew,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Simon,


R. Pray for us

V. Saint Thaddeus,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Matthias,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Barnabas,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Luke,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Mark,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy apostlesand evangelists,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy disciplesof the Lord,R. Pray for us

V. All thou Holy Inno-cents,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Stephen,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Lawrence,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Vincent,R. Pray for us

V. Saints Fabian and Se-bastian,R. Pray for us

V. Saints John and Paul,R. Pray for us

V. Saints Cosmas andDamian,R. Pray for us

V. Saints Gervase andProtase,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy martyrs,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Sylvester,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Ambrose,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Basil,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Gregory,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Augustine,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Jerome,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Martin,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Nicholas,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy bishopsand confessors,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy doctors,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Anthony,

Page 43


Bow down thy ear to me:make haste to deliver me. Bethou unto me a God, a protec-tor, and a house of refuge, tosave me.

For thou art my strength andmy refuge; and for thy name'ssake thou wilt lead me, andnourish me.

Thou wilt bring me out of thissnare, which they have hid-den for me: for thou art myprotector.

Into thy hands I commendmy spirit: thou hast re-deemed me, O Lord, the Godof truth.

Thou hast hated them thatregard vanities, to no pur-pose. But I have hoped in theLord:

I will be glad and rejoice inthy mercy. For thou hast re-garded my humility, thouhast saved my soul out of dis-tresses.

And thou hast not shut me upin the hands of the enemy:thou hast set my feet in aspacious place.

Have mercy on me, O Lord,for I am afflicted: my eye istroubled with wrath, my soul,and my belly:

For my life is wasted withgrief: and my years in sighs.

My strength is weakenedthrough poverty and mybones are disturbed.

I am become a reproachamong all my enemies, andvery much to my neighbours;and a fear to my acquain-tance. They that saw me with-out fled from me.

I am forgotten as one deadfrom the heart. I am becomeas a vessel that is destroyed.

For I have heard the blame ofmany that dwell round about.While they assembled to-gether against me, they con-sulted to take away my life.

But I have put my trust inthee, O Lord: I said: Thou artmy God.

My lots are in thy hands. De-liver me out of the hands ofmy enemies; and from themthat persecute me.

Make thy face to shine uponthy servant; save me in thymercy.

Let me not be confounded, OLord, for I have called uponthee. Let the wicked beashamed, and be broughtdown to hell.

Let deceitful lips be madedumb. Which speak iniquityagainst the just, with prideand abuse.


But they rejoiced against me,and came together: scourgeswere gathered together uponme, and I knew not.

They were separated, and re-pented not: they tempted me,they scoffed at me withscorn: they gnashed upon mewith their teeth.

Lord, when wilt thou lookupon me? rescue thou mysoul from their malice: myonly one from the lions.

I will give thanks to thee in agreat church; I will praisethee in a strong people.

Let not them that are my ene-mies wrongfully rejoice overme: who have hated me with-out cause, and wink with theeyes.

For they spoke indeed peace-ably to me; and speaking inthe anger of the earth theydevised guile.

And they opened their mouthwide against me; they said:Well done, well done, our eyeshave seen it.

Thou hast seen, O Lord, benot thou silent: O Lord, de-part not from me.

Arise, and be attentive to myjudgment: to my cause, myGod, and my Lord.

Judge me, O Lord my God ac-cording to thy justice, and letthem not rejoice over me.

Let them not say in theirhearts: It is well, it is well, toour mind: neither let themsay: We have swallowed himup.

Let them blush: and beashamed together, who re-joice at my evils. Let them beclothed with confusion andshame, who speak greatthings against me.

Let them rejoice and be glad,who are well pleased with myjustice, and let them say al-ways: The Lord be magnified,who delights in the peace ofhis servant.

And my tongue shall meditatethy justice, thy praise all theday long.


Psalm 30

In thee, O Lord, have I hoped,let me never be confounded:deliver me in thy justice.


R. Pray for us

V. Saint Benedict,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy priestsand clerics,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy monksand hermits,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Agnes,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Cecilia,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Agatha,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Anastasia,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Seraphim,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Herman,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Mary Magdalene,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Mary of Egypt,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Lucy,R. Pray for us

V. Saint Catherine,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy virgins

and widows,R. Pray for us

V. All thou penitents,R. Pray for us

V. All thou holy men andwomen, saints of God,R. Intercede for us.

V. Be merciful,R. Spare us, O Lord

V. Be Merciful,R. Graciously hear us OLord

V. From every evil,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From every sin,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From everlastingdeath,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From Thy wrath,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From sudden and un-provided death,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From the snares of thedevil,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From anger, hatred,and every evil of the will,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From the spirit of for-nication,


R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From lightning andtempest,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From the scourge ofearthquakes,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. From plague, famine,and war,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Through the mysteryof Thy holy Incarnation,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Through Thy coming,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Through Thy birth,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Through Thy Nativity,R. Deliver us O Lord

V. Through Thy baptismand holy fasting,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Through Thy Crossand Passion,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Through Thy deathand burial,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Through Thy holy Res-urrection,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Through thy wonder-

ful Ascension,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Through the coming ofthe Holy Spirit, the Com-forter, Paraclete,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. In the day of judg-ment,R. Deliver us, O Lord

V. Sinners that we are,R. We beseech Thee tohear us

V. That Thou wouldstspare us,R. We beseech Thee tohear us

V. That Thou wouldstpardon us,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldstbring us to true penance,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldstgovern and preserve Thy holyChurch,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldstpreserve the Apostolic Patri-archs and all ranks in theChurch in holy religion,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

Page 41


and I will exalt thee. I willpraise thee, because thouhast heard me, and art be-come my salvation.

O praise ye the Lord, for he isgood: for his mercy endurethfor ever.


Psalm 34

Judge thou, O Lord, themthat wrong me: overthrowthem that fight against me.

Take hold of arms and shield:and rise up to help me.

Bring out the sword, and shutup the way against them thatpersecute me: say to my soul:I am thy salvation.

Let them be confounded andashamed that seek after mysoul. Let them be turned backand be confounded that de-vise evil against me.

Let them become as dust be-fore the wind: and let the an-gel of the Lord straiten them.

Let their way become darkand slippery; and let the an-

gel of the Lord pursue them.

For without cause they havehidden their net for me untodestruction: without causethey have upbraided my soul.

Let the snare which heknoweth not come upon him:and let the net which he hathhidden catch him: and intothat very snare let them fall.

But my soul shall rejoice inthe Lord; and shall be de-lighted in his salvation.

All my bones shall say: Lord,who is like to thee? Who de-liverest the poor from thehand of them that arestronger than he; the needyand the poor from them thatstrip him.

Unjust witnesses rising uphave asked me things I knewnot.

They repaid me evil for good:to the depriving me of mysoul.

But as for me, when they weretroublesome to me, I wasclothed with haircloth. I hum-bled my soul with fasting; andmy prayer shall be turned intomy bosom.

As a neighbour and as an ownbrother, so did I please: as onemourning and sorrowful sowas I humbled.


Lord, rather than to have con-fidence in man.

It is good to trust in the Lord,rather than to trust inprinces.

All nations compassed meabout; and, in the name ofthe Lord I have crushedthem.

Surrounding me they com-passed me about: and in thename of the Lord I havecrushed them.

They surrounded me likebees, and they burned likefire among thorns: and in thename of the Lord I destroyedthem.

Being pushed I was over-turned that I might fall: butthe Lord supported me.

The Lord is my strength andmy praise: and he is becomemy salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and ofsalvation is in the tabernaclesof the just.

The right hand of the Lordhath wrought strength: theright hand of the Lord hathexalted me: the right hand ofthe Lord hath wroughtstrength.

I shall not die, but live: andshall declare the works of the

Lord.

The Lord chastising hathchastised me: but he hath notdelivered me over to death.

Open ye to me the gates ofjustice: I will go in to them,and give praise to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord,the just shall enter into it.

I will give glory to thee be-cause thou hast heard me:and art become my salvation.

The stone which the buildersrejected; the same is becomethe head of the corner.

This is the Lord's doing , andit is wonderful in our eyes.

This is the day which the Lordhath made: let us be glad andrejoice therein.

O Lord, save me: O Lord, givegood success.

Blessed be he that cometh inthe name of the Lord. We haveblessed you out of the houseof the Lord.

The Lord is God, and he hathshone upon us. Appoint asolemn day, with shadyboughs, even to the horn ofthe altar.

Thou art my God, and I willpraise thee: thou art my God,


V. That Thou wouldsthumble the enemies of holyChurch,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldstgive peace and true union ofhearts to Christian (kings andrulers OR government offi-cials),R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldstvouchsafe to grant peace andunity to the whole Christianworld,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldst re-store to the unity of theChurch all who have strayedfrom the truth and lead allunbelievers to the light of theGospel,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldstvouchsafe to confirm and pre-serve un in holy service,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldst liftup our minds to heavenly de-sires,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldstrender eternal blessings to all

our benefactors,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldst de-liver our souls and the soulsof all our brethren, relatives,and benefactors from eternaldamnation,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That thou wouldst re-pay with everlasting goods allwho have done good to us,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldstgive and preserve the fruits ofthe earth,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldstgrant eternal rest to all thefaithful departed,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. That Thou wouldst lis-ten to us,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. Son of God,R. This we ask thee, hearour prayer

V. Lamb of God, who tak-est away the sins of the world,R. Spare us, O Lord

V. Lamb of God, who tak-


est away the sins of theworld,R. Graciously hear us,Lord

V. Lamb of God, who tak-est away the sins of theworld,R. Have mercy on us

V. Christ, Hear usR. Christ, Hear us

V. Christ, Graciouslyhear usR. Christ, Graciouslyhear us

V. Lord, have mercy onusR. Lord, have mercy onus

V. Christ, have mercy onusR. Christ, have mercy onus

V. Lord, have mercy onusR. Lord, have mercy onus

Thereupon the priest says(prays):

Antiphon: Remember not, OLord, our offenses, nor thoseof our parents: neither takeretribution on our sins.

Our Father (inaudibly - Whoart in heaven, hallowed be

Thy Name, Thy Kingdomcome, Thy will be done, onearth, as it is in heaven. Giveus this day our daily bread,and forgive us our trespassesas we forgive those who tres-pass against us.)

V. And lead us not into temp-tation,R. But deliver us from evil.

Psalm 53

SAVE me, O God, by thyname, and further my causeby thy power,O God, hear my prayer; giveear to the words of my mouth.For proud men have risenagainst me, and men of vio-lence have sought my life;they have not set God beforetheir eyes.But see -- God is my helper;the Lord supporteth my life.Let the evil recoil upon myfoes, and cut them off in thyfaithfulness.Gladly will I sacrifice untothee. I will praise thy name, OLord, for it is good.In every need He hath deliv-ered me, and mine eye hathseen the confusion of my foe.


Page 39


fied.But I am needy and poor; OGod, help me.

Thou art my helper and mydeliverer: O lord, make no de-lay.


Psalm 53

Save me, O God, by thy name,and judge me in thy strength.

O God, hear my prayer: giveear to the words of mymouth.

For strangers have risen upagainst me; and the mightyhave sought after my soul:and they have not set Godbefore their eyes.

(For) behold God is my helper:and the Lord is the protectorof my soul.

Turn back the evils upon myenemies; and cut them off inthy truth.

I will freely sacrifice to thee,and will give praise, O God, tothy name: because it is good:

For thou hast delivered meout of all trouble: and my eyehath looked down upon myenemies.


Psalm 117

Give praise to the Lord, for heis good: for his mercy en-dureth for ever.

Let Israel now say, that he isgood: that his mercy en-dureth for ever.

Let the house of Aaron nowsay, that his mercy endurethfor ever.

Let them that fear the Lordnow say, that his mercy en-dureth for ever.

In my trouble I called uponthe Lord: and the Lord heardme, and enlarged me.The Lord is my helper: I willnot fear what man can dounto me.

The Lord is my helper: and Iwill look over my enemies.

It is good to confide in the


They have seen thy goings, OGod, the goings of my God: ofmy king who is in his sanctu-ary.

Princes went before joinedwith singers, in the midst ofyoung damsels playing ontimbrels.

In the churches bless ye Godthe Lord, from the fountainsof Israel.

There is Benjamin a youth, inecstasy of mind. The princesof Juda are their leaders: theprinces of Zabulon, theprinces of Nephthali.

Command thy strength, OGod confirm, O God, whatthou hast wrought in us.

From thy temple inJerusalem, kings shall offerpresents to thee.

Rebuke the wild beasts of thereeds, the congregation ofbulls with the kine of the peo-ple; who seek to excludethem who are tried with sil-ver. Scatter thou the nationsthat delight in wars:

Ambassadors shall come outof Egypt: Ethiopia shall soonstretch out her hands to God.

Sing to God, ye kingdoms ofthe earth: sing ye to the Lord:Sing ye to God, Who moun-teth above the heaven of

heavens, to the east.

Behold he will give to hisvoice the voice of power:

Give ye glory to God for Israel,his magnificence, and hispower is in the clouds.

God is wonderful in hissaints: the God of Israel is hewho will give power andstrength to his people.Blessed be God.


Psalm 69

O God, come to my assis-tance; O Lord, make haste tohelp me.

Let them be confounded andashamed that seek my soul:

Let them be turned backward,and blush for shame that de-sire evils to me:

Let them be presently turnedaway blushing for shame thatsay to me: 'Tis well, 'tis well.Let all that seek thee rejoiceand be glad in thee; and letsuch as love thy salvation sayalways: The Lord be magni-


V. Preserve thy servant(handmaid),R. Who places his (her) trustin thee, my God.

V. Be unto him (her), O Lord,a fortress of strength.R. In the face of the enemy.

V. Let the enemy have nopower over him (her).R. And the son of evil donothing to harm him (her).

V. Send him (her), Lord, aidfrom on high.R. And from Sion watch overhim (her).

V. O Lord, her my prayer.R. And let my cry come untothee.

V. The Lord be with you.R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Prayer

O GOD, Whose nature it isever to show mercy and tospare, receive our petition,that this thy servant(handmaid), bound by the fet-ters of sin, may by thy sweetforgiveness be pardoned.

O HOLY Lord, almighty Fa-ther, eternal God and Fatherof our Lord Jesus Christ, Whodidst one time consign thatfugitive and fallen tyrant to

everlasting hell fire, Whodidst send thy Sole-Begotteninto the world to crush thatspirit of evil with his bellow-ing, do thou speedily giveheed and hasten to snatchfrom ruination and from thenoonday demon a human be-ing, created in thine imageand likeness. Strike terror, OLord, into the beast that layswaste thy vineyard. Grantconfidence to thy servants tofight most manfully againstthat reprobate dragon, lest hedare despise them who puttheir trust in thee, and leasthe say with Pharaoh, whoonce declared: “I know notGod, neither will I let Israelgo!” Let thy powerful righthand prevail upon him to de-part from thy servant, N. (Thyhandmaid N.), + so that hemay no longer hold captivehim (her) whom it has pleasedthee to make in thine imageand to redeem through thySon. Thou Who livest andreignest in the unity of theHoly Spirit, God forever andforevermore.

R. Amen.

2. Then he gives the com-mand to the evil spirit as fol-lows:

I COMMAND thee, uncleanspirit, whosoever thou art,along with all thine associateswho have taken possession of


this servant (handmaid) ofGod, that, by the mysteries ofthe Incarnation, Passion,Resurrection, and Ascensionof our Lord Jesus Christ, bythe descent of the HolySpirit, by the coming of ourLord unto judgment, thoushalt tell me by some sign orother thy name and the dayand the hour of thy depar-ture. I command thee, more-over, to obey me to the letter,I who, though unworthy, ama minister of God; neithershalt thou be emboldened toharm in any way this creatureof God, nor the bystanders,nor any of their possessions.

3. Next he reads over the pos-sessed person these selec-tions from the Gospel, or atleast one of them.

A Reading From the HolyGospel According to SaintJohn

Saying this, he signs himselfand the possessed on thebrow, lips, and breast.

(John 1:1-14)

IN THE beginning was theWord: and the Word was withGod: and the Word was God.The same was in the begin-ning with God. All thingswere made by him: and with-out him was made nothingthat was made. In him was

life: and the life was the lightof men. And the light shinethin darkness: and the darknessdid not comprehend it. Therewas a man sent from God,whose name was John. Thisman came for a witness, tobear witness of the light, thatall men might believe throughhim. He was not the light, butwas to give testimony of thelight. That was the true light,which enlighteneth everyman that cometh into thisworld. He was in the world:and the world was made byHim: and the world knew Himnot. He came unto his own:and His own received Himnot. But as many as receivedHim, He gave them power tobe made the sons of God, tothem that believe in Hisname. Who was born, not ofblood, nor of the will of theflesh, nor of the will of man,but of God (genuflect). Andthe Word was made flesh, anddwelt among us, and we sawHis glory, the glory as it wereof the Only-Begotten of theFather, full of grace andtruth.

R. Thanks be to God.

A Reading From the HolyGospel According to SaintMark

(Mark 16:15-18)

AND He said to them: Go yeinto the whole world, and

Page 37


chers.

O God, when thou didst goforth in the sight of thy peo-ple, when thou didst passthrough the desert:

The earth was moved, and theheavens dropped at the pres-ence of the God of Sina, atthe presence of the God ofIsrael.

Thou shalt set aside for thyinheritance a free rain, OGod: and it was weakened,but thou hast made it perfect.

In it shall thy animals dwell;in thy sweetness, O God, thouhast provided for the poor.

The Lord shall give the wordto them that preach good tid-ings with great power.

The king of powers is of thebeloved, of the beloved; andthe beauty of the house shalldivide spoils.

If you sleep among the midstof lots, you shall be as thewings of a dove covered withsilver, and the hinder parts ofher back with the paleness ofgold.

When he that is in heavenappointeth kings over her,they shall be whited withsnow in Selmon.

The mountain of God is a fat

mountain. A curdled moun-tain, a fat mountain. Why sus-pect, ye curdled mountains?A mountain in which God iswell pleased to dwell: forthere the Lord shall dwellunto the end.

The chariot of God is at-tended by ten thousands;thousands of them that re-joice: the Lord is among themin Sina, in the holy place.

Thou hast ascended on high,thou hast led captivity cap-tive; thou hast received giftsin men. Yea for those alsothat do not believe, thedwelling of the Lord God.

Blessed be the Lord day byday: the God of our salvationwill make our journey pros-perous to us.

Our God is the God of salva-tion: and of the Lord, of theLord are the issues fromdeath.

But God shall break the headsof his enemies: the hairycrown of them that walk on intheir sins.

The Lord said: I will turnthem from Basan, I will turnthem into the depth of thesea: That thy foot may bedipped in the blood of thy en-emies; the tongue of thy dogsbe red with the same.


side, and ten thousand at thyright hand: but it shall notcome nigh thee.

But thou shalt consider withthy eyes: and shalt see thereward of the wicked.

Because thou, O Lord, art myhope: thou hast made themost High thy refuge.

There shall no evil come tothee: nor shall the scourgecome near thy dwelling.

For he hath given his angelscharge over thee; to keepthee in all thy ways.

In their hands they shall bearthee up: lest thou dash thyfoot against a stone.

Thou shalt walk upon the aspand the basilisk: and thoushalt trample under foot thelion and the dragon.

Because he hoped in me I willdeliver him: I will protect himbecause he hath known myname.

He shall cry to me, and I willhear him: I am with him intribulation, I will deliver him,and I will glorify him.

I will fill him with length ofdays; and I will shew him mysalvation.


Psalm 67

Let God arise, and let his ene-mies be scattered: and letthem that hate him flee frombefore his face.

As smoke vanisheth, so letthem vanish away: as waxmelteth before the fire, so letthe wicked perish at the pres-ence of God.

And let the just feast, and re-joice before God: and be de-lighted with gladness.

Sing ye to God, sing a psalmto his name, make a way forhim who ascendeth upon thewest: the Lord is his name.Rejoice ye before him: but thewicked shall be troubled athis presence,

Who is the father of orphans,and the judge of widows. Godin his holy place:

God who maketh men of onemanner to dwell in a house:Who bringeth out them thatwere bound in strength; inlike manner them that pro-voke, that dwell in sepul-


preach the gospel to everycreature. He that believethand is baptized shall besaved: but he that believethnot shall he condemned. Andthese signs shall follow themthat believe: In my name theyshall cast out devils. Theyshall speak with new tongues.They shall take up serpents;and if they shall drink anydeadly thing, it shall not hurtthem. They shall lay theirhand upon the sick, and theyshall recover.

A Reading From the HolyGospel According to SaintLuke

(Luke 10:17-20)

AND the seventy-two re-turned with joy, saying: Lord,the devils also are subject tous in thy name. And he saidto them: I saw Satan likelightning falling from heaven.Behold, I have given youpower to tread upon serpentsand scorpions and upon allthe power of the enemy, andnothing shall hurt you. Butyet rejoice not in this, thatspirits are subject unto you;but rejoice in this, that yournames are written in heaven.

A Reading From the HolyGospel According to SaintLuke

(Luke 11:14-22)

AND HE was casting out adevil, and the same wasdumb. And when He had castout the devil, the dumbspoke: and the multitudeswere in admiration at it. Butsome of them said: He castethout devils by Beelzebub, theprince of devils. And otherstempting, asked of Him a signfrom heaven. But He seeingtheir thoughts, said to them:Every kingdom dividedagainst itself shall be broughtto desolation, and house uponhouse shall fall. And if Satanalso be divided against him-self, how shall his kingdomstand? Because you say thatthrough Beelzebub I cast outdevils. Now if I cast out devilsby Beelzebub, by whom doyour children cast them out?Therefore, they shall be yourjudges. But if I by the fingerof God cast out devils, doubt-less the kingdom of God iscome upon you. When astrong man armed keepethhis court, those things are inpeace which he possesseth.But if a stronger than hecome upon him and overcomehim, he will take away all hisarmour wherein he trusted,and will distribute his spoils.



Let us pray.

Prayer

O Almighty Lord, Word of Godthe Father, Christ Jesus, Godand Lord of all creation! Whodidst give to thine apostlesthe power to tramp underfootserpents and scorpions; whoalong with the other man-dates to work miracles hastdeigned to say: “You shalldrive out evil spirits!” Whosemighty command caused Sa-tan to fall like lightning fromheaven. Wherefore, in fearand trembling I suppliantlycall upon thy holy name:grant unto me, thy most un-worthy servant, pardon for allmy sins; bestow on me stead-fast faith and the power toattack this cruel demon withassurance and fearlessness,fortified by the might of thyholy arm. Through thee, Je-sus Christ, our Lord and God,Who shalt come to judge theliving and the dead and theworld by fire.

R. Amen.

4. Then he fortifies himselfand the one possessed withthe sign of the Cross, heplaces the end of the stole onthe neck of the latter and,with his right hand laid onthe person’s head, he sayswhat follows with constancyand firm faith:

V. Behold the Cross of theLord; begone ye hostile pow-ers!R. The Lion of Juda’s tribehath conquered, He Who isthe rod of David.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come untothee.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Prayer

O God and Father of our LordJesus Christ, I call upon thyholy name and humbly en-treat thy clemency, that thouwouldst graciously assist mein the assault against this aswell as every unclean spiritwho now torments the crea-ture fashioned by thy hands.Through the selfsame JesusChrist, thy Son, our Lord,Who liveth and reigneth withthee in the unity of the HolySpirit, God, for endless ages.

R. Amen.

Exorcism

I CAST thee out, thou uncleanspirit, along with the least en-croachment of the wicked en-

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confess that our Lord JesusChrist, the Son of God, isboth God and man.He is God of the substance ofthe Father, begotten beforethe world; and man of thesubstance of His mother,born in the course of time.He is perfect God and perfectman, having a rational souland human flesh.He is equal to the Father inwhatever pertains to His di-vinity; but less than the Fa-ther in the things pertainingto His humanity apart.And though He is God andman, yet He is not two butone Christ;One, however, not by conver-sion of divinity into flesh, butby the fact of God assuminghumanity unto Himself.He is one only, not through amixture of substance, butthrough the unity of Person.For as a reasoning soul alongwith flesh comprise one man,so the one Christ is both Godand man;Who suffered for our salva-tion, Who descended intohell, Who arose again thethird day from the dead;Who ascended into heavenand sitteth at the right handof God, the Father Almighty,from thence He shall come tojudge the living and the dead;At Whose coming all menshall rise again in their bod-ies, and shall give an accountof their works.They that have done good

shall go into everlasting life,but they that have done evilinto everlasting fire.All this is Catholic faithwhich every man must believefaithfully and firmly, else hecan not be saved.


Psalm 90

He that dwelleth in the aid ofthe most High, shall abide un-der the protection of the Godof Jacob. He shall say to theLord: Thou art my protector,and my refuge: my God, inhim will I trust.

For he hath delivered mefrom the snare of the hunters:and from the sharp word.

He will overshadow thee withhis shoulders: and under hiswings thou shalt trust. Histruth shall compass thee witha shield: thou shalt not beafraid of the terror of thenight, of the arrow that fliethin the day, of the businessthat walketh about in thedark: of invasion, or of thenoonday devil.

A thousand shall fall at thy


But the Godhead of the Fa-ther, of the Son, and of theHoly Spirit is one, their gloryis equal, their majesty co-eternal.As the Father is, so is theSon, and so likewise the HolySpirit.Uncreated is the Father, un-created is the Son, uncreatedis the Holy Spirit.Infinite the Father, infinitethe Son, infinite the HolySpirit.Eternal is the Father, eternalthe Son, eternal the HolySpirit.Yet they are not three eter-nals, but one eternal.As also they are not three un-created nor three infinites,but one uncreated and oneinfinite.Likewise the Father isalmighty, the Son isalmighty, and the Holy Spiritis almighty;Yet they are not threealmighties, but they are theone Almighty.Thus the Father is God, theSon is God, and the HolySpirit is God;Yet they are not three gods,but one God.Thus the Father is the Lord,the Son is the Lord, and theHoly Spirit is Lord;Yet they are not three lords,but one Lord.For as Christian truth de-mands that we acknowledgeeach Person in Himself to beGod and Lord, so does the

Catholic religion forbid us tosay that there are three godsor three lords.The Father is made by none,neither created nor begotten.The Son is of the Fatheralone, neither made nor cre-ated, but begotten.(Orthodox must modify thefollowing phrase as indi-cated:The Holy Spirit is of the Fa-ther and of the Son; notmade, nor created, nor begot-ten, but He proceeds fromthem.Should be modified to:The Holy Spirit is of the Fa-ther; not made, nor created,nor begotten, but He proceedsfrom Him. [and may be alsoadded: and was sent byboth.])Thus there is one Father, notthree; one Son, not three; oneHoly Spirit, not three.And in this Trinity one Personis not earlier or later, nor isone greater or less, but allthree Persons are co-eternaltogether and co-equal.Thus in all things, as afore-said, the unity in Trinity andthe Trinity in unity is to beworshipped.Who, therefore, wills to besaved - let him think thus ofthe Trinity,But it is necessary for eternalsalvation that one also believewith firm faith in the Incarna-tion of our Lord Jesus Christ.Right faith, consequently, de-mands that we believe and


emy, and every phantom anddiabolical legion. In the nameof our Lord Jesus + Christ,depart and vanish from thiscreature of God. + For it is Hewho commands thee, He Whoordered thee cast down fromthe heights of heaven intothe nethermost pit of theearth. He it is Who commandsthee, Who once ordered thesea and the wind and all thestorm to obey. Hence, payheed, Satan, and tremble,thou enemy of the faith, thoufoe of the human race! Forthou art the carrier of deathand the robber of life; thouart the shirker of justice andthe root of all evil, the for-menter of vice, the seducer ofmen, the traitor of the na-tions, the instigator of envy,the font of avarice, the sourceof discord, the exciter of sor-rows! Why tarriest thou re-sisting, when thou knowestthat Christ the Lord dothbring thy plans to naught?Him shalt thou fear, Who inIsrael was sacrificed, inJoseph was sold, in the lambwas slain, was crucified asman, and finally triumphedover hell. (The three signs ofthe Cross which follow aretraced on the brow of the onepossessed.) Wherefore, getthee gone in the name of theFather, + and of the Son, +and of the Holy + Spirit. Makeway for God the Holy Spiritthrough the sign of the holy+ Cross of our Lord Jesus

Christ. Who liveth andreigneth with the Father andthe selfsame Holy Spirit, God,forever and ever.

R. Amen.


Let us pray.

Prayer

O GOD, Creator and Defenderof the human race, Who hastformed man in thine image,look down with pity upon thisthy servant, N. (Thy hand-maid, N.), for he (she) hasfallen a prey to the craftinessof an evil spirit. The ancientadversary, the archenemy ofthe earth enshrouds him (her)in shuddering fear. He ren-ders his (her) mental facultiesbefuddled; he keeps him (her)bewildered by making him(her) sore afraid; he holds him(her) in a state of perturba-tion, as he strikes terrorwithin him (her). Drive out, OLord, the power of the devil,and banish his artifices andfrauds. Let him, the wickedtempter, be routed afar. Bythe sign + (on the brow) of thyname let thy servant(handmaid) be protected andsafeguarded in both body andsoul. (The three Crosses


which follow are traced onthe breast of the subject.)Keep watch over his (her) +reason, rule thou over his(her) + emotions, bring cheerinto his (her) + heart. Letthere vanish from his (her)soul the temptations of themighty adversary. O Lord, aswe call upon thy holy name,graciously grant that the evilspirit, who hitherto terror-ized over us, may now him-self be terror-stricken andmay he depart vanquished.Thus let this servant(handmaid) of thine offer theewith steadfast heart and sin-cere mind the meed that isthy due. Through JesusChrist, thy Son, our Lord,Who liveth and reigneth withthee in the unity of the HolySpirit, God for all ages.

R. Amen.

Exorcism

I ADJURE thee, thou ancientserpent, by the Judge of theliving and the dead, by thyown Creator, by the Creatorof the world, by Him Who hasthe power to consign thee tohell, that thou speedily de-part in trembling, along withthy raving followers, fromthis servant (handmaid) ofGod, N., who seeks refuge inthe bosom of the Church. Iadjure thee once more + (onthe brow), not by my own

weakness but by the might ofthe Holy Spirit, begone fromthis servant (handmaid) ofGod, N., whom the Almightyhas made in His image. Yield,therefore, yield, not to myselfbut to the minister of Christ!For it is the power of Christthat compels thee, Whobrought thee under the sub-jection of His Cross. Quakebefore His arm, for it is HeWho silenced the groans ofhell, and brought forth thesouls unto light. Be afraid ofthe body of man + (on thebreast), be in dread of the im-age of God + (on the brow).Make no resistance, neitherdelay in leaving this person,for it has pleased Christ totake up his dwelling in man.Let it not occur to thee todespise my command, be-cause thou dost recognize inme a poor sinner. It is GodHimself Who commands +thee! The majesty of Christcommands + thee! God theFather commands + thee, Godthe Son commands thee, Godthe Holy Spirit commands +thee! The mystery of theCross commands + thee! Thefaith of the holy apostles Pe-ter and Paul and the othersaints commands + thee! Theblood of the martyrs com-mands + thee! The constancyof the confessors commands+ thee! The devout interces-sion of all holy men andwomen commands + thee!The power of the mysteries of

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forever.

Benedictus(Canticle of Zachary)

BLESSED be the Lord God ofIsrael, for He hath visited andredeemed His people,And hath raised up a mightySavior for us in the lineage ofDavid His servant.Thus He foretold by themouth of His holy prophetswho have been from times an-cient;That He might rescue us fromour enemies - from the handof all that hate us.Now is granted the mercypromised to our fathers, re-membering His holycovenant;And the oath which He sworeto Abraham our father thatHe would extend to us;That we, delivered from thehand of our enemies, mightserve Him without fear,Living in holiness and righ-teousness before Him all ourdays.And thou, child, shall becalled the prophet of theHighest, for thou shall go be-fore the face of the Lord toprepare His ways;To give knowledge of salva-tion to His people - the remis-sion of their sins,Through the bounteousmercy of our God in whichthe Orient from on high hathvisited us,

To give light to them that sitin darkness and in theshadow of death, to direct ourfeet into the way of peace.


The Athanasian Creed(NOTE: The Athanasian Creedis NOT used by Orthodox be-cause it contains the error ofdual procession of the HolySpirit, which is contrary tothe Creed of Nicaea. It is in-cluded here in faithfulness tothe old Roman Rite of Exor-cism. It may be used by Or-thodox as modified in the no-tation in the text.)

WHOSOEVER wills to besaved must before all elsehold true to the Catholicfaith.And unless everyone keepsthis faith whole and unde-filed, without doubt he willperish forever.Now the Catholic faith is asfollows: That we worship oneGod in Trinity, and Trinity inunity,Neither confusing the Personsnor dividing the substance.For the Father is one Person,the Son another, and the HolySpirit yet another.


at the hour of our death.All. Amen

I believe in one God, the Fa-ther Almighty, Maker ofheaven and earth; And of allthings visible and invisible;And in one Lord, Jesus Christ(all bow), the only-begottenSon of God (all bow); begottenof His Father before allworlds; God of God, Light ofLight, very God of very God;begotten not made, being ofone substance with the Fa-ther, by Whom all things weremade; Who, for us men andfor our salvation, came downfrom heaven (all genuflect)and was incarnate by theHoly Ghost of the VirginMary, and was made man. (allrise) And was crucified alsofor us under Pontius Pilate.He suffered and was buried;and the third day He roseagain according to the Scrip-tures; and ascended intoheaven, and sitteth on theright hand of the Father; andHe shall come again withglory, to judge both the quickand the dead; Whose kingdomshall have no end. And I be-lieve in the Holy Ghost, theLord and giver of life, Whoproceedeth from the Father;Who with the Father and theSon together is worshipedand glorified; Who spake bythe prophets. And I believe inone Holy Catholic and Apos-tolic Church; I acknowledgeone baptism for the remission

of sins; and I look for the res-urrection of the dead (+); andthe Life of the world to come.Amen.

7. The canticles Magnificatand Benedictus concludingwith Glory be to the Father.

Magnificat(Canticle of the Blessed Ever

Virgin Mary)

MY SOUL doth magnify theLord,And my spirit doth rejoice inGod my Savior.For He hath regarded the lowestate of His handmaid; lo,henceforth all generationsshall call me blessed.For He that is mighty hathdone great things for me, andholy is His name.And His mercy is from genera-tion to generation to themthat fear Him.He hath shown strength withHis arms; He hath scatteredthe proud in the conceit oftheir hearts.He hath put down the mightyfrom their seats, and exaltedthem of low degree.The hungry He hath filledwith good things; the rich Hehath sent away empty.He hath helped Israel, His ser-vant, being mindful of Hismercy.As He hath promised to ourfathers, Abraham and his seed


Christian faith commands +thee! Go out, then, thoutransgressor, go out, thou se-ducer full of deceit and per-fidy, thou enemy of virtueand persecutor of the inno-cent. Make way, thou horriblecreature, make way, thoumonster, make way forChrist, in whom thou hasfound nothing of thy works.For He has stripped thee ofthy might and laid waste thykingdom; He has overcomethee and put thee in chains,and has blown up thy war ma-terials. He has cast thee outinto exterior darkness, whereruination is being made readyfor thee and thine abettors.But to what purpose dostthou resist in thy insolence?To what purpose dost thoubrazenly refuse? Thou artguilty before the almightyGod, Whose laws thou hasttransgressed. Thou art guiltybefore His Son, our Lord Je-sus Christ, Whom thou didstpresume to tempt, Whomthou wast emboldened to nailto the Cross. Thou art guiltybefore the human race, forthrough thy blandishmentsthou didst proffer it the poi-soned cup of death.

I adjure thee, therefore, thouprofligate dragon, in thename of the spotless + Lamb,Who walked upon the asp andthe basilisk and tread under-foot the lion and the dragon,depart from this man + (on

the brow), depart from theChurch of God + (signing thebystanders). Quake and flyafar, as we call upon the nameof the Lord, before Whom helltrembles, to Whom the heav-enly Virtues and Powers andDominations are subject,Whom the Cherubim andSeraphim praise with unend-ing voice as they sing: Holy,holy, holy, Lord God ofSabaoth! The Word made fleshcommands + thee. He Whowas born of a Virgin com-mands + thee. Jesus + ofNazareth commands thee. Forwhen thou didst mock Hisdisciples, He did shatter andhumble thy pride, and did or-der thee out of a certain man;and when He had cast theeforth, thou didst not evendare except by His leave toenter into a herd of swine.And now as I adjure thee inHis + name, vanish from thisman whom He has created. Itis hard for thee to want toresist. + It is hard for thee tokick against the goad. + Forthe longer thou dost delay thydeparture, the heavier thypunishment shall be; since itis not men thou dost con-temn, but rather Him, theRuler over the living and thedead, Who shall come to judgethe living and the dead andthe world by fire.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.


R. And let my cry come untothee.V. The Lord be with you.R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Prayer

O GOD of heaven and God ofearth, God of the angels andGod of the archangels, God ofthe Prophets and God of theapostles, God of martyrs andGod of Virgins, thou hast thepower to bestow life afterdeath and rest after toil; forthere is no other God besidethee, nor could there be atrue God apart from thee, theCreator of heaven and earth,Who art truly the King ofWhose kingdom there shall beno end. Hence I humbly im-plore thy sublime Majesty,that thou wouldst vouchsafeto deliver this thy servant(handmaid) from the uncleanspirits. Through Christ ourLord.

R. Amen.

Exorcism

I CAST thee out, every un-clean spirit, every phantom,every encroachment of Satan,in the name of Jesus Christ +of Nazareth, Who, after Johnbaptized Him, was lead intothe desert and vanquishedthee in thy citadel. Cease thyattack on man, whom He has

made for His honor and gloryout of the slime of the earth.Tremble before wretchedman, not in the condition ofhuman frailty but in the like-ness of almighty God. Yieldthee to God, + for it is He Whoin Pharaoh and his army diddrown thee and thy malicethrough His servant, Moses,in the depths of the sea. Yieldto God, + Who, by the singingof holy canticles on the partof David, His faithful servant,banished thee from the heartof King Saul. Yield to God, +Who condemned thee in thetraitor Judas Iscariot. For Hemenaces thee with a divine +scourge, before Whose coun-tenance thou didst trembleand cry out, saying: “Whathave we to do with thee, Je-sus, Son of the Most High?Hast thou come hither beforethe time to torture us?” Hethreatens thee with everlast-ing fire, Who at the end oftime will say to the wicked:“Depart from me, ye cursed,into everlasting fire whichhas been prepared for thedevil and his angels.” Forthee, O evil one, and for thyfollowers there will be wormswhich never perish. For theeand for thine angels is madeready an unquenchable fire,because thou art the prince ofaccursed murder, thou the au-thor of lechery, thou theleader in sacrilege, thou themodel of vileness, thou theteacher of heretics, thou the

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inventor of every obscenity.Depart then, + O evil one, de-part + accursed one, departwith all thy falsity, for Godhas desired that man be Histemple. But why dost thoulinger here yet longer? Givehonor to God the Father +Almighty, before Whom everyknee bows. Give place to theLord Jesus + Christ, Whoshed for men His most pre-cious blood. Give place to theHoly + Spirit, Who, throughHis holy apostle, Peter,struck thee down openly inSimon; Who afflicted thee inKing Herod, because he hadnot given the honor to God;Who smote thee with thenight of blindness in Elymas,the magician, at the word ofthe apostle, Paul, and at hiscommand bade thee likewiseto go out of Pythonissa, thesoothsayer. Begone, + now!Begone, + thou seducer! Thyplace is in solitude; thydwelling in the serpent. Hum-ble thyself, and fall prostrate!This matter brooks no delay.For behold, the Lord, theRuler comes quickly, and firewill burn before Him, and itwill go on ahead and setflames round about His ene-mies. Man thou canst betray,but God thou canst not mock.It is He that drives thee out,from Whose eyes nothing ishidden. By Him art thou castforth, to Whose might allthings are subject. By Him artthou expelled, Who hath pre-

pared unending hell for theeand thine angels, from Whosemouth there shall come fortha pointed sword, Who shallcome to judge the living andthe dead and the world byfire.

R. Amen.

5. All that precedes can berepeated as needs be until thepossessed one if fully liber-ated.

6. In addition, it will be veryhelpful to say devoutly overand over again the Our Fa-ther, Hail Mary, and theCreed, as well as all that fol-lows.

V. Our Father, Who art inheaven, hallowed be ThyName, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done, on Earth asit is in heaven.R. Give us this day our dailybread, and forgive us our tres-passes, as we forgive thosewho trespass against us. Andlead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.All. Amen

V. Hail Mary, full of Grace;the Lord is with thee; blessedart thou amongst women, andblessed is the Fruit of thywomb, Jesus.R. Holy Mary, Mother of God,pray for us sinners, now, and

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