Exorcism[1]

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ExorcismByBishop Fr. William C. Mayo, DD2

Exorcism1The Definition of ExorcismIn discussing exorcism, it is very important not only to understand whatthe term exorcism means, but also just what is being exorcised. It is veryinteresting to note that according to the chief Vatican Exorcist, not only areexorcisms accepted in today’s day and age, but that, in his words, exorcismsand the practice of the exorcist is steadily increasing.“We’ve never been busier”; he is quoted at having said.In this course, we will be addressing the therapeutic use of exorcism, aswell as statements made by very staid and well established organizations, aswell as the practice, the preparation, and the use of exorcism as a very viableand accepted means of delivery.We will be quoting from several sources in the preparation of ourministry, and we will also provide you the student with the means to performan exorcism.But before we do that, we must first start at the beginning and ask, justwhat is an exorcism, and what are the various forms that an exorcism cantake?To start off, we must define exorcism as the ritual or rite in which ademonic entity is compelled to leave its host. This is of course contrary tothe Hollywood image of gaining control of a demon and forcing it to leave,most often after a long, drawn out, and epic battle for the quivering soul ofthe poor victim.This image cannot be farther from the truth.An exorcism is a delivery, and as such the demonic entity is compelled tovacate the victim by means of the power of our Lord. It is not a matter of acontest of wills, but rather a matter of faith, which delivers the subject.There is a school of thought in which it is necessary for the exorcist toknow the identity of the demon. This is a widely held point of view thatmay have its merits within a particular belief system, but for the ministerwho has performed an exorcism, it soon becomes clear that a battle to obtainthe demon’s name proves to be a fruitless endeavor.The matter at hand confronting the exorcist should always be one ofkeeping his or her calm, and keeping a tight reign on his faith. It is surelygoing to be tested.Before we can delve any further into specifics, let us take a closer look atwhat or who is going to be exorcised.3

Exorcism ranges from demonic influence to possession, in which theentity has entered into the subject, and now exerts control over the subject’sbody. Oftentimes the demon will speak through the unwilling host, and thisis where the true battle begins.According to the CIM Briefing Papers, Christian Information Ministries,which can be found at http://www.fni.com/cim/briefing/demons.htmlhtml,demonic possession by definition starts at the Biblical source. In reading theaccounts present in the Gospels, one will gain an understanding of theclassic form of demonic possession.

And, according to the paper, here is one definition of demonicpossession;“1) In some way that we cannot totally explain, a demon (or demons)possesses, inhabits, or controls a person’s body and faculties against theperson’s will for its purpose of doing its will in the material world, and todestroy and torment its host physically, mentally, and spiritually.‘2) Unger, an authority on demonology says:” The chief characteristic ofdemon possession is the automatic projection of a new personality in thevictim, the inhabiting demon using the body of the possessed individual as avehicle for his own thought, words and acts” (see Demons in the WorldToday, pp. 102ff.).’‘3) Demon possession should not be confused with demon influence.However, the original word ‘daimonizomai’ may refer to a variety ordegrees of demonic activity. Demon possession itself may appear in degreesof severity. Being possessed by more than one demon implies a deeper levelof possession. Some demons may also be more powerful than others.”The above is a clear demonstration to anyone interested in exorcisms thatthe matter is by far more complicated than the casual glance. It seems clearthat there may be several classes of demon, and although we will notundertake it here, it is certain that knowing your enemy is a good andprudent idea. Many believe that demons do indeed vary in abilities andstrengths, and if one is to be truly prepared, one should know what to expect.However, as was discussed in the parapsychology course, let me issuethis one word of warning; Never assume that because you are a Christianyou are immune to demonic influence, and never think that you are going to“take on” a demon. It is only through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ andthe guidance of the Holy Spirit that deliverance can be obtained, inaccordance to the Law of Almighty God. Furthermore, demons are inactuality the fallen angels of Satan’s army, his generals if you like, and noone, by sheer tenacity or toughness, is going to defeat a demon, who is olderthan mankind itself! Try it and you will lose!,4

Having said that, let us now look at Biblical symptoms of demonicpossession, again with the aid of the CIM Briefing papers;“VI. Symptoms of Demon Possession.‘A. Biblical Symptoms‘1) Physical: blindness (Matt. 12:22-29), dumbness (Matt. 9:32), a crippledwoman (Lk. 13: 11-16). While we can’t be dogmatic, it may be that some ofthese symptoms were psychosomatic, meaning that there was no organic ormaterial cause. We also would not rule out the possibility that demons couldcause illnesses which would otherwise be diagnosed as being caused bychemical imbalances or from such sources as bacteria or viruses.‘2) Supernatural. Mark 1:24. The demon knew Christ’s true identity. Thesame demon threw his subject to the ground. See also the account in Matt. 8where the victim had extra-ordinary strength and was made to break chains,etc. In Acts 16, we have an account of a girl with apparent psychic ability.‘3) Antisocial behavior. Self-inflicted wounds, nakedness, screaming.‘4) Mental or emotional: depression, mental illness. The boy in Matt. 17: 15ff. Is described in the original text as being “moonstruck” or literally insane.The symptoms were so like epilepsy some english translations translate itepilepsy. When Jesus commanded the demon to leave, the boy went intoconvulsions apparently caused by the demon.‘5) Note: An observation from the New Testament data: demon possessionis almost always linked to physical and mental symptoms rather than causingthe victim to perform sinful deeds.”

From this we begin to see that there is in place some sort of rules laiddown, rules which no demon, no matter how strong or cunning, can break,and we also see that there are in fact limits to even demonic possession.Powerful demons may be, but there are some things that even a demoncannot do!Now let us look at the criteria by which the Roman Catholic Churchrecognizes possession, as the CIM Briefing Papers continue;“B. The Catholic Church recognizes 4 characteristics of demonpossession:‘1) Knowledge of a language unknown by the victim.‘2) Knowledge of hidden or secret things.‘3) Demonstration of superhuman strength.‘4) An aversion to the things of God.”It is this last on the list that means the most to the minister attempting anexorcism. The things of God hold more power then all the fury of Hell, andfaith in those things, along with the sure knowledge of the Hand of God, willsustain the exorcist through all the demonic onslaughts that are sure to come.5

One important side note here is that a person need not have all the signsin order to be possessed. Also, if a minister is to attempt an exorcism, he orshe may not succeed the instant they walk into the room. It is widely heldthat there are stages to an exorcism, which we will cover shortly.Another note that CIM has here is that ministers, missionaries, and thoseinvolved in deliverance ministries report the same symptoms in demonpossessed people today.Next, we will look at some of the causes of demonic possession.2What Causes Demonic Possession?There are many things in the world today that attract the unwantedattention of dangerous demonic entities.The new resurgence of interest in all manner of archaic arts is a primereason. Wicca, Satanism, vampirism, and a host of others are drawing ourchildren away from God, and in so doing they unwittingly surrenderthemselves to forces that these young people are hopeless to understand.However, the one current trend, which alarms me, the most is that thesechildren are hungry for power. Films, which portray people wielding magicand casting spells, are dangerous.What the children fail to realize is that Wicca, as an example, is generallynot the ancient belief system of our forebear Celtic ancestors, but a sinistermodern bastardization of a religion that was long ago lost.And now, ancient tongues are bantered about without any thought to thefact that they were once whispered in secret, and that they contain the seedsof destruction. The recent Enochian craze, the interest in Theban witchcraft,and others are frightening reminders that the past is far from forgotten.Many of these tongues were forbidden in their day, and should remain sonow, but parents who shrug and say that their children aren’t harminganyone are disillusioned and probably under demonic influence themselves.It has often been said that Satan’s greatest trick was convincing mankindthat he didn’t even exist, and truer words were never spoken. Therefore, it issafe to say that in our permissible society, and perhaps the world at large, anincrease in demonic possession is a logical assumption.It does not take a person acting in a sinful and immoral manner to invitedemonic possession. If a person is not baptized, thus committed to God,then his or her soul is up for grabs. If a person turns a blind eye to the Lawof God, then he is a prime target.6

Of course, if a person leads a sinful and immoral lifestyle, and becomespossessed as a result, then this speaks for itself. But what about a Christian?Is it possible for a Christian to become possessed?This is a complex issue, and here we will attempt to answer it in a wayaccepted by most denominations.First and foremost, it is generally believed that a Christian can fall fromgrace, but not out of favor, of God. Although it is widely held that once youare saved, it is forever, but it is also human nature to have doubts andmisgivings. In addition, the Christian is constantly assaulted by demonicinfluence, for the Christian represents a victory over God.The Christian is more in the grip of temptation than others, and theconstant struggle with moral issues can soften or even dislodge a Christian’sfaith.Of course, it is at these times that the Christian can fall prey to demonicinfluence, but there is always the saving Grace of God to refill theChristian’s soul. In fact, it was the common practice of many churches touse a short exorcism during baptism, wherein any and all evil spirits werecommanded to depart and make room for the Holy Spirit.However, there is one aspect of demonic influence and possible eventualpossession that most Christians overlook.The GjiGT Unabridged Version of War on the Saints, found athttp://www.gvtc.com/~jsearcy/War5.htmsays the following;“Through ‘possession’ by accepting the counterfeit of the workings of theHoly Spirit, believers can, unknowingly, be brought to (1) put their trust inevil spirits, (2) rely on them, (3) surrender to them, (4) be guided by them,(5) pray to them, (6) listen to them, (7) obey them, (8) receive messagesfrom them, (9) receive Scripture texts from them, (10) help them in theirdesires and working, (11) stand by them, (12) work for them. All of this isdone because they are deceived by the counterfeit spirit. They believe theyare doing these things for God. They are very spiritual with a counterfeitspirit.”It is also a truism that the greatest Biblical expert of all time is Satanhimself, and that knowing the very nature of man is his greatest ally. To tryto outwit Satan is the stuff of fairy tales, and will only get you into a placeyou definitely do not want to be.Looking to the GjiGT Unabridged Version of War on the Saints, we seethis;“Chapter 5 Deception and Possession‘To be deceived by lying spirits does not mean that the believer isnecessarily possessed by an evil spirit. A person may be ‘possessed’ without7

having been deceived. For instance, a believer may be misled in guidance,or be deceived by counterfeit visions and manifestations, without thesedeceptions leading on into possession. Yielding to sin, either known orunknown, even by a believer, an evil spirit may take possession of the mind,or body, without there being any experience of deception. (1 Cor. 5:5)‘The capabilities may become severally held, or possessed, by evil spirits,by (1) yielding to the sin of passivity—passivity is the sin of omission, forGod does not give a talent either for misuse, or nonuse, or (2) yielding tosins of action. For example, if the tongue lends itself to slander or foullanguage, it lends itself to sin; and becomes liable to possession. And sowith the eyes, ears, and other parts of the body; the lust of the eyes in seeing,and looking at vile things; the ears by wrong listening—eaves-dropping islending the ears to the emissaries of Satan—or, on the other hand, evil spiritsmay take hold of the nerves of the ear, so that the person cannot hear what

he should, yet is permitted to be alert enough in hearing all that he shouldnot hear."Another cause of demonic possession, which must be covered here, isspiritual apathy. This is self explanatory, but we will discuss it nonetheless.Spiritual apathy is at epidemic levels, and as our modern society evolves, sotoo does apathy. People are just too busy or otherwise occupied to beconcerned with their spiritual lives, and this not only opens the door todemonic forces, it invites them in.The more advanced we become, the more we revert, and as suchprimitive superstition becomes a way of life, and this also creates a habitalenvironment for demons. We become more willing to accept religious fads,beliefs that in the light of reason are downright ridiculous, and we becomemore dependant on rituals that have no basis in fact become the norm.As we look more and more inward, do we in turn over analyze ourselvesto the point wherein we become willing to accept any philosophy, and belief,no matter how silly, in the search for a new and hipper fad to call ourreligion? And in doing so, do we not open the door further so as to invitethe very powers of darkness the new religious fad promises to eradicate?Are we now to be so in touch with ourselves, so in harmony with the naturalworld, that we completely ignore the spiritual? Lastly, as society becomesmore and more motivated by the touchy-feely concepts, are we in fact givingaid to demons?In looking at all the probable causes for demonic possession, one can seethat we ourselves have created the perfect environment for demonic activity.38

Stages of PossessionIt seems that there are specific laws concerning possession, and we willnow cover some of the basic laws concerning the stages of possession.While I do not agree wholesale with some of these, I present them as ageneral guideline to help the minister in determining if a subject is genuinelypossessed.It is good to bear in mind that mental illness can be confused withdemonic activity, but at the same time, mental illness can be a symptom ofthe demonic.We will first turn to the GjiGT Unabridged Version of War on the Saints.Here is discussed the following;“Degree or Ground Needed for, Evil Spirit to Possess Cannot be Defined‘The needed degree of ground given to an evil spirit in order to possess,cannot be clearly defined, but that there is (1) sin without evil spiritpossession; (2) sin which opens the door to possession; (3) sin which isunmistakably the result of Satanic possession (John 13:2) is beyondquestion. If the man, be he unbeliever or believer, sins so as to admit an evilspirit, the ground may be deepened without measure. (1) The ground givenadmits the demon, (2) the ‘manifestation’ of the evil spirit takes place, (3)then the misinterpretation of the manifestation again gives further ground,because he believes, and admits still more of the lies of the evil one.”Next, in a paper on demonology, found athttp://www.zealotsfury.com/darkness/demonology.htmhtm, we find thefollowing;“Three Stages of Demonic Activity‘Infestation, Oppression, and Possession‘(We can thank one Mr. Ed Warren for these guidelines. Here goes.)‘Infestation‘The infestation begins because someone opened a doorway or they moved

into a house where a doorway has already been opened. These things willcause small problems at first that will likely go unrecognized. This is whereit helps to be able to recognize demonic symbolism in order to know what ishappening and what one is dealing with. During this stage the demonicstrategy is to create an environment of fear in order to wear away and beakdown the human will. Many things will occur including an array ofsupernatural phenomena and/or a psychological attack on a person’s will.Unfortunately by the time it is realized by most people what exactly is goingon it is usually too late. The spirit will have already moved on the next stagewhich is oppression.,9

‘Oppression‘Another infestation they move on to the strategy of oppression. The objectof oppression is to cause the individuals involved to lose control and show alapse in free will. Here is where the spiritual phenomena really takes a turnfor the worse. Anything can happen. The spirit(s) may start throwing thingsaround the house, ripping the wallpaper of the walls, sounds of loud bangingand scratching on the walls, whispering voices in the night, blasphemieswritten on the walls, teleportation, fires break loose, large objects (as well aspeople) levitating off the ground and be tossed around, cuts, burns. Any actthat will cause you to feel that you are losing your mind. Which, of course,is the reason they are doing what they are doing. The spirit(s) will attackyou externally and internally until it has broken you down to the point wherepossession can take place. However if these spirit(s) are successful in theirattack and it goes unhindered more powerful spirits may join the attack.‘Possession‘Once the spirit(s) have broken down the will of a person where they ‘giveup’ possession will occur. There is not much to say except that it is nowpainfully obvious what is going on. The demonic has control of the body.The only thing to do now is arrange an exorcism. To do this one must eitherget a hold of a priest of their religion or contact a demonologist such as EdWarren. (Actually if you recognize what is happening earlier in the processget a hold of them then…QUICKLY!) These people will take the stepsnecessary and gather the evidence needed to prove that possession hasoccurred without a doubt. They will be looking to find out if the individualhas‘1-divulged hidden or future knowledge2-spoken in tongues or languages that are unknown to him3-demonstration of superhuman powers or acts that are beyond humanability4-the possessing entity has identified itself by name or given someindisputable sign of diabolical presence.”As I said earlier, I do not necessarily agree one hundred percent with theabove, but this paper was written by a person who claims to have firsthandknowledge of actual demonic possession. And as such, we may be inclinedto listen to what the author has to say.Next, turning to a paper entitled “Spirit Possession” found athttp://www.spiritual curiosity.com/curiosity/spirit_possession.htm we findthe following;“Stages of Possession‘Partial Influence:10

‘Spends most of their free time channeling.The spirit begins to control and influence the person’s behavior and socialcontacts.

Friends and family notice the person’s behavior is getting strangeWants to be isolated from friends and family so that they can spend moretime with the spirit‘Partial Possession: There is partial control of the mind, speech andsometimes body movements.‘Dreams become intense nightmares.Sleep is constantly disturbed.Constant headaches.Negative emotions such as fear and hate are intensified.Might begin talking to the spirit aloud. Family and friends may observe theperson talking to himself.Hears spirit voices that confuse thinking patterns and hinder concentrationneeded for school, work and normal life activities.Starts to fear that the sprit’s control cannot be stopped.Wants isolation from friends and family.Thoughts of suicide are frequent and uncontrolled.Faster than normal movements of the head, arms and fingers. Does nothappen all the time—only when the person loses control for a moment.Speaks out of turn in a social situation. What is said is not related to thecurrent conversation.Shows agitation by swearing and cursing.‘Total Possession:‘Not able to function in life.Needs to be institutionalized or commits suicide.The doctors diagnosis is mental insanity.”From this, we can see a general pattern begin to emerge. If the subjectsuddenly begins to act in a manner that is not normal, and exhibits othersigns, you as the minister might conclude demonic influence. Of note hereis that not all people who exhibit some signs are possessed-possession is afairly rare thing, but as a minister one must be prepared in case of comingacross a genuine case.House blessings and baptisms certainly have their place, and may help toalleviate some of the traits, similar to bringing fresh air into a stale room.And likewise, if a person comes to you with fears of demonic activity, thelast thing a servant of God should do is laugh it off or assume that the personhas a drug problem. I say it again, and I must again stress that demonic11

possession is a very real thing. If you cannot accept the concept of activeevil, how can you accept God?I know of one case in which an evil spirit was in an apartment that turnedout to be a former funeral home. There were plenty of signs, apparitions,doors slamming, disembodied voices, and many others. Out of desperationand fear, the family called a nearby minister, who blithely suggested thatwhat the family needed was to wash their windows, suggesting a fresh start.The minister laughed off the family, who were in genuine need of ministerialassistance. To make a long story short, the minister in question not onlyfailed in his duty, he failed our Lord. The activity continued unabated.We have a duty to help those who come to us, whether we believe themor not.Turning now to our last example, we find a paper called “Exorcisms”located at http://www.jimdowney.com/Exorcism.htmhtm. In it, we find this;“Demonic spirit possession is rampant in the United States and the rest ofthe world, and is the basis for most violent crimes. In fact, as an expressionof evil, the five main objectives of demonic possession are: (1) confusion (2)control (3) violence (4) emotional/physical pain (5) degradation and

demeaning of humans. The levels of demonic spirit possession can be bestunderstood by dividing the evil influence into three classifications:‘First Level-limited influence, causing the person to feel and senseconfusion, lack of unity and Blocks in his or her life.Second Level-increasing influence with constant difficulty in life; addictionsare common, emotional highs and lows, anger and fear. The person mayhave considered or started some form of traditional therapy (talk therapy,group therapy, etc.), or a 12-step program.Third Level-completely controlled, with very limited sense of reality, andwith no connection or awareness of God.”Thus, we have laid the groundwork, ranging from emotional signs tophysical manifestations. As ordained ministers and thinking people, it is upto us to learn what we may, so that we have a good working knowledge torely on.Now for the warnings. As the chief exorcist of the Vatican has stated byway of warning, “If you read about demons and look for demons, you willfind demons.” This goes by way of showing us that truly forewarned isforearmed, but to become fascinated by all things demonic is just asdangerous as being possessed in the first place. We need a good workingknowledge, but to become too involved opens the door for demonicinfluence in our own lives and ministry..12

Next, we will look at the specific steps taken by the working minister indealing with demonic possession.4The ExorcismIn the last chapter, we discussed various viewpoints concerning the stagesof demonic possession. And as such, we the minister may enter into thepicture or come into contact with the subject anywhere along the way.However, we must not assume that everyone who comes to us is in needof an exorcism. We should be prepared to offer counseling, prayer, baptism,or a house blessing, but ultimately it is the minister who makes the decisionof an exorcism.If an exorcism is warranted, certain steps need to be taken before theactual rite takes place. Prayer and meditation is the first step, because weare in fact girding ourselves for a lengthy spiritual battle. We must alwaysremember that we go not alone, but that the exorcism may only take placethrough God.We need to prepare ourselves by ridding our minds of sins, not dwellingon our weaknesses, and grasping with a firm hand our faith, the strength andcomfort of our Savior, and only then are we prepared for what lays ahead.There can be no personal doubt on our part, and we must also be preparedin the event that we are physically attacked, which can and does happen.There are basic steps that the minister takes once the exorcism isunderway, and here, found in another paper entitled “Exorcism” seen athttp://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/e/exorcism.html;“The Presence: The exorcist and his assistants become aware of an alienfeeling or entity.‘Attempts or actions of the evil spirit appear to be the victim’s. Theexorcist’s first job is to break this Pretense and find out whom the demonreally is. Gaining the entity’s name is most important.Breakpoint: the moment when the Devil’s Pretense finally collapses. Thisis usually a moment of complete pandemonium. There evolves a scene ofpanic and confusion, accompanied by a crescendo of abuse, horrible sights,

noises, and odors. The Devil then turns on the victim, speaking of theperson in the third person instead of as itself.The Voice: Also a sign of the Breakpoint, the Voice (of the demon) becomes‘inordinately disturbing and humanly distressing babble”. The demon’svoice must be silenced for the exorcism to proceed.13

The Clash: As the Voices die out there is both a spiritual and physicalpressure. The demon has collided with the ‘will of the Kingdom’. Theexorcist is now in direct battle with the demon, urging the entity to revealmore information about itself so it can be controlled. As previouslymentioned, there is a connection between the entity and the victim’sresident. The entity wants a place to be in, or it must return to Hell. Anexistence out of Hell is what the Devil or demon is fighting for.Expulsion: In the supreme triumph of God’s will, the demon or spirit leavesin the Name of Jesus. All present feel the Presence dissipate, occasionallywith receding noises and voices. The victim may remember the ordeal ormay not recall anything that has happened.”Here I must add that this is one view, again quoting the words of anexorcist named Malachi Martin, a former Jesuit professor and author of thebook “Hostage to the Devil” (1976). While I do not hold to the fact that thedemon’s name is of any importance, this must be left to the one performingthe rite.Having performed an exorcism myself, I can tell you of the things thatoccurred to my first hand knowledge.A woman (let’s call her Ann), moved into a house by herself, along withher two dogs. She rented the home from a man who did not make mentionof the fact that a former tenant was killed there in a freak accident, nor didhe mention the fact that the former tenant along with two other entities werestill in residence.The woman moved in, and set up housekeeping. The first sign she had ofsomething amiss was when locked doors began to spring open, unlocked,and that her dogs were often let out of the house while she was away. Inaddition, she reported to me that there were distinct smells at odd times,along with a feeling of being watched, and a cold breeze out of nowhere.I offered to do a house blessing, which she accepted.I arrived at Ann’s house, and went to work. I blessed her home, thegarage, (it turned out later that the former tenant had been killed in thegarage), her property, and an outbuilding that was once used as a stables.When I left, I asked her to keep me up to date.It wasn’t long after that I got a call from Ann, who hysterically told methat the window in her front screen door had just been broken, and that thesmell of aftershave was very strong. She also told me that both of her dogswould stare at a place in the room, as if they saw something that she herselfcould not see.14

I wasted no time in arriving at Ann’s house. Sure enough, her front doorhad been broken and it was obvious that something using tremendous forcehad damaged the hinges, for the door now hung loosely from the hinges.In addition, I could tell at once that her normally friendly dogs were veryfrightened, for they were both shaking. I had come prepared, as I broughtwith me holy water, blessed in accordance to the Catholic faith, and the newRite of Exorcism.I could almost feel the presence in the room as I began the ritual, and avery powerful sense of strength and purpose came over me. I knew that iswas the presence of the Holy Spirit, and I almost became angry as I read theRite, directing my vexation at a spot in the room that I felt the presence was

in.There came a point in the reading when I felt something sort of give way,and I knew in that moment that the entity was gone. I commanded the entityin the Name of Jesus Christ never to return, and never to bother Ann, herdogs, or her home and property ever again. I finished up by invoking theHoly Spirit, asking the Holy Spirit to bless and dwell in the house forever.Now this next part is very important. I will state in full certainty that itwas God and God alone, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that did anythingthat day. I am a servant, not a grand priest with magic powers!Today, Ann, who is a friend of mine that stops by our home often, tellsme that the other two entities are still roaming around her home. However,none of the damage, fear, or oppression are occurring. She can tell the onespirit, because there is the smell of pipesmoke and leather in the roomwhenever the entity draws near. But perhaps the reason for this is that theother two entities mean no harm, and that the Holy Spirit allows them to bethere.I have related this story because I want it to serve as an illustration, not asa brag or tall tale. If you equip yourself with the Armor of God, there isnothing that can defeat you.Included in this course is the new Rite of Exorcism, which I present toyou as a tool if and when it is needed. I am not a Catholic, but I will use theRite nonetheless, as the occasion calls for it.Starting deliverance can be as simple as prayer, blessing, and readingBiblical passages that tell the story of Satan’s defeat. Using anointing oil orholy water on the victim have very powerful effects, but the thing toremember is not to fear, keep your calm, and no matter what is said or done,do not let go of your faith for even an instant.Exorcisms can fail, and they can also take many grueling sessions. Butthe key thing is to not give up, and if you are not up to the challenge, do not15

be afraid to call in help, even if that help is of a different denomination fromyour own. Pride has no place here.Another thing to remember is that you must let God work the way Godwants, and if you are willing to allow Him to guide you, you will eventuallysucceed. You must persevere.Remember, too, that during the course of an exorcism, you are not reallydriving the demon out by sheer force of will, but that you are calling on ahigher power to put the entity on oath, and binding the demon in the Nameof Jesus.The words you use are important, but not so important that you mustfollow a formula in order to succeed. If the words are designed to invokethe power of the Holy Spirit, the demon must and will bind.The demon leaves in the presence of God, and the void must be filledwith the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is an essential matter, and cannever be skipped or glossed over. You must seal the victim with God’s holyLight, and the entity cannot return.As part of the Exorcism process, you may want to determine how theentity gained control in the first place, and you will want to counsel thesubject to make sure that whatever led to possession in the first place willnot be repeated.Stay in contact with the victim, and use gentle guidance to steer themback on the right track. Over time, the subject will turn to God, and your jobwill be completed. Performing an exorcism and leaving the victim towhatever fate awaits him is failing him. You must not allow the person tobackslide into the behavior that lead to demonic possession.Another factor that is leading to possession is the influence of cults and

false prophets. There are many victims of this, and the effective ministerwill be willing to provide counsel and support that will aid these potentialvictims in realizing what danger they are in.ConclusionsIf the need arises to perform an exorcism, no matter what Rite you use,take the time to be familiar with the acts and procedures involved.Plan your actions ahead of time, for bumbling and hesitating will causethe demon to gain control over you. If this occurs, you need to step back,regroup, and try again. Some demons are more powerful than others, andwhile you should not fear, you should be prepared to see, hear, and smellhorrible things.16

Above all, you must keep your head. The moment you yield to fear, youwill fail. Remember who and what you are dealing with, and the nature ofthe entity. Do not listen to its lies and deceptions.It will con, cajole, try to frighten you, it will say evil things to you, butyou simply must not listen. Do not allow the Rite to be broken or halted.If you employ calm, allow God to aid you, and stand fast, there is nopower in Hell that will prevail. You can and will win through the power ofJesus.In the end, it is hoped that you never need to perform an exorcism. But ifyou do, undertake it with the spirit of doing God’s work and easing thesuffering of a fellow human being. Approach it like a true servant, and notan avenging spirit, and you will win the day.Now, please go to the test.Bishop Fr. William C. Mayo, DDLutherbrook Evangelical Memorial ChurchLutherbrook School of Divinityhttp://www.billbo54520.tripod.com/lutherbrookschoolofdivinity/[email protected]*This course is accredited through the Interfaith ChristianAccreditation Association.17EXORCISM FINAL EXAM1) List three symptoms that lead to the conclusion of demonic possession.2) List three things that a possessed individual exhibits.3) What part of the Bible talks about Christ exorcising demons?4) List one Biblical account of demonic possession.5) Are there such things as demons?6) List two physical signs of demonic possession.7) List two stages of possession.8) Tell why you need not fear a demon.9) Explain how you can tell it is demonic possession and not mental illness.10) Should you ever seek other help with an exorcism? If so, why?18

1999 Rite of Exorcism(This is the Official Rite for expelling demons frompeople certified as being possessed by authorized Catholic priests.)RITE OF EXORCISMThe priest delegated by the Ordinary to perform this office should first gotoconfession or at least elicit an act of contrition, and, if convenient, offerthe holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and implore God's help in other ferventprayers. He vests in surplice and purple stole. Having before him thepersonpossessed (who should be bound if there is any danger), he traces the signofthe cross over him, over himself, and the bystanders, and then sprinkles allof them with holy water. After this he kneels and says the Litany of the

Saints, exclusive of the prayers which follow it. All present are to make theresponses.LITANY OF THE SAINTSThe Litany of the Saints is used in ordination, Forty Hours', processions,andother occasions. Both the Roman Ritual and the Roman Pontifical directthatthe first three invocations be repeated. The music for this litany is given inthe music supplement. The invocations are sung (or recited) by the chantersorthe priest; the responses by all.P: Lord, have mercy.All: Lord, have mercy.P: Christ, have mercy.All: Christ, have mercy.P: Lord, have mercy.All: Lord, have mercy.P: Christ, hear us.19

All: Christ, graciously hear us.P: God, the Father in heaven.All: Have mercy on us.P: God, the Son, Redeemer of the world.All: Have mercy on us.P: God, the Holy Spirit.All: Have mercy on us.P: Holy Trinity, one God.All: Have mercy on us.Holy Mary, pray for us,** After each invocation: "Pray for us."Holy Mother of God,Holy Virgin of virgins,St. Michael,St. Gabriel,St. Raphael,All holy angels and archangels,All holy orders of blessed spirits,St. John the Baptist,St. Joseph,All holy patriarchs and prophets,St. Peter,St. Paul,St. Andrew,St. James,St. John,St. Thomas,St. James,St. Philip,St. Bartholomew,St. Matthew,St. Simon,St. Thaddeus,St. Matthias,20

St. Barnabas,St. Luke,

St. Mark,All holy apostles and evangelists,All holy disciples of the Lord,All holy Innocents,St. Stephen,St. Lawrence,St. Vincent,SS. Fabian and Sebastian,SS. John and Paul,SS. Cosmas and Damian,SS. Gervase and Protase,All holy martyrs,St. Sylvester,St. Gregory,St. Ambrose,St. Augustine,St. Jerome,St. Martin,St. Nicholas,All holy bishops and confessors,All holy doctors,St. Anthony,St. Benedict,St. Bernard,St. Dominic,St. Francis,All holy priests and levites,All holy monks and hermits,St. Mary Magdalen,St. Agatha,St. Lucy,St. Agnes,St. Cecilia,St. Catherine,St. Anastasia,All holy virgins and widows,P: All holy saints of God,21

All: Intercede for us.P: Be merciful,All: Spare us, 0 Lord.P: Be merciful,All: Graciously hear us, 0 Lord.From all evil, deliver us, 0 Lord.** After each invocation: "Deliver us, 0 Lord."From all sin,From your wrath,From sudden and unprovided death,From the snares of the devil,From anger, hatred, and all ill will,From all lewdness,From lightning and tempest,From the scourge of earthquakes,From plague, famine, and war,From everlasting death,By the mystery of your holy incarnation,

By your coming,By your birth,By your baptism and holy fasting,By your cross and passion,By your death and burial,By your holy resurrection,By your wondrous ascension,By the coming of the Holy,Spirit, the Advocate,On the day of judgment,P: We sinners,All: We beg you to hear us.** After each invocation: "We beg you to hear us."That you spare us,That you pardon us,That you bring us to true penance,22

That you govern and preserve your holy Church,That you preserve our Holy Fatherand all ranks in the Church in holy religion,That you humble the enemies of holy Church,That you give peace and true concord to all Christian rulers.That you give peace and unity to the whole Christian world,That you restore to the unity of the Church all who have strayed fromthe truth, and lead all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel,That you confirm and preserve us in your holy service,That you lift up our minds to heavenly desires,That you grant everlasting blessings to all our benefactors,That you deliver our souls and the souls of our brethren, relatives, andbenefactors from everlasting damnation,That you give and preserve the fruits of the earth,That you grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,That you graciously hear us, Son of God,At the end of the litany he (the priest) adds the following:P: Antiphon: Do not keep in mind, 0 Lord, ouroffenses or those of our parents, nor take vengeance on our sins.P: Our Fatherwho are in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come;thy will be done on earh as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;and forgive us our trespassesas we forgive those who trespass against us;and lead us not into temptation,All: But deliver us from evil.Psalm 53P: God, by your name save me,and by your might defend my cause.All: God, hear my prayer;hearken to the words of my mouth.23

P: For haughty men have risen up against me,and fierce men seek my life;they set not God before their eyes.All: See, God is my helper;

the Lord sustains my life.P: Turn back the evil upon my foes;in your faithfulness destroy them.All: Freely will I offer you sacrifice;I will praise your name, Lord, for its goodness,P: Because from all distress you have rescued me,and my eyes look down upon my enemies.All: Glory be to the Father.P: As it was in the beginning.After the psalm the priest continues:P: Save your servant.All: Who trusts in you, my God.P: Let him (her) find in you, Lord, a fortified tower.All: In the face of the enemy.P: Let the enemy have no power over him (her).All: And the son of iniquity be powerless to harm him (her).P: Lord, send him (her) aid from your holy place.All: And watch over him (her) from Sion.P: Lord, heed my prayer.All: And let my cry be heard by you.P: The Lord be with you.All: May He also be with you.Let us pray.God, whose nature is ever merciful and forgiving, accept our prayer that this24

servant of yours, bound by the fetters of sin, may be pardoned by yourlovingkindness.Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist, who once and for all consigned that fallen and apostate tyrant to theflames of hell, who sent your only-begotten Son into the world to crush thatroaring lion; hasten to our call for help and snatch from ruination and fromthe clutches of the noonday devil this human being made in your image andlikeness. Strike terror, Lord, into the beast now laying waste your vineyard.Fill your servants with courage to fight manfully against that reprobatedragon, lest he despise those who put their trust in you, and say withPharaohof old: "I know not God, nor will I set Israel free." Let your mighty handcast him out of your servant, (The name of the person), so he may nolongerhold captive this person whom it pleased you to make in your image, and toredeem through your Son; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of theHoly Spirit, God, forever and ever.All: Amen.Then he commands the demon as follows:I command you, unclean spirit, whoever you are, along with all yourminionsnow attacking this servant of God, by the mysteries of the incarnation,passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, by thedescentof the Holy Spirit, by the coming of our Lord for judgment, that you tell meby some sign your name, and the day and hour of your departure. Icommand you,moreover, to obey me to the letter, I who am a minister of God despite myunworthiness; nor shall you be emboldened to harm in any way thiscreature of

God, or the bystanders, or any of their possessions.The priest lays his hand on the head of the sick person, saying:They shall lay their hands upon the sick and all will be well with them. MayJesus, Son of Mary, Lord and Savior of the world, through the merits andintercession of His holy apostles Peter and Paul and all His saints, showyoufavor and mercy.All: Amen.25

Next he reads over the possessed person these selectionsfrom the Gospel, or at least one of them.P: The Lord be with you.All: May He also be with you.P: The beginning of the holy Gospel according to St. John.All: Glory be to you, 0 Lord.A Lesson from the holy Gospel according to St. John(John 1:1-14)As he says these opening words he signs himself and the possessed on thebrow,lips, and breast.When time began, the Word was there, and the Word was face to face withGod,and the Word was God. This Word, when time began, was face to face withGod.All things came into being through Him, and without Him there came to benotone thing that has come to be. In Him was life, and the life was the light ofmen. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not lay hold ofit. There came upon the scene a man, a messenger from God, whose namewasJohn. This man came to give testimony to testify in behalf of the light thatall might believe through him. He was not himself the light; he only was totestify in behalf of the light. Meanwhile the true light, which illuminesevery man, was making its entrance into the world. He was in the world,andthe world came to be through Him, and the world did not acknowledgeHim. Hecame into His home, and His own people did not welcome Him. But to asmany aswelcomed Him He gave the power to become children of God those whobelieve inHis name; who were born not of blood, or of carnal desire, or of man's will;no, they were born of God. (Genuflect here.) And the Word became manand livedamong us; and we have looked upon His glory such a glory as befits theFather's only-begotten Son full of grace and truth!26

All: Thanks be to God.Lastly he blesses the sick person, saying:May the blessing of almighty God,Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,come upon you and remain with you forever.All: Amen.Then he sprinkles the person with holy water.A Lesson from the holy Gospel according to St. Mark(Mark 16:15-18)

At that time Jesus said to His disciples: "Go into the whole world andpreachthe Gospel to all creation. He that believes and is baptized will be saved; hethat does not believe will be condemned. And in the way of proofs of theirclaims, the following will accompany those who believe: in my name theywilldrive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will take upserpentsin their hands, and if they drink something deadly, it will not hurt them;they will lay their hands on the sick, and these will recover."A Lesson from the holy Gospel according to St. Luke(Luke 10:17-20)At that time the seventy-two returned in high spirits. "Master," they said,"even the demons are subject to us because we use your name!" "Yes," Hesaidto them, "I was watching Satan fall like lightning that flashes from heaven.But mind: it is I that have given you the power to tread upon serpents andscorpions, and break the dominion of the enemy everywhere; nothing at allcaninjure you. Just the same, do not rejoice in the fact that the spirits aresubject to you, but rejoice in the fact that your names are engraved inheaven."A Lesson from the holy Gospel according to St. Luke(Luke 11:14-22)At that time Jesus was driving out a demon, and this particular demon wasdumb. The demon was driven out, the dumb man spoke, and the crowdswere27

enraptured. But some among the people remarked: "He is a tool ofBeelzebul,and that is how he drives out demons!" Another group, intending to testHim,demanded of Him a proof of His claims, to be shown in the sky. He knewtheirinmost thoughts. "Any kingdom torn by civil strife," He said to them, "islaidin ruins; and house tumbles upon house. So, too, if Satan is in revoltagainsthimself, how can his kingdom last, since you say that I drive out demons asatool of Beelzebul. And furthermore: if I drive out demons as a tool ofBeelzebul, whose tools are your pupils when they do the driving out?Therefore, judged by them, you must stand condemned. But, if, on thecontrary,I drive out demons by the finger of God, then, evidently the kingdom ofGodhas by this time made its way to you. As long as a mighty lord in full armorguards his premises, he is in peaceful possession of his property; but shouldone mightier than he attack and overcome him, he will strip him of hisarmor,on which he had relied, and distribute the spoils taken from him."P: Lord, heed my prayer.All: And let my cry be heard by you.P: The Lord be with you.All: May He also be with you.Let us pray.

Almighty Lord, Word of God the Father, Jesus Christ, God and Lord of allcreation; who gave to your holy apostles the power to tramp underfootserpentsand scorpions; who along with the other mandates to work miracles waspleasedto grant them the authority to say: "Depart, you devils!" and by whosemightSatan was made to fall from heaven like lightning; I humbly call on yourholy28

name in fear and trembling, asking that you grant me, your unworthyservant,pardon for all my sins, steadfast faith, and the power - supported by yourmighty arm - to confront with confidence and resolution this cruel demon. Iask this through you, Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, who are coming tojudgeboth the living and the dead and the world by fire.All: Amen.Next he makes the sign of the cross over himself and the one possessed,placesthe end of the stole on the latter's neck, and, putting his right hand on thelatter's head, he says the following in accents filled with confidence andfaith:P: See the cross of the Lord;begone, you hostile powers!All: The stem of David,the lion of Juda's tribe has conquered.P: Lord, heed my prayer.All: And let my cry be heard by you.P: The Lord be with you.All: May He also be with you.Let us pray.God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I appeal to your holy name,humblybegging your kindness, that you graciously grant me help against this andevery unclean spirit now tormenting this creature of yours; through ChristourLord.All: Amen.ExorcismI cast you out, unclean spirit, along with every Satanic power of the enemy,every spectre from hell, and all your fell companions; in the name of ourLordJesus +Christ. Begone and stay far from this creature of God.+ For it is Hewho commands you, He who flung you headlong from the heights ofheaven into29

the depths of hell. It is He who commands you, He who once stilled the seaandthe wind and the storm. Hearken, therefore, and tremble in fear, Satan, youenemy of the faith, you foe of the human race, you begetter of death, yourobber of life, you corrupter of justice, you root of all evil and vice;seducer of men, betrayer of the nations, instigator of envy, font of avarice,fomentor of discord, author of pain and sorrow. Why, then, do you standandresist, knowing as you must that Christ the Lord brings your plans to

nothing?Fear Him, who in Isaac was offered in sacrifice, in Joseph sold intobondage,slain as the paschal lamb, crucified as man, yet triumphed over the powersofhell. (The three signs of the cross which follow are traced on the brow ofthepossessed person). Begone, then, in the name of the Father, + and of theSon,+ and of the Holy + Spirit. Give place to the Holy Spirit by this sign of theholy + cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Fatherand the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.All: Amen.P: Lord, heed my prayer.All: And let my cry be heard by you.P: The Lord be with you.All: May He also be with you.Let us pray.God, Creator and defender of the human race, who made man in your ownimage,look down in pity on this your servant, N., now in the toils of the uncleanspirit, now caught up in the fearsome threats of man's ancient enemy,swornfoe of our race, who befuddles and stupefies the human mind, throws it intoterror, overwhelms it with fear and panic. Repel, 0 Lord, the devil's power,break asunder his snares and traps, put the unholy tempter to flight. By thesign + (on the brow) of your name, let your servant be protected in mindand30

body. (The three crosses which follow are traced on the breast of thepossessed person). Keep watch over the inmost recesses of his (her) +heart;rule over his (her) + emotions; strengthen his (her) + will. Let vanish fromhis (her) soul the temptings of the mighty adversary. Graciously grant, 0Lord, as we call on your holy name, that the evil spirit, who hithertoterrorized over us, may himself retreat in terror and defeat, so that thisservant of yours may sincerely and steadfastly render you the service whichisyour due; through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.ExorcismI adjure you, ancient serpent, by the judge of the living and the dead, byyour Creator, by the Creator of the whole universe, by Him who has thepowerto consign you to hell, to depart forthwith in fear, along with your savageminions, from this servant of God, N., who seeks refuge in the fold of theChurch. I adjure you again, + (on the brow) not by my weakness but by themight of the Holy Spirit, to depart from this servant of God, N. , whomalmighty God has made in His image. Yield, therefore, yield not to my ownperson but to the minister of Christ. For it is the power of Christ thatcompels you, who brought you low by His cross. Tremble before thatmighty armthat broke asunder the dark prison walls and led souls forth to light. Maythetrembling that afflicts this human frame, + (on the breast) the fear thatafflicts this image + (on the brow) of God, descend on you. Make no

resistancenor delay in departing from this man, for it has pleased Christ to dwell inman. Do not think of despising my command because you know me to be agreatsinner. It is God + Himself who commands you; the majestic Christ + whocommands you. God the Father + commands you; God the Son +commands you; Godthe Holy + Spirit commands you. The mystery of the cross commands+you. Thefaith of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and of all the saints commands +you. The blood of the martyrs commands + you. The continence of theconfessors31

commands + you. The devout prayers of all holy men and womencommand + you.The saving mysteries of our Christian faith command + you.Depart, then, transgressor. Depart, seducer, full of lies and cunning, foe ofvirtue, persecutor of the innocent. Give place, abominable creature, giveway,you monster, give way to Christ, in whom you found none of your works.For Hehas already stripped you of your powers and laid waste your kingdom,bound youprisoner and plundered your weapons. He has cast you forth into the outerdarkness, where everlasting ruin awaits you and your abettors. To whatpurposedo you insolently resist? To what purpose do you brazenly refuse? For youareguilty before almighty God, whose laws you have transgressed. You areguiltybefore His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whom you presumed to tempt,whom youdared to nail to the cross. You are guilty before the whole human race, towhom you prof erred by your enticements the poisoned cup of death.Therefore, I adjure you, profligate dragon, in the name of the spotless +Lamb, who has trodden down the asp and the basilisk, and overcome thelion andthe dragon, to depart from this man (woman) + (on the brow), to departfromthe Church of God + (signing the bystanders). Tremble and flee, as we callonthe name of the Lord, before whom the denizens of hell cower, to whomtheheavenly Virtues and Powers and Dominations are subject, whom theCherubim andSeraphim praise with unending cries as they sing: Holy, holy, holy, LordGodof Sabaoth. The Word made flesh + commands you; the Virgin's Son +commandsyou; Jesus + of Nazareth commands you, who once, when you despised Hisdisciples, forced you to flee in shameful defeat from a man; and when Hehadcast you out you did not even dare, except by His leave, to enter into a herd32

of swine. And now as I adjure you in His + name, begone from this man(woman)

who is His creature. It is futile to resist His + will. It is hard for you tokick against the + goad. The longer you delay, the heavier your punishmentshall be; for it is not men you are condemning, but rather Him who rulestheliving and the dead, who is coming to judge both the living and the deadandthe world by fire.All: Amen.P: Lord, heed my prayer.All: And let my cry be heard by you.P: The Lord be with you.All: May He also be with you.Let us pray.God of heaven and earth, God of the angels and archangels, God of theprophetsand apostles, God of the martyrs and virgins, God who have power tobestowlife after death and rest after toil; for there is no other God than you, norcan there be another true God beside you, the Creator of heaven and earth,whoare truly a King, whose kingdom is without end; I humbly entreat yourgloriousmajesty to deliver this servant of yours from the unclean spirits; throughChrist our Lord.All: Amen.ExorcismTherefore, I adjure you every unclean spirit, every spectre from hell, everysatanic power, in the name of Jesus + Christ of Nazareth, who was led intothedesert after His baptism by John to vanquish you in your citadel, to ceaseyour assaults against the creature whom He has, formed from the slime oftheearth for His own honor and glory; to quail before wretched man, seeing inhim33

the image of almighty God, rather than his state of human frailty. Yieldthento God, + who by His servant, Moses, cast you and your malice, in thepersonof Pharaoh and his army, into the depths of the sea. Yield to God, + who,bythe singing of holy canticles on the part of David, His faithful servant,banished you from the heart of King Saul. Yield to God, + who condemnedyou inthe person of Judas Iscariot, the traitor. For He now flails you with Hisdivine scourges, + He in whose sight you and your legions once cried out:"What have we to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Haveyou cometo torture us before the time?" Now He is driving you back into theeverlasting fire, He who at the end of time will say to the wicked: "Departfrom me, you accursed, into the everlasting fire which has been preparedforthe devil and his angels." For you, 0 evil one, and for your followers therewill be worms that never die. An unquenchable fire stands ready for youandfor your minions, you prince of accursed murderers, father of lechery,

instigator of sacrileges, model of vileness, promoter of heresies, inventor ofevery obscenity.Depart, then, + impious one, depart, + accursed one, depart with all yourdeceits, for God has willed that man should be His temple. Why do youstilllinger here? Give honor to God the Father + almighty, before whom everykneemust bow. Give place to the Lord Jesus + Christ, who shed His mostpreciousblood for man. Give place to the Holy + Spirit, who by His blessed apostlePeter openly struck you down in the person of Simon Magus; who cursedyourlies in Annas and Saphira; who smote you in King Herod because he hadnotgiven honor to God; who by His apostle Paul afflicted you with the night ofblindness in the magician Elyma, and by the mouth of the same apostlebade youto go out of Pythonissa, the soothsayer. Begone, + now! Begone, +seducer!34

Your place is in solitude; your abode is in the nest of serpents; get downandcrawl with them. This matter brooks no delay; for see, the Lord, the rulercomes quickly, kindling fire before Him, and it will run on ahead of Himandencompass His enemies in flames. You might delude man, but God youcannotmock. It is He who casts you out, from whose sight nothing is hidden. It isHewho repels you, to whose might all things are subject. It is He who expelsyou, He who has prepared everlasting hellfire for you and your angels,fromwhose mouth shall come a sharp sword, who is coming to judge both thelivingand the dead and the world by fire.All: Amen.All the above may be repeated as long as necessary, until the one possessedhas been fully freed.It will also help to say devoutly and often over the afflicted person the OurFather, Hail Mary, and the Creed, as well as any of the prayers givenbelow.The Canticle of our Lady, with the doxology; the Canticle of Zachary, withthedoxology.P: Antiphon: Magi from the East came to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; andopening their treasure chests they presented Him with precious gifts: Goldforthe great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.Alleluia.Canticle of Our Lady(The Magnificat)(Luke 1:46-55)P: "My soul extols the Lord;All: And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior.P: How graciously He looked upon His lowly maid!Oh, see, from this hour onward age after age will call me blessed!

All: How sublime is what He has done for me,the Mighty One, whose name is `Holy'!35

P: From age to age He visits thosewho worship Him in reverence.All: His arm achieves the mastery:He routs the haughty and proud of heart.P: He puts down princes from their thrones,and exalts the lowly;All: He fills the hungry with blessings,and sends away the rich with empty hands.P: He has taken by the hand His servant Israel,and mercifully kept His faith,All: As He had promised our fatherswith Abraham and his posterity forever and evermore."P: Glory be to the Father.All: As it was in the beginning.Antiphon: Magi from the East came to Bethlehemto adore the Lord;and opening their treasure cheststhey presented Him with precious gifts:Gold for the great King, incense for the true God,and myrrh in symbol of His burial. Alleluia.Meanwhile the home is sprinkledwith holy water and incensed. Then the priest says:P: Our Fatherwho art in Heaven,Hallowed be Thy Name;Thy Kingdom come;Thy will be done on earthAs it is in Heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;and forgive us our trespassesas we forgive those who trespass against us,and lead us not into temptation.All: But deliver us from evil.36

P: Many shall come from Saba.All: Bearing gold and incense.P: Lord, heed my prayer.All: And let my cry be heard by you.P: The Lord be with you.All: May he also be with you.Let us pray.God, who on this day revealed your only-begotten Son to all nations by theguidance of a star, grant that we who now know you by faith may finallybeholdyou in your heavenly majesty; through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.Responsory: Be enlightened and shine forth,0 Jerusalem, for your light is come;and upon you is risen the gloryof the Lord Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.P: Nations shall walk in your light,and kings in the splendor of your birth.All: And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

Let us pray.Lord God almighty, bless +this home,and under its shelter let there be health,chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness,mildness, obedience to your commandments,and thanksgiving to Godthe Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.May your blessing remain always in this homeand on those who live here;through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.P: Antiphon for Canticle of Zachary:37

Today the Church is espoused to her heavenly bridegroom,for Christ washes her sins in the Jordan;the Magi hasten with gifts to the regal nuptials;and the guests are gladdened with water made wine,alleluia.Canticle of Zachary(Luke 1:68-79P: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!He has visited His people andbrought about its redemption.All: He has raised for us a stronghold of salvationin the house of David His servant,P: And redeemed the promise He had madethrough the mouth of His holy prophets of oldAll: To grant salvation from our foesand from the hand of all that hate us;P: To deal in mercy with our fathersand be mindful of His holy covenant,All: Of the oath he had sworn to our father Abraham,that He would enable usP: Rescued from the clutches of our foesto worship Him without fear,All: In holiness and observance of the Law,in His presence, all our days.P: And you, my little one, will be hailed`Prophet of the Most High';for the Lord's precursor you will be to prepare His ways;All: You are to impart to His people knowledgeof salvation through forgiveness of their sins.P: Thanks be to the merciful heart of our God!a dawning Light from on high will visit usAll: To shine upon those who sit in darknessand in the shadowland of death,38

and guide our feet into the path of peace."P: Glory be to the Father.All: As it was in the beginning.Antiphon:Today the Church is espoused to her heavenly bridegroom,for Christ washes her sins in the Jordan;the Magi hasten with gifts to the regal nuptials;and the guests are gladdened with water made wine,alleluia.Then the celebrant sings:

P: The Lord be with you.All: May He also be with you.Let us pray.God, who on this day revealed your only-begotten Sonto all nations by the guidance of a star,grant that we who now know you by faithmay finally behold you in your heavenly majesty;through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.Athanasian CreedP: Whoever wills to be savedmust before all else hold fast to the Catholic faith.All: Unless one keeps this faith whole and untarnished,without doubt he will perish forever.P: Now this is the Catholic faith:that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity;All: Neither confusing the Persons one with the other,nor making a distinction in their nature.39

P: For the Father is a distinct Person;and so is the Son;and so is the Holy Spirit.All: Yet the Father, Son,and Holy Spirit possess one Godhead,co-equal glory, co-eternal majesty.P: As the Father is, so is the Son,so also is the Holy Spirit.All: The Father is uncreated,the Son is uncreated,the Holy Spirit is uncreated.P: The Father is infinite,the Son is infinite,the Holy Spirit is infinite.All:The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal,the Holy Spirit is eternal.P: Yet they are not three eternals,but one eternal God.All: Even as they are not three uncreated,or three infinites,but one uncreated and one infinite God.P: So likewise the Father is almighty,the Son is almighty,the Holy Spirit is almighty.All: Yet they are not three almighties,but they are the one Almighty.P: Thus the Father is God,the Son is God,the Holy Spirit is God.All: Yet they are not three gods,but one God.P: Thus the Father is Lord,40

the Son is Lord,the Holy Spirit is Lord.All: Yet there are not three lords,

but one Lord.P: For just as Christian truthcompels us to profess that each Personis individually God and Lord,so does the Catholic religion forbid usto hold that there are three gods or lords.All: The Father was not made by any power;He was neither created nor begotten.P: The Son is from the Father alone,neither created nor made, but begotten.All: The Holy Spirit is fromthe Father and the Son,neither made nor created nor begotten,but He proceeds.P: So there is one Father, not three;one Son, not three;one Holy Spirit, not three.All: And in this Trinity one Personis not earlier or later,nor is one greater or less;but all three Persons are co-eternaland co-equal.P: In every way, then,as already affirmed,unity in Trinity and Trinity in unity is to be worshiped.All: Whoever, then, wills to be savedmust assent to this doctrine of the Blessed Trinity.P: But it is necessary for everlasting salvationthat one also firmly believe in the incarnationof our Lord Jesus Christ.>All: True faith, then, requires usto believe and profess41

that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,is both God and man.P: He is God, begotten of the substanceof the Father from eternity;He is man, born in time of the substance of His Mother.All: He is perfect God, and perfect mansubsisting in a rational soul and a human body.P: He is equal to the Fatherin His divine nature,but less than the Father in His human nature as such.All: And though He is God and man,yet He is the one Christ, not two;P: One, however, not by any changeof divinity into flesh,but by the act of God assuming a human nature.All: He is one only,not by a mixture of substance,but by the oneness of His Person.P: For, somewhat as the rational souland the body compose one man,so Christ is one Person who is both God and man;All: Who suffered for our salvation,who descended into hell,

who rose again the third day from the dead;P: Who ascended into heaven,and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty,from there He shall come to judgeboth the living and the dead.All: At His coming all men shall riseagain in their bodies,and shall give an account of their works.P: And those who have done good shallenter into everlasting life,but those who have done evil into everlasting fire.42

All: All this is Catholic faith,and unless one believes it truly and firmlyone cannot be saved.P: Glory be to the FatherAll: As it was in the beginning.Here follows a large number of psalms which may be used by the exorcist athisdiscretion but these are not a necessary part of the rite. Some of them occurin other parts of the Ritual and are so indicated; the others may be takenfrom the Psalter. Psalm 90; psalm 67; psalm 69; psalm 53; psalm 117;psalm 34;psalm 30; psalm 21; psalm 3; psalm 10; psalm 12.Prayer Following DeliveranceP: Almighty God,we beg you to keep the evil spiritfrom further molesting this servant of yours,and to keep him far away,never to return.At your command, 0 Lord,may the goodness and peaceof our Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer,take possession of this man (woman).May we no longer fear any evilsince the Lord is with us;who lives and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,God, forever and ever.All: Amen.Main Index(C) 1999 Catholic Doors Ministry43