Leo XIII Minor Exorcism Prayers
1. The presence of the Devil and other demons appears and exists not only in the tempting or tormenting of persons, but also in the penetration of things and places in a certain manner by their activity, and in various forms of opposition to and persecution of the Church. If the Diocesan Bishop, in particular situations, judges it appropriate to announce gatherings of the faithful for prayer, under the leadership and direction of a Priest, elements for arranging a rite of supplication may be taken from the following.
2. When the assembly of the faithful is gathered, the Priest says:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All sign themselves and say: Amen.
3. Then the Priest, extending his hands, greets those present, saying:
God the almighty Father, who desires that everyone be saved, be with you all.
All reply: And with your spirit.
4. Then the Priest briefly addresses those present in order to dispose their hearts and minds for the celebration. Then it is appropriate that a celebration of the Word of God take place, with a brief homily by the Priest who presides, in which, taking his starting point from the text of the readings, he addresses the people about hope in Christ’s victory and about the help of the Angels. The texts of the readings and of the Responsorial Psalms may be selected from approved Lectionaries.
5. The Litany of Saints may be recited, which the Priest may conclude with the prayer that follows:
Holy Creator Spirit, mercifully draw close to the Catholic Church, and by your heavenly power make her strong and secure against the attacks of the enemy; renew with your charity and grace the spirit of your servants, whom you have anointed, that in you they may glorify the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
All reply: Amen
6. A Universal Prayer may also be composed, after which the Lord’s Prayer must always be said in the customary way.
7. After this, the Priest, with hands joined, adds:
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, with the intercession of the immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Michael the Archangel, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints, and relying on the sacred authority of the ministry I have received from the Church, I come with confidence to drive out the infestations of the Devil's deceit.
8. All recite together:
Let God arise; let his foes be scattered. Let those who hate him flee from his presence. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; like wax that melts before the fire, so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God.
V. Behold the Cross of the Lord, take flight, all hostile powers.
R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered.
V. Let your mercy be upon us, Lord.
R. As we have placed our hope in you.
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto you.
9. The Priest, with hands joined, says:
Let us pray.
And all, together with the Priest, pray in silence for a moment. Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the prayer:
O God of heaven, God of earth, God of Angels, God of Archangels, God of Patriarchs, God of Prophets, God of Apostles, God of Martyrs, God of Priests, God of Virgins, God of all the Saints: O God, who have power to give life after death, rest after labor, because there is no God besides you, nor can there be any but you, creator of all things, visible and invisible, of whose kingdom there will be no end: we humbly implore the majesty of your glory, that you deign to deliver us by your might from all the power, deceit, and depravity of the infernal spirits, and to preserve us in safety. Through Christ our Lord.
All reply: Amen.
10. Then, the Priest, with hands extended, says this imperative formula in the manner of an Exorcism. The faithful, should themselves refrain from saying it.
I exorcize you, every unclean spirit, every power of darkness, every incursion of the infernal enemy, every diabolical legion, cohort, and faction, in the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be uprooted and put to flight from the Church of God, from souls created in the image of God and redeemed by the precious blood of the divine Lamb.
Dare no more, O cunning serpent, to deceive the human race, to persecute the Church of God, to shake the chosen of God and sift them like wheat.
The most high God commands you, God, to whom in your great pride you still presume to be held equal, God, who desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. God the Father commands you,
God the Son commands you, God the Holy Spirit commands you. Christ commands you, he, the eternal Word of God made flesh, who to save our race, lost through your envy, humbled himself and became obedient unto death, who built his Church on solid rock and proclaimed that the gates of hell would never prevail against her, since he himself would remain with her always, even to the consummation of the world.
The sacrament of the Cross + commands you, and the power of all mysteries of the Christian faith. The exalted Virgin Mary Mother of God commands you, she who in her lowliness crushed your proud head from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception. The faith of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and of all the Apostles commands you. The blood of the Martyrs and the devoted intercession of all the Saints command you.
Therefore, diabolical legion, I command you by the living God, by the true God, by the holy God, by the God who so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life: cease deceiving human creatures and offering them the poison of eternal perdition. Cease doing harm to the Church and seeking to ensnare her freedom.
Be gone, Satan, Father of Lies, enemy of human salvation. Give way to Christ, in whom you found no trace of your works. Give way to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, which Christ himself won by his blood.
Be humbled beneath the mighty hand of God; tremble and flee through the holy name of Jesus, before whom hell quakes,
to whom the Virtues of the heavens, the Powers and Dominions are subject, whom Cherubim and Seraphim praise with unceasing voices, acclaiming: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of hosts....
11. After this, the following antiphon is sung or recited:
We fly to your protection, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but ever deliver us from all danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
This prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel may also be recited, or another prayer better known to the people:
O most glorious prince of the heavenly hosts, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness in this world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. Come to the aid of mankind, which God has made in his own likeness and purchased at great price from the tyranny of the Devil.
The holy Church venerates you as guardian and champion; the Lord has entrusted to you the souls of the redeemed destined for happiness on high. Beseech the God of peace to crush Satan under our feet, that he no longer be able to hold mankind captive and do harm to the Church.
Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, that the mercies of the Lord may quickly meet us, and that you may seize the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and cast him bound into that abyss where he can no longer lead the nations astray.
Amen.
12. The Priest sprinkles the place with holy water. Then he blesses those present in the customary way, and the Dismissal takes place.