Exorcism of the Senses

[This was taken from Fr Cabading's "Catholic Handbook of Prayers for Spiritual Liberation and Exorcisms With Redactor's Notes" pp. 45-57, with permission.]

Redactor's Notes: This rite of minor exorcism has been adapted from the Roman Ritual (Weller's, 1950) for the Baptism of Adults - Rite of the Catechumenate.

In the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite in the Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism for Adults, there is an elaborate rite for the admission of catechumens characterized by a series of anointings of the senses, followed by minor exorcisms. The theological importance of these sacred actions is very clear: (1) recognition that prior to baptism, the Evil One has a strong hold on a human being; (2) the use of the senses are the primary avenues by which evil enters into the soul of a person; and (3) baptism does not expel unclean spirits automatically in a person's life. Hence, renouncement of Satan and his works by the catechumen and a confirmation of the Church of this abjuration through a series of exorcisms and anointings loosen the hold of the devil and prepares the individual for the ultimate act of faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ and a definitive consecration to God through the saving waters of Baptism.

This rite of the exorcism of the senses is here adapted for use in the Ministry because the prayers and exorcisms contained therein remain to be valid and the theology behind it clear and sound. The senses remain the ordinary way by which we are assaulted by the evil one through temptation and the more serious extraordinary forms of demonic attack. Therefore, the anointing of the senses with the oil of catechumens, the prayers of exorcism, the re-sealing of the person characterized by an anointing with chrism, show once more the renouncement of the Devil by the spiritually afflicted and the reconsecration of the whole being to God.

The following exorcism prayers can also be used as preparation for the Closing of the Occult Third Eye, Prayer Against the Evil Eye, and for Solemn Exorcism.

Signing with the Cross

It is recommended to bless the afflicted person with a Cross saying:

Behold the ✠ Cross of the Lord

flee powers of darkness.

or

By the sign of the ✠ Cross,

may our God deliver you from the enemy.

If opportune, the Priest blows thrice on the head of the afflicted, and says:

Exi ab eo (ea), spíritus immúnde, et da locum Spiritui Sancto Paráclito.

English

Go out from him (her), you unclean spirit, and make way for the Holy Spirit, the Consoler.

He then breathes on the person’s face or head (if this is more acceptable) in the form of a cross, as he says:

N., receive the Holy Spirit by this aspiration, together with God’s blessing ✠. Peace be with you.

R. And with your spirit.

With his thumb he makes the sign of the Cross both upon the forehead and chest of the

person saying:

N., receive the sign of the Cross upon your brow ✠ and upon your heart ✠ Enter into the service of the heavenly commandments, and may in your conduct, you may deserve henceforth to be known as God's temple. And after you have entered the Church of God, acknowledge with joy that you have escaped the clutches of death.

Abhor idols and reject their images. Abhor infidelity from God. Renounce this evil and faithlessness. Abhor the evil of heresy and your false beliefs.

Worship God alone, the Father Almighty, and Jesus Christ, His Sole-Begotten Son, our Lord, Who shall come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.

Let us pray.

You do l implore, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God! Help this your servant (handmaid N., who wanders in uncertainty and doubt through the night of this world that he (she) may be shown the way of truth and the knowledge of you. Open unto him (her) the eyes of his (her) heart, the better to acknowledge you as the one God, the Father in the Son and the Son in the Father together with the Holy Spirit. And may he (she) deserve to enjoy the fruit of this avowal now and forever. Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Anointing of the Senses with Holy Oil

Redactor's Notes: The use of the oil of catechumens is preferred for the first anointing prior to a minor or major exorcism. If oil of catechumens is not readily available, blessed oil should be used. After which, chrism can be employed if the anointing follow an act of consecration.

With his thumb, the priest traces the sign of the Cross on the following parts of the body of the

afflicted, saying:

Signing the brow. I sign you on the brow ✠ that you may accept the Cross of the Lord.

Signing each ear. I sign you on the ears ✠ that you may hearken to the divine precepts.

Signing each eye. I sign you on the eyes ✠ that you may see the grandeur of God.

Signing each nostril. I sign you on the nostrils ✠ that you may perceive the sweet fragrance of Christ.

Signing the mouth. I sign you on the mouth ✠ that you may utter the words of life.

Signing of the chest. I sign you on the chest ✠ may believe in God.

Signing each shoulder. I sign you on the shoulders ✠ that you may take upon you the yoke of His service.

The remaining two body parts are optional. They are not part of the official rite but have been included to underline the use of the hands and feet in the service of God.

Signing each palm of the hands. I sign you on the hands ✠ that you may work to glorify His holy name.

Signing each of the feet. I sign you on the feet ✠ that you may walk in His ways.

He then traces the sign of the Cross before the entire body, without touching it, saying:

I sign you in your whole being, in the name of the Father ✠, and of the Son ✠, and of the Holy ✠ Spirit, that you may have life everlasting and may you live forever and ever.

R. Amen.

Taking a bit of the exorcised-blessed salt between his thumb and index finger; the priest puts it in the mouth of the afflicted, saying: N., receive the salt of wisdom; may it be unto you a sign of reconciliation unto life everlasting.

or

Latin

N., accipe sal sapientiae: propitiátio sit tibi in vitam aetérnam.

R. Amen.

Then the following exorcisms are done.

In the name of the Father ✠, and of the Son ✠, and of the Holy ✠ Ghost, may all the power of the devil over you be destroyed by the  imposition of our hands, and through the invocation of the glorious and holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, her illustrious spouse, St. Joseph, and all the holy angels, archangels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and all the saints together.

Amen. (3x)

or

Latin

In nómine ✠ Patris, et Filil, et Spiritus ✠ Sancti, extinguatur in te omnis virtus diaboli per impositionem manuum nostrarum, et per invocatiónem gloriosæ et sanctæ Dei Genitrícis Virginis Maríæ, ejúsque inclyti Sponsi Joseph, et ómnium sanctórum Angelórum, Archangelorum, Martyrum, Confessorum, Virginum, atque omnium simul Sanctorum.

Amen. (3x)

Lines in bold letters can be repeated as the exorcist sees fit especially when reactions occur on the part of the afflicted.

Redactor's Notes: Any or all of the Exorcism Prayers can be used on the afflicted.

EXORCISM I

I cast you out, unclean spirit, in the name of the Father, ✠, and of the Son, ✠, and of the Holy ✠ Spirit. Depart and stay far away from this servant (handmaid) of God, N. For it is the Lord Himself who commands you, accursed and doomed spirit, He who walked on the sea and reached out His hand to Peter as he was sinking. So then, foul fiend, recall the curse that decided your fate once for all. Indeed, pay homage to the living and true God, pay homage to Jesus Christ, His Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Keep far from this servant (handmaid) of God, N. for Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, has freely called him (her) to His holy grace and blessed Way.

The priest then signs the afflicted on the brow, saying:

Never dare, accursed fiend, to desecrate this seal of the holy ✠ cross which we imprint upon his (her) brow, through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

EXORCISM II

I exorcise you, every unclean spirit, in the name of God the Father ✠ Almighty, in the name of Jesus ✠ Christ, His son, our Lord and Judge, and in the power of the Holy ✠ Spirit, that you depart from this creature of God N., which our Lord has deigned to call unto His holy temple, that it may be made the temple of the living God, and that the Holy Spirit may dwell therein. Through the same Christ our Lord, who shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire.

Amen.

Be gone, devil, for the judgment of God shall draw near.

Let us pray.

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, O God, who appeared to Moses, your servant, on Mt. Sinai, and led the children of Israel out of Egypt’s land, appointing your good angel over them to guard them day and night; we beg you, Lord, if it pleases you, to send down your holy

angel from heaven to guard this servant (handmaid) of yours in like manner, and to lead him (her) to in grace; through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

EXORCISM III

Now, foul fiend, recall the curse that decided your fate God, pay homage to Jesus Christ, His Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Keep far from this servant (handmaid) of God, for Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, has freely called him (her) to His holy grace and blessed way and have made him (her) His own in the waters of baptism.

The priest makes the sign of the cross over the afflicted, while the person signs himself on the brow with the thumb.

The priest says:

Never dare, accursed fiend, to desecrate this seal of the holy ✠ cross which we imprint on his (her) brow; through Christ our Lord, who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.

Amen.

EXORCISM IV

Hear, accursed Satan, for I adjure you in the name of the infinite God and His Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour, to flee in trembling and groaning, for you and your envy are vanquished. May you have nothing in common with this servant (handmaid) of God, whose thoughts are already of heaven, and who is determined to renounce both you and your world and to overcome you and so win a blessed and immortal reward. Pay homage, then, to the Holy Spirit, who now approaches from heaven's high citadel to frustrate your wicked designs, and to prepare his (her) heart, once purified through participation in the cross ofChrist, he (she) becomes a sanctified dwelling for God. And so will this servant (handmaid) of the Most High, delivered from guilt of past crimes, render endless thanks to the everlasting God and laud His holy name forevermore. Amen.

I cast you out, unclean spirit, in the name of the Father, ✠, and of the Son, ✠, and of the Holy ✠ Spirit. Depart and stay far away from this servant (handmaid) of God. For it is the Lord Himself who commands you, accursed and doomed spirit, He who restored sight to the man born blind and raised Lazarus from the tomb where he had lain four days.

EXORCISM V

Surely it is no secret to you, Satan, that punishment is your lot, torments your portion, that the day or Judgment threatens you, that day of never-ending torture, the day that shall be like a flaming furnace, in the midst of which everlasting perdition awaits you and your apostate angels. Therefore, accursed one, deservedly doomed, pay homage to the living and true God, pay homage to Jesus Christ, His Son, and to the Holy Spirit, the Advocate. In His name and power I command you, unclean spirit, whoever you are, be gone and stay far away from this servant (handmaid) of God. For today Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, freely calls him (her) to His holy grace and blessed way and to unite him (her) to His saving passion, where he (she) will become God's dwelling by the grace of the Holy Spirit bestowing forgiveness of sins. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire. Amen.

FINAL ANOINTING AFTER MINOR EXORCISM OF THE SENSES

Chrism is used in this final anointing if the person is already liberated but if not then Oil of catechumens or exorcised-blessed oil is used.

I anoint ✠ you with the oil that sanctifies you in Christ Jesus our Lord, that you may have everlasting life. Amen.

Go out, unclean spirit, and pay homage to the living and true God. Depart, unclean spirit, and give place to Jesus Christ, His Son. Stay far away, unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Spirit, the Advocate.

CLOSING PRAYER FOLLOWING A MINOR EXORCISM OF PERSONS

Redactor’s Notes: The Minor Exorcism Prayers can be repeated as necessary if there is a strong reaction on the part of the afflicted. He is to continue in the prayers until the spiritual liberation of the afflicted is achieved.

If the exorcist deems appropriate, he can proceed to use the Solemn Exorcism Prayers.

God of power, who promised us the Holy Spirit through Jesus your Son, we pray to you for our brother (sister).

Protect him (her) from the spirit of evil and guard him (her) against error and sin, so that he (she) may be a temple of the Holy Spirit. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Or

Lord Jesus Christ, after calming the storms and freeing the possessed, You gave us a sign of Your mercy in assigning the power to overcome evil spirits to Your Church.

We pray for Your servant (handmaid). Hold in check the power of the Evil One, and show him (her) Your mercy; heal in him (her) the wounds of sin and fill his (her) heart with Your peace. We ask this Christ our Lord. Amen.