Private ‘Exorcism’

“These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)

Saint Justin Martyr (d. 165) wrote:

"You can understand what I am telling you, by the very things that are happening before your eyes. Indeed, a large number of men, seized by the devil, all over the world and here in your own city, whom other beseechers and magicians could not heal, MANY AMONG US, WHO ARE CHRISTIANS, have delivered them by the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and have healed them, and continue to heal them, disarming and casting out the demons that possess them." (P.G. 6, 453B)

Tertullian (3rd century), often brought the attention of the pagans to this same fact:

"Bring here, in the presence of your courts, someone who is without a doubt tormented by a demon. On the command that it will receive from any CHRISTIAN, this spirit will proclaim itself a demon in all truth, even though elsewhere it claimed to be God. (P.L. 1, 410) 

In 1922 Pope Leo XIII composed a "simple exorcism" that the laity, or common faithful, could recite. He wanted it to be used especially in cases where one suspects the action of the devil, manifesting itself either by the wickedness of men, or by temptations, diseases, storms, and disasters of any kind.

In recent years however, the Magisterium asked the faithful to not use this prayer of Leo XIII in "prayer groups in the Church aimed at seeking deliverance from the influence of demons, while not actually engaging in real exorcisms. These meetings are led by lay people, even when a priest is present.”(1)

This does not mean that Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI did not want us to fight against Satan and his fallen angels!

It means that to cast out demons in a humble and authentic way, the faithful gathered in prayer groups must resort to traditional practices, which may seem simple but imply our personal life, conversion and perseverance.

These practices are:

- To invoke with faith the Name of Jesus (as in the time of Tertullian and Saint Justin Martyr in the early Church).

- To pray the Lord’s Prayer: "Our Father ... deliver us from Evil." "In this petition, evil is not an abstraction, but refers to a person, Satan, the Evil One, the angel who opposes God. The devil (dia-bolos) is the one who "throws himself across" God's plan and his work of salvation accomplished in Christ.”(2)

- To fast for a day (repeating this fast if necessary) (Mt 17: 21).

- To pray the Hail Mary, the Rosary, and the invocations to Mary Immaculate:

"He [Satan] pursued the woman" but had no hold on her. The new Eve, full of grace of the Holy Spirit, is preserved from sin and the corruption of death (the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God, Mary, ever virgin).”(3)

"A well prayed Hail Mary, i.e said with attention, devotion and humility, is, according to the saints, the enemy of the devil. It sends him into flight and is the hammer that crushes him.”(4)

- To pray the litany of the saints.

- To receive the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and the Eucharist, reverently.

- To use or wear sacramentals (holy water, blessed salt, holy medals, the brown scapular, etc.) on oneself (and not on others in imitation of an exorcist).

- To avoid quarrels with our loved ones (Satan uses it to stir up trouble).

- The next one can seem obvious but is worth recalling: we should avoid mediums, Satanist concerts, pornography, drugs, etc.

These simple practices are a means help repel bad influences (curses and spells), the consequences of serious sins, obsessive temptations, satanic vexations (i.e. physical, psychological, or spiritual suffering) and so on.

And if that was not enough, anyone can go to the exorcist of his or her own diocese, for a major exorcism performed with the authority of the Church (see the article on Public Exorcism). However, we should keep in mind that an exorcist cannot succeed in expelling the demon without our cooperation (acts of faith, personal prayers).

Note: In the strict sense, the word "exorcism" refers to a public exorcism.

(1) Letter to Ordinaries regarding norms on Exorcism, September 29, 1985; Instruction on Prayers for Healing, part II Disciplinary Norms, Article 8, (September 14, 2000); Apostolic exhortation Pastores Gregis § 39, by Saint John Paul II.

(2) Catechism of the Catholic Church § 2851

(3) Catechism of the Catholic Church § 2853

(4) Saint Louis de Montfort, Treatise on True Devotion, § 253