We’re at War: Don’t Leave the Wounded Behind

We’re at war. Make no mistake about it. The devil and his minions are waging war on your soul as you read this. They’re waging war on the souls of every other person you know. What can you do for the souls of others?

We’re at War—How Do We Respond?

Recognizing that we’re at war, you or someone you know may have questions about praying for assistance for others, especially with regard to spiritual warfare issues. Such questions might include:

• Can we pray for others?
• How do we pray for others?
• Is it the same way that we pray for ourselves, especially in spiritual warfare?
• Are there risks associated with all of this?

Some Guidelines for Responding

At the St. Michael Center, you can access deliverance prayers for the laity. The center suggests that you read a brief set of instructions before praying. In summary, the instructions tell us that the prayers contain wording for use in praying them over yourself. In these prayers, you directly command the demons to leave. This form of prayer is known as “imprecatory” prayer.

You have authority over yourself, your spouse and your children to pray these imprecatory prayers. On the other hand, you do not have the authority to pray these prayers, commanding demons to leave, for other than yourself, your spouse or your children. If you want to pray for others outside the nuclear family, you need to rephrase any prayers to make them prayers of intercession.

Intercessory prayer asks God for some action, some favor or consideration, on behalf of another. Thus, you would not directly command a demon to leave someone over whom you have no authority. Rather, you’d ask God to do that for them.

On Dealing with Children

Based on advice I’ve read or heard from another exorcist, imprecatory prayers only apply to minor children, and to unmarried virgins still living at home who have reached their majority. Thus, if you, as many of us do, have adult children, then under that school of thought, you have no spiritual authority over them. For the purposes of this piece, therefore I’m taking the more limited approach and assuming that we have authority over minor children but not adult children.

Can We and Should We Pray for Others?

Of course! We’re at war, after all! At times, all we can offer to help others is our prayer for them, from a practical perspective. And yet, prayer can be the most powerful, efficacious help we can provide them. What are the most powerful prayers? The Mass, and the Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours, in that order. And don’t forget the Rosary and various chaplets. But all prayer can be helpful.

How Should We Pray for Others?

When it comes to deliverance and spiritual warfare prayers, unless we’re praying for ourselves, our spouse or minor children, we need to make all our prayers directly to God, asking Him for His help. Thus, whether it’s for spiritual warfare or seeking other good for someone outside the nuclear family, you’re praying what we refer to as “intercessory prayers” for them to God.

For example, let’s say you have a friend, or a distant relative, and you want to pray for their protection. You have no authority to command, in Jesus’ name, enemy spirits to do anything unless it relates to yourself, your spouse or your minor children. 

As a result, you might pray something like, “Lord God, Heavenly Father, I ask in Jesus’ name that you remove any unclean spirits and free [name] from their harassment or oppression, etc…”

If you’re praying for yourself, your spouse or your minor children, then you can use imprecatory prayers, commanding any spirits not of God to leave, in Jesus’ name. Do not omit praying this in the name of Jesus. That’s where the power is. (Cf. Philippians 2:10)

In this case, you might be praying, “I command you unclean spirits that harass or oppress me or my spouse, in the name of Jesus…to go directly to the foot of the cross of Jesus…” You may want to reject, rebuke and renounce, in Jesus’ name, the enemy spirits, following something like the format noted here.

What are the Risks if You Exceed Your Authority?

If you try to pray imprecatory prayers for those over whom you have no authority, you will open yourself up to attack from the spirits you’re attempting to pray against. The demons have a specific framework in which they can operate. They’re legalistic and will take advantage of loopholes if you give them any. (Cf. Acts 19:15-17) Do not pray imprecatory prayers, trying to take authority over anyone besides yourself, your spouse, or your minor children. We’re at war. Don’t give the enemy openings in your lines of defense.

Opening Yourself up to Attacks?

I’ve heard the suggestion that praying for others can open you up to attacks of your own, even if not praying imprecatory prayers for those outside of one’s authority. If that is the case, then should you not pray for others, asking God to help them in their need? The enemy would like you to think that. Virtually any time you try to live a life of virtue, and to grow closer to Jesus and away from sin and the influence of the enemy, you’ll be subject to attacks. It’s part of the trials we face in this life. As C. S. Lewis put it, we’re working behind enemy lines here.

Do you think you can avoid attacks from the enemy? Only—only if—you fight under his flag instead of that of Our Lord. We’re called to support one another in this great battle. Pray for others that we don’t leave the wounded behind. Be smart so as to not become a casualty yourself.

Building up Your Defenses

We’re at war, so put on the armor of God. Frequent sacramental reception—Mass and Communion as often as possible; Confession at least monthly—will help all of us to grow in grace and closer to Jesus, further from sin, strengthening us for the trials of this life as we look forward to the next life. Daily mental prayer, a daily Rosary and frequent aspirations, practicing the presence of God and Our Lady, will help as well. If you’re not familiar with St. Ignatius’ rules of discernment, get acquainted with them—they’ll help you recognize the enemy’s attempts at influencing you and give you the means to fight back.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men” (1 Tim 2:1)