I Reject Satan: A Quick Guide to Keeping the Devil at Bay

In Russian folktales, the devil is often presented as a wicked neighbor. He comes by to sell you an evil horse – that also happens to be the soul of your mother in hell – he makes sneaky bargains to entrap you, he gambles and fights with his family of demons and their arguments wreak havoc on your fields and family.

In folktales, he’s evil and dangerous, but also laughable. The devil is always being defeated by a clever peasant or his less-clever son. They can defeat him because they belong to Christ, so naturally there is nothing to fear from the wicked “old man.” But we don’t have the same casual rejection of Satan. Here and now, we often either pretend he doesn’t exist or obsess over him. Witchcraft, occult toys, and even Satanism have become so casual, and demonic harassment, as well as more serious cases are on the rise.

Demonic harassment is one of those subjects most Catholics tend to avoid. Maybe we’ve all seen too many clips from The 700 Club. Thinking about demonic harassment brings to mind horror movies and Pat Robertson. But before there was The Omen, before televangelists and tent revivals, there were Catholic exorcists.

Exorcists are true professionals in dealing with our wicked neighbor, Satan. Each diocese has at least one priest with the training and authority, under the bishop, to exorcise demons. They can also help with the lesser-known levels of demonic influence: infestation, oppression, and obsession.

But what about the lesser harassments? If we were in a modern Russian folktale, these harassments would be the equivalent of neighbor-Satan cutting through your garden all the time – whispering little curses as he goes. Or the rowdy family of demons sneaking into your house to knock all the jars down. Small-scale disturbances that make it harder to live well, engage with loved ones, or have hope for the future. For many people I know, the lesser harassments usually take the form of strife or illness in the family. It seems like the devil is obsessed with families these days – as Sr. Lucia of Fatima warned us in her letter to Cardinal Caffarra.

But for other people, the attack isn’t rooted in family. Perhaps it’s continual car issues, sick livestock, or a continual temptation to a particular sin. Acedia, the “noon-day demon” is a common attack for those of us with a tendency to lethargy and overthinking.

Deliverance and Protection

Throughout the life of the Church, devout Catholics have been looking for at-home ways to keep the devil at bay. Prayer and fasting are some of the best methods. But as we see in the lives of St. Anthony of the Desert, St. Padre Pio, and Christ Himself, the devil loves to visit in times of fasting and prayer to harangue us.

Of course, regular Confession is essential to keeping Satan out of our hearts and minds. When we have unconfessed sins on our souls, the devil can use those to tempt and torment us. Often, people wonder why they’re being harassed, but forget or over-look consistent, unrepented sins like cohabitation, divination, and gluttony that invite the devil in.

Sacramentals

Blessed objects, or sacramentals, are often used to repel the devil. The blessing of herbs on the Assumption of Mary is specifically designed to provide the laity with sacramentalized herbs that:

Wherever they may be placed,
they may be a potent means
against sickness and pestilence,
against the poison of serpents
and the sting of poisonous animals,
as also against the deceits, snares,
and machinations of the devil. (Blessing of the Herbs)

Sacramentals like holy water, blessed medals and rosaries, herbs, salt, candles, and images are a great way to make you, your home, your car, and your office less welcoming to the devil. They’re not talismans though. It’s important to use sacramentals with respect – as objects of grace, not as objects of superstition. The distinction can be a bit difficult to discern sometimes though. Essentially, treat a sacramental as a means of drawing closer to God and welcoming Him into your soul, not as an opportunity to force God to protect you.

Think of Christ’s words, “I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20). Sacramentals act as a welcome sign on the door saying, “Come in, Jesus!” They don’t kidnap Him and force Him into the house.

Blessing your house itself (or your car!) is another way to make your space less hospitable to the devil. Bless your house, enthrone the Sacred Heart, and make it a place where the devil has trouble gaining a foothold.

Prayers

Deliverance prayers to expel demons require authority. This is why it’s important to contact the diocesan exorcist, if you need one. Only the exorcist has been given permission by the bishop to preform exorcisms in your diocese. Even if you don’t like your bishop, trying to bring in a “better” exorcist from somewhere else can cause problems. Of course, you can always ask your priest to pray deliverance prayers over you. He has the authority to do so. He can bless you, anoint you, and pray for you with authority.

Lay Catholics should never try to preform exorcisms. But we do have the authority to pray deliverance prayers for those within our proper sphere of authority. In fact, many exorcists even allow a wider sphere of authority – for example, children can pray deliverance prayers for their parents, in accordance with the 4^th commandment. It’s a way of honoring and caring for them as they age. Parents can, of course, pray over their children. Husbands can pray over their wives. But grandparents are a bit too far removed to have direct authority over their grandchildren, unless they’re raising those children as their own.

Interestingly, most exorcists encourage wives to avoid praying deliverance prayers directly for their husbands. According to the exorcists, this can cause a lot of retribution. But Fr. Ripperger in his Deliverance Prayers: For Use by the Laity writes that “spouses, who by virtue of the marital contract . . . have rights over each other’s bodies by virtue of conceding those rights to each other on the day of their marriage. For this reason, wives may command the demons to leave their husbands’ bodies.” If you’re uncertain of your authority, or know that you don’t have authority to command – as a friend, grandparent, etc. – Fr. Ripperger recommends modifying the prayer to ask Jesus or Mary to drive the demon out.

He gives the example, “Jesus, I ask Thee to bind the spirit of __” and encourages anyone praying for the spiritual life of another to take time to tidy up their own soul first. Go to confession, pray consistently, and never assume authority that you don’t have.

Two Deliverance Prayers to Use When Harassed

The following are two deliverance prayers that can be used when harassed:

Prayer of Deliverance

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of His Cross, His Blood, and His Resurrection, I bind (or I ask Thee, Jesus to bind), the spirits, powers, and forces of darkness, the netherworld, and the evil forces of nature. I take authority (or I ask Thee, Jesus, to take authority), over all curses, hexes, demonic activity, and spells directed against me, my relationships, ministry, air space, finances, and the work of my hands; I break them (or I ask thee, Jesus, to break them) by the power and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. I bind (or I ask Thee, Jesus, to bind) all demonic interaction, interplay, and communications between spirits sent against me, and send them directly to Jesus Christ for Him to deal with as He wills.

I ask forgiveness for, and denounce all negative inner vows that I have made with the enemy, and ask that Jesus Christ release me from these vows and from any bondage that may have held me. I claim the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, over every aspect of my life for my protection. I pray all these things in the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the side of Christ, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesus, hear me; within your wounds, hide me; let me never be separated from you; from the evil one, protect me; at the hour of my death, call me; and bid me to come to you; that with your saints, I may praise you forever and ever. Amen.