A Reflection from “The Most Powerful Saints in Exorcism” by Charles D. Fraune and Patrick O’Hearn

Saints in the Rite of Exorcism

Within the Rite of Exorcism itself, we see that the Church, in her official prayers, is very much aware of the intercessory power of the saints. Early on in the rite, after the Litany of the Saints, many readings from the Gospels, and a few prayers, the priest begins the commands against the demon. It is here that we note an important involvement of the saints. The priest commands the demons to leave, clarifying that it is not just because the priest is saying so, but because “it is God Himself who commands thee!” The priest repeats this command, invoking each Person of the Blessed Trinity as the One who commands the demon to depart. Further, he adds, “The mystery of the Cross commands thee!” Immediately after this, the saints are called upon, though only Sts. Peter and Paul are specifically named: “The faith of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and the other saints commands thee! The blood of the martyrs commands thee! The constancy of the confessors commands thee! The devout intercession of all holy men and women commands thee!”

After the Rite of Exorcism, the Church provides another prayer for priests to use that is intended to drive demons out of locations rather than persons. This is called “Exorcism against Satan and the Fallen Angels.” Within this prayer, the priest says, “We cast thee out,” invoking wording nearly identical to the rite itself. At the end of this prayer, as above when the saints are invoked, the priest says,

The most excellent Virgin Mary, Mother of God commands thee, who in her lowliness crushed thy proud head from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception! The faith of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and the other apostles commands thee! The blood of the martyrs commands thee, as well as the pious intercession of holy men and women!

Within the commands of this prayer, we are also taught why Sts. Peter and Paul are particularly effective against the devil, as if in answer to the devil’s protestation of the fact. The priest asks the demon the rhetorical question, “But why dost thou linger here yet longer?” just before he proceeds to answer with the following command:

Give place to the Holy Spirit, who, through His holy apostle, Peter, struck thee down openly in Simon. . . who smote thee with the night of blindness in Elymas, the magician, at the word of thine apostle, Paul, and at his command bade thee likewise to go out of Pythonissa, the soothsayer.

This final prayer also contains an invocation very similar to the Confiteor of Holy Mass, in which the priest and the people confess their sins in the presence of the Communion of Saints, stating (in the extraordinary form), “I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever Virgin, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints.” The exorcism prayer likewise states:

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, with confidence in the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, and with assurance in the sacred power of our ministry, we steadfastly proceed with the task of expelling the molestations of the devil’s frauds.

The saints abundantly demonstrate that when we bind ourselves to Christ, His divine power can flow freely through us and into our world. These saints are invaluable aids, seasoned warriors who stand at the ready to surround us and go before us in battle. Fortified with this knowledge and with the power of these allies, we are incorporated into Christ’s work of redemption by the generous love of God. Let us heed the example of exorcists, whose ministry depends upon the intercession of the Church Triumphant, upon those who have been victorious over the evil one, and let us realize that our own efforts to persevere in grace also depend on the help of our victorious brethren.

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