GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY
MODULE 52
EXORCISM - THE CASTING OUT OF DEMONS
THEIR INTERNSHIPS HAD READIED THE DISCIPLES FOR EXORCISMS. 1
They had watched as Jesus healed and cast out demons. Now they had been called to go out in Jesus' Name and do the same.
However, Jesus had a broader plan, a plan to conquer the entire world.
He was preparing the disciples to bring the ministry of the gospel to the world after His Ascension.
Jesus had come to earth to bring divine healing and deliverance from the hand of the enemy, satan.
He instituted the ministry of healing to continue in perpetuity until the end of the world.
Satan had tormented humanity and Jesus came to confront the situation.
The master plan of Jesus' Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection dealt our enemy satan a fatal blow. However, he is still effecting damage while awaiting the final binding foretold in Revelation 20:10.
Satan and his followers will be bound over to hell, which is eternal jail.
It is an unfortunate probability that if jails did not exist, crime would have taken over our society a long time ago.
Hell is God's jail and it is forever. Thus the freedom of satan and his followers have a time limit; after that his influence will finally be over.
DELIVERANCE FROM SATAN
Jesus had a lot on His plate during His lifetime. He had to
- Face the massive infrastructure of a powerful unseen kingdom of satan here on earth
- Work out a way to breach the apparently irreparable rift between God and humanity
- Remove demonic infestation from possessed humans without hurting the humans
- Heal diseases
- Open humanity's eyes to the gravity of the demonic slavery under which we were suffering
- Set in motion God's master plan to eradicate demonic mastery post Jesus' Ascension.
Jesus did two things; firstly, He prayed. He communicated with God. 2
Secondly, Jesus took counsel from trusted advisers, such as Moses and Elijah, 3 and Angels 4.
The authenticity of Jesus' ministry was personally witnessed to by God. He cried out at the baptism of Jesus, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!" 5
As part of God's Plan for the salvation of humanity, Jesus began to systematically root out unlawful demonic possession in humanity.
He also began to empower disciples to both identify and eradicate spiritually unlawful possession.
Jesus thus instituted procedures of eradication of demonic entities.
These are exorcism - the banishment of demons - and the sacraments of baptism and confession.
Sacrament of Baptism
When our human ancestors broke close relationship with God under satan's influence, the life-giving link between God and humanity was broken.
Humanity's physical bodies - no longer under God's sustaining rule - became vulnerable to ailments, pain and death.
The spirit [or soul] became subject to spiritual death, condemned to an eternity banished from the Presence of God.
The Sacrament of Baptism through divine intervention cleanses the baptized from sin, and effects spiritual rebirth into the life of God.
Baptism also has a healing aspect - the sacrament can exorcise evil demons.
In Baptism, the celebrant authoritatively declares in the Name of Jesus Christ that a person be protected against the power of - and withdrawn from the dominion of - the evil one. This is exorcism, or deliverance.
Jesus performed exorcisms and from Him the Church has received the power and office of exorcism.
Exorcism - or the deliverance ministry - is directed at the expulsion of demons, liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to His priests.
Sacrament of Confession
The second sacrament of exorcism is Divine Forgiveness, also known as confession, penance or reconciliation ministry.
The action of the penitent who humbly comes before God realizing personal sinful tendencies and acts and asks God for forgiveness, is a healing moment.
Exorcism [or release] from personal sin is granted by God to the true penitent and effected through the action of priestly absolution.
In extreme cases where no priest is present to act as the conduit of God's loving forgiveness, God affords absolution and peace directly to the true penitent.
Thus God grants pardon and peace to the person struggling with the spirit of sinful tendency, and thus freedom from the power of the evil one.
Jesus mandated the disciples to help others in their struggle against evil by giving the disciples the power to give words of comfort and peace to tormented people, and to act as direct conduit for God's forgiveness to the person on His behalf.
This means that Jesus granted His priests the power to be ambassador of God's Forgiveness to humanity.
Priests do not give forgiveness from God themselves: they are conduit for the saving grace of God to flow to those in need.
The sacrament of confession, of forgiveness was instituted by Jesus. Only God can forgive sin.
Since Jesus is Son of God, He said of Himself, "The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" 6 and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven." 7
Jesus gave proof that He has the authority from the Father to forgive sin.
Aware that teachers of the law among the crowd who witnessed His forgiveness of the sin of the paralyzed man considered His words blasphemy, He gave the following reassurance;
"Which is easier? To say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk?' But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins."
So He said to the man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." The man who had been paralyzed got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" 8
Jesus, then, by His Divine Authority, mandates chosen disciples to act as channels of His forgiving power, absolution and bringing of inner peace in His Name. 9
Exorcism
In the original Aramaic of the Lord's Prayer, Jesus includes exorcism when He guides us to pray to be separated from the evil one.
Jesus further clarified exorcism prayer when He prayed to God in public, saying "I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one." 10
Here Jesus refers directly to His arch-enemy satan, also known by other names such as lucifer or beelzebub.
This being is the fallen angel who opposes God.
Jesus' primary goal on earth is the salvation of humanity, the deposition of satan from prominence in human affairs and the deliverance of humanity from the power of this evil one.
Jesus described satan pithily as "A murderer from the beginning, a liar and father of lies." 11
Jesus personally freed people from full demonic possession by casting the demon out of the human. Exorcism or deliverance from demonic possession continues today.
Many dedicated disciples and priests speak from personal experience of individuals who found surcease from demonic possession and subsequent relief from suffering through the Power of God's Deliverance through priestly ministry.
Exorcism is best undertaken by one with special training and mandate from local bishop.
However, it is not unknown for a simple baptism by a dedicated believer to free an afflicted person. God's Grace and deliverance knows no bounds.
Prayer of Deliverance
Situations where such prayer may prove helpful;
1. Unseen infestation of places [Noises, moving objects, strange occurrences].
A priest can bless the place to encourage evil spirits to leave.
Also helpful; annual house blessings, use of holy water.
2. Possession; the person experiences a dark force within; especially after a ritual inviting supernatural forces other than God into their life.
Now the person wishes to be freed from that force, and to re-orient their lives towards God.
A prayer ritual of exorcism by an experienced priest is excellent.
It is usual and a safeguard for priests to mandate those who are more experienced and with a special charism to undertake such ministry.
Occult influence
If you or your family have been placed under curse, there are ways in which this can be lifted.
Consult a good and experienced priest for help with this.
Occult influences can cause grave disturbance to personal peace and community harmony.
The Power of Jesus Christ overcomes that of satan and his followers.
The following can assist with the lifting of a curse;
- prayer from a good priest
- prayer and request to God by the sufferer, asking for a miracle to lift the demonic influence
- use of holy water to bless self, family and environment
- house or environment blessing by a good priest, with use of holy water
- placing a holy blessed crucifix in a place of honor in the house
- place the blessed Image of the Sacred Heart in the place of honor in the house
- place a statue of Our Lady in a place of honor in your homed
- have a small holy water font at the entrance of your home and bless yourselves when you go in and out of the house
Prayers for the breaking of curses
"In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthened by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and Saint Joseph; of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of all the Angels and Saints, and powerful in the Holy Authority of His Precious and Wondrous Name, I ask, O Lord God, that you break and dissolve any and all curses, hexes, spells, seals, satanic vows and pacts, spiritual bondings and soul ties with satanic forces, evil wishes, evil desires, hereditary seals, snares, traps, lies, obstacles, deceptions, diversions, spiritual influences, and every dysfunction and disease from any source whatsoever that has been placed on me [or us].
Father in Heaven, please rebuke these evil spirits and effects and cast them away from me [or us] so that I [or we] may continue to do your Will and fulfill the mission You have for me to Your Greater Glory.
Thank You, Father, for hearing my [or our] prayer. I [or we] praise Your Holy Name and worship You and love You.
Thank You for the wisdom of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for enabling me [or us] through Your Holy Spirit to move against the works of the enemy.
Thank You for Your Hope, that takes away discouragement.
Thank You for ongoing victory against the unseen powers of this world.
"In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us." [Romans 8:37].
Father, I now place my enemies in Your Hands. Look with mercy upon them, and do not hold their sins against them.
Anyone who has cursed me, I now bless. Anyone who has hurt me, I now forgive.
For those who have persecuted me, I now pray:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done,
On earth as It is in Heaven.
Give us this day
Our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace
The Lord is with Thee;
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
And blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death,
Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end,
Amen.
O my sweet Jesus, forgive us our sins and save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy Mercy.
Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in the hour of conflict. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God restrain him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust down into hell satan, and all the other wicked spirits, who wander through the world for the ruin of souls,
Amen."
[1] Luke Chapters 9 and 10
[2] Matthew 14:23/ Luke 22:32/ Matthew 11:25-26
[3] Matthew 17:3
[4] Mark 1:13
[5] Mark 9:7
[6] Mark 2: 5-12
[7] Luke 7:48
[8] Mark 2:9-12
[9] John 20:21-23
[10] John 17:15
[11] John 8:44
