I feel compelled this evening to write a post focused on praying.  Not just any prayers, but specifically prayers targeted at protecting us and using the authority given to us by God to drive evil from our midst.

Usually, I keep my less mainstream way of viewing prayer’s capabilities to my immediate family but today I experienced a very marked call to share it in this blog.  Some may find it fantastical, others may consider it fear mongering, but regardless of any single person or group’s perception, this post will be written.

I’ve often heard the saying, “Satan’s biggest accomplishment has been convincing people that he doesn’t exist.”  I agree with this statement.  I’ve had discussions with lifelong Catholics who have shared that they believe that Satan doesn’t exist.  That hell doesn’t exist.  That while people may do horrible things, there is no Satan, demon or evil entity urging people to do bad things.  Needless to say, I pray for people who hold these views.  The Devil/Satan is there and He is still hoping to gather more souls away from God.

Back to the topic at hand, prayers of protection.   I have faith that as I say the words of these prayers that God hears me and pulls me to Him as a father to a child, protecting me from the elements and those who might do harm.  He empowers me to dispel the darkest of entities and banish them from my presence.  He charges his Archangel, St. Michael, to defend me.  He provides me an army to drive out any and all evil with St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and all the Holy Archangels.  All I have to do to invoke this amazing heavenly security system, is pray.  (How awesome is that!)

I’d like to share two prayers I have been using recently.  One written by Pope Leo XIII while the other author remains unknown (at least to me).  The first is familiar to most Catholics and is finally being said at the end of Mass again here where we live.  The second may be familiar to some.  I learned of it through a holy card with one of the orders I placed on the Cukierski’s website.

The St. Michael Prayer

Short Version:

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Long Version:

“O Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan.

“Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity.

“These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where the See of Holy Peter and the Chair of Truth has been set up as the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be.

“Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.

V. Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers.
R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered the root of David.
V. Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord.
R. As we have hoped in Thee.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray.

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as supplicants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious St. Michael the Archangel, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all the other unclean spirits who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.”

Prayer of Authority 

In the Name of Jesus Christ, By the Power of His Blood…

In the Authority of His Word given to me as a Christian…

I bind and reject you satan and I command you to leave and I seal this room and place of employment, and all the members of my family, friends, relatives and possessions, in the Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I bind and reject all familiar spirits, all companion spirits, all cardinal spirits and spirits of affliction.

I bind and reject all spirits in the air, in the wind, in fire, in the netherworld, in the elements, all satanic forces of nature.

I bind and reject all spirits of confusion, disruption, division, fear, disbelief, deaf and dumb, disobedience, and spirit of games.

I bind and reject all the aspects and attributes of these spirits.

I bind and reject all interlocking spirits…

I command that there will be no communication between you or anyone else.

I command that you leave quietly.

In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I break and dissolve every curse, spell, hexes, evil wishes, evil desires and hereditary seals.

I come against all satanic vows, pacts, satanic sacrifices and Voo Doo practices.

I break and dissolve all links with psychics, clairvoyants, astrologers, mediums, occult seers, satanic cults, fortune tellers, seances, ouija boards, tarot cards and occult games of all kinds.

Come Holy Spirit and fill this room corner to corner, ceiling to floor.

St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and all the Holy Archangels, come and fight this battle for me.

I ask the help of all the Holy Angels, Holy Dominations, Holy Powers, Holy Thrones, and Holy Principalities to be my “Shield of Defense” against all evil spirits.

I ask this in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ by the power of His blood and in the authority of His Word given to me as a Christian.

Amen.

Some additional prayers of protection can be found at this site:

http://www.catholicwarriors.com/pages/warfare_prayers.htm

I strongly urge you to prayerfully consider using both of these immediately and frequently (feel free to sprinkle some holy water around the place as you do!).  If your loved ones won’t say them with you, then say them on your own.  Believe in the words and promises given to us as Catholics and Christians by God.

God Bless!

Mrs. Summitt