Prayers Against The Powers Of Darkness

With Halloween around the corner I've compiled a collection of very efficacious deprecatory minor exorcism prayers.

Sign of the Cross

We join the first three fingers of our right hand together (thumb, index and middle finger), and we bend the other two fingers into the palm. Then, we reverently trace the Sign of the Cross by touching our forehead, chest, right and left shoulder, while saying:

† In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (3)

Blessing

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord, Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Glory to God

† Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You!

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth, Who are everywhere present and fill all things, Treasury of Blessings, Bestower of Life, come and dwell within us; cleanse us of all that defiles us, and, o Good One, save our souls.

From Holy Pascha to the Feast of the Ascension, instead of the prayer “Heavenly King” we recite the Paschal Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death; and to those in the tombs giving life. (3) From Ascension Thursday to Pentecost Sunday we proceed directly to “Holy God” omitting “Glory be to You, our God,” and “Heavenly King.”

Trisagion

† Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Small Doxology

† Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity

Trinity most holy, have mercy on us. Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord; pardon our transgressions, O Master; look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy one; for the sake of Your name.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

† Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Lord, have mercy. (12)

† Glory be to the Father and to the son and to the holy spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Cross (Eastern Orthodox)

Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered; and let those who hate Him flee from His face. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; and as wax melts from the presence of fire, so let the demons perish from the presence of those who love God and who sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross and say with gladness: Hail, most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, for Thou drivest away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ Who was crucified on thee, went down to hell and trampled on the power of the devil, and gave us thee, His honorable Cross, for driving away all enemies. O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me with our holy Lady, the Virgin Theotokos, and with all the Saints throughout the ages. Amen.

Umbrellino Prayer for Technology

Lord Jesus Christ, Sovereign King enthroned in Heaven, in your love and mercy establish a perimeter of protection with Your Precious Blood around our communication devices and all technology used during this session, the cameras or webcams, microphones, speakers, displays, any and all software, WiFi connections in the air, both my router and the router of N. and anyone assisting, the optic cables involved in the transmission of data, and the light waves being used to transfer data. Cleanse them with your precious blood and drive from them any satanic influence. Establish around them a sanctuary of your mercy where Satan and any other evil spirit or human agency cannot interfere. I ask Father that you would block, bind, rebuke and render impotent any assault of the evil one from them in any way. Father, so long as these instruments are utilized in this ministry of Divine mercy, we ask you to allow them to enjoy the protection of the Blessed Mother, St. Michael the Archangel and all the Holy Angels. We ask this in Your Most Holy Name, the Name before which every knee shall bow, in heaven, on the earth and under the earth, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

R. Amen.

Lorica Of St Patrick (Celtic Patristic Era 277 AD)

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, 

Through a belief in the Threeness, 

Through confession of the Oneness 

Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today 

Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism, 

Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, 

Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension, 

Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of cherubim, 

In obedience of angels, 

In service of archangels, 

In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, 

In the prayers of patriarchs, 

In preachings of the apostles, 

In faiths of confessors, 

In innocence of virgins, 

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven; 

Light of the sun, 

Splendor of fire, 

Speed of lightning, 

Swiftness of the wind, 

Depth of the sea, 

Stability of the earth, 

Firmness of the rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me; 

God's might to uphold me, 

God's wisdom to guide me, 

God's eye to look before me, 

God's ear to hear me, 

God's word to speak for me, 

God's hand to guard me, 

God's way to lie before me, 

God's shield to protect me, 

God's hosts to save me 

From snares of the devil, 

From temptations of vices, 

From every one who desires me ill, 

Afar and anear, 

Alone or in a mulitude. 

I summon today all these powers between me and evil, 

Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, 

Against incantations of false prophets, 

Against black laws of pagandom, 

Against false laws of heretics, 

Against craft of idolatry, 

Against spells of women and smiths and wizards, 

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. 

Christ shield me today 

Against poison, against burning, 

Against drowning, against wounding, 

So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, 

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, 

Christ on my right, Christ on my left, 

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, 

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, 

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, 

Christ in the eye that sees me, 

Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, 

Through a belief in the Threeness, 

Through a confession of the Oneness

Of the Creator of creation. Amen

Beneath Thy Protection (Historically Oldest Marian Prayer 250 AD.)

We fly to Thy protection,

O Holy Mother of God;

Do not despise our petitions

our necessities,

but deliver us always

from all dangers,

O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen

To the Mother of God (Ukrainian Catholic)

Rejoice, Mother of God, Virgin Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb; for you have borne Christ, the saviour and redeemer of our souls.

It is truly right to bless you, O God-bearing one, as the ever-blessed and immaculate Mother of Our God. More honourable than the cherubim and by far more glorious than the seraphim; ever a virgin, you gave birth to God the Word, O true Mother of God, we magnify you.

We flee to the shelter of your mercy, O Virgin Mother of God. do not reject our prayers of anguish, but free us from tribulations, O only pure and blessed one.

Most glorious, ever-virgin, Mother of God, receive our prayers and bring them to your Son and our God, that through you, he may save our souls.

Mary Queen Of Angels (Roman Catholic)

August Queen of Heaven, sovereign queen of Angels, you who at the beginning

received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan,

we beseech you humbly, send your holy legions so that, on your orders and by your power,

they will track down demons, fight them everywhere, curb their audacity and plunge them into the abyss.

Who can be compared to God? Oh good and tender Mother, you will always be our love and our hope.

Oh divine Mother, send the Holy Angels and Archangels to defend me and to keep the cruel enemy far from me.

Holy Angels and Archangels defend us,

protect us. Amen.

St Joseph Terror Of Demons (Roman Catholic)

Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, cast your solemn gaze upon the devil and all his minions, and protect us with your mighty staff. You fled through the night to avoid the devil's wicked designs; now with the power of God, smite the demons as they flee from you! Grant special protection, we pray, for children, fathers, families and the dying. By God's grace, no demon dares approach while you are near, so we beg of you, always be near to us! Amen.

Morning Prayer To Archangel Michael (Roman Catholic)

God be praised for the freshness of the morning and the dawning of this new day. Blessed Michael, we call upon your special custody over us. Please shield us from all bodily and spiritual peril. Help us to be truly Christian in today’s activities and leisure moments. Inspire us to do good, to shun evil, and to remember how precious we are to the Giver of this new day. Amen.

Prayer To Archangel Michael (Excerpt From Akathist To The Archangel Michael Ukrainian-Greek Catholic)

O Holy and Great Archangel of God Michael, who standest, as the first of the Angels, before the ineffable and super-substantial Trinity; who art placed as a watcher and keeper over the human race; who hast with thine armies crushed the head of the proud Lucifer in the heavens and brought forever to shame his wickedness and treachery on earth!

To thee we have recourse in faith, and thee we entreat with love: be thou an indestructible shield and firm rampart for the holy Church and the Orthodox Christians, guarding them by the lightning power of thy sword from all enemies visible and invisible.

Be thou a guardian Angel, a wise counsellor and companion of the Christian people, bringing them enlightenment, strength, joy, peace and consolation.

Be thou a leader and a companion in battle to those who strive for the Orthodox Faith, so that all who fight against us may know that God and His holy Angels are with us.

Forsake us not, O Archangel of God, with thy help and protection, who today glorify thy holy name: for behold, even if we are have sinned greatly, nevertheless we would not perish in our misdeeds, but rather turn to the Lord and be enlivened by Him unto good works.

Illumine our minds with the light of God, which ever shineth on thy lightning-like brow, that we may come to understand what the good and perfect will of God for us is, and know all that we must do, and all that we must despise and shun.

Strengthen, by the Lord’s grace, our weak will and infirm intention, so that, confirmed in the law of the Lord, we may cease to be cast about by worldly thoughts and lusts of the flesh, or like thoughtless children to be drawn by the perishing glamour of this world, lest by corruptible and earthly things we foolishly forget the eternal and the heavenly.

And above all these things, ask for us from on high the spirit of true repentance, unfeigned sorrow before God, and contrition for our sins, so that we may spend the days that remain of this passing life, not in pleasing ourselves and serving our passions, but rather in effacing the evils we have committed, by the tears of faith and heartfelt contrition, by striving for purity and the holy works of mercy.

And when the time of our demise shall approach, and of our liberation from this body of clay, leave us not, O Archangel of God, without defense against the spirits of evil under heaven, who surround us to close off the ascent on high for human souls; so that, guarded by thee, without stumbling we may attain unto those glorious habitations of Paradise, where there is neither sadness nor sighing, but life without end, and may be granted to see the light-filled Face of our all-good Lord and Master, falling with tears at His feet, crying out in joy and gladness:

Glory to Thee, our most dear Redeemer, Who for Thy great love toward us unworthy ones hast seen fit to send Thine Angel as a minister of our salvation. Amen.

“Pope XIII” Short St Michael Prayer (Roman Catholic)

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness 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

“Pope XIII” Full St Michael Prayer (Roman Catholic)

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 scattered.

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.

Police Officers Prayer to St. Michael (Roman Catholic)

Archangel Michael, Heaven’s glorious commissioner of police, who once so neatly and successfully cleared God’s premises of all its undesirables, look with kindly and professional eyes on your Earthly force. Give us cool heads, stout hearts, and uncanny flair for investigation and wise judgment. Make us the terror of burglars, the friend of children and law-abiding citizens, and friend to strangers, polite to bores, strict with lawbreakers and impervious to temptations. You know, Archangel Michael, from your own experiences with the devil, that the police officer’s lot on earth is not always a happy one; but your sense of duty that so pleased God, your hard knocks that so surprised the devil, and your angelic self-control give us inspiration. And when we lay down our night sticks, enroll us in your heavenly force, where we will be as proud to guard the throne of God as we have been to guard the city of all the people. Amen.

Prayer To The Guardian Angel (By “St. Peter The Studite”) 

O Guardian Angel, protector of my soul 

and body, to your 

care I have been entrusted by Christ. 

Obtain for me the 

forgiveness of the sins 

I have committed today. Protect 

me from the snares of my enemy, 

that I may never again 

offend God by sin. Pray for me, 

your sinful and 

unworthy servant that, 

through your help, I may become 

worthy of the grace and mercy 

of the most Holy Trinity 

and of the immaculate Mother 

of our Lord God, Jesus 

Christ. Amen.

To My Guardian Angel (Ukrainian Catholic)

Angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me for my protection! I implore you to enlighten me this day, to protect me from all evil, to urge me on to do good deeds and to guide me on the path of salvation. Amen.

O holy angel, you who stand by my despondent soul and passionate life: do not abandon me, a sinner, nor depart from me because of my intemperance. Leave no room for the evil one to gain control of me through violence towards my mortal body. strengthen my weak and feeble hands, and guide me in the way of salvation.

O holy angel of God, the guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body, forgive all the sorrows I have caused you, every day of my life. If I have sinned during this past night, protect me during this day. Keep me from every temptation, that I may not anger God by any sin. Pray to the Lord for me, that He may establish me in His fear and make me, His servant, worthy of His goodness. Amen.

Prayer To Our Guardian Angel (Roman Catholic)

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. From the stain of sin, oh keep me free, and at my death my helper be. Amen.

Invocation To Our Guardian Angels (Roman Catholic)

Come to our assistance, O holy Angel Guardians. For you are helpers in our needs, consolers in our distress, illuminators in our darkness, protectors during times of danger, inspirers of good thoughts, intercessors with God, defenders against the evil enemy, faithful companions, sure friends, prudent counselors, models of holy obedience, and mirrors of humility and purity. 

Come to our assistance, O Angels who guard over us, Angels of our families, Angels of the Church, and Angels of the universe. Amen.