And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. [1]

Dear friends,

We are entering a most solemn time of the year, when we commemorate the major events of our salvation. However, there are many, including our friends and relatives, who take little notice of this solemn time and even continue in their life of sin! My friends, we are fighting evil and the author of evil, the Devil. It is time to take our fight against the Devil to a higher level.

This kind (of devil) can go out by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. [2]

We are already observing the fast of Lent, to which should be joined extra prayer, especially during Passiontide, Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum. We recently reread a booklet, The Truth About the Devil. We strongly recommend (re)reading this booklet. In fact, it is an appendix to a book, The Devil, in its original edition, which has been purged from the reprint. We first received a copy of this over three decades ago. It is as timely, if not moreso, today than it was then.

Without fasting it is impossible to drive out devils. This priests recommends a very strict fast, but We shall recommend something more moderate. [3]

The formula of exorcism as given in the Roman Ritual is not reserved. It can be used by anyone, even a lay person. We will be asking all of the faithful to take part is a more solemn form of private exorcism, during Holy Week. If some good layman would undertake to exclude the devil from a possessed person, he would be performing a solemn private exorcism for which no permission is necessary from the Ordinary. We are not recommending this per se, but consider that the Devil is having a strong influence over many today. This influence must be at least lessened by more formal prayer of all of the faithful as a community, though we are separated by a large distance. We will strongly recommend that this formula also be used in families or even by individuals, especially when the influence of the Devil effects a relative or other close person. If you are anxious to save souls of obstinate sinners, recite exorcisms over them.

Exorcisms, then, should be recited in sickness, in disaster, and war, in every disturbance, in face, in everything which brings harm to mankind; over persons who refuse to attend divine services, and over those habitually in the state of sin.

This booklet reminds us that the Solemn Exoricsm of the Church calls the Devil, the doctor of heresies. Our greatest enemy today is the Devil and his doctrines. [4] These perfidious doctrines have so injured the Church that her priests, that is those called to the divine ministry but not yet able to be ordained, are between the porch and the altar. [5] That is, although called to the divine ministry, we have the vocation to the priesthood, but are unable to be ordained. As Pope, We have the fullness of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but do not possess the key of Holy Orders.

Joel 2:17: Between the porch and the altar the priests the Lord's ministers shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God?

We ask all of the faithful to join with Us in praying: Spare, O Lord, spare Thy people: and give not Thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them.

Daily Practice

All should at least be reciting the short Saint Michael’s prayer, which many recite at the end of the Rosary. We are reminded of Pope Leo XIII’s vision, which indicates that the Devil has been loosed in our times. We must bind him by our prayer and fasting. Some may wish to recite the long Saint Michael’s prayer, which is reprinted in Will the Catholic Church Survive the Twentieth Century? When this book was written, we thought that the prayer had been omitted from the Raccolta. However, it has been discovered that the prayer has been shortened.

Long Prayer to Saint Michael

O glorious Archangel Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of our 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, that 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. That 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 has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for 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 powers 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 conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient demon, 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 Juda 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.

Exorcism Fast

When the Evil One is suspected of influencing people or to oppose his machinations, We recommend a more solemn fast on the following outline.

Fasting (From Truth About the Devil)

Fasting is necessary. During my own exorcisms I observe a “black fast” (total abstinence from food and drink) for three days, then eat normally for a period of three days, and so on during the entire exorcism. My experience with these fasts is that the first day is the hardest, the second not so hard, and since the fast ends on the third day at 3:00 PM, it is bearable. For those who have no experience with total abstinence from both food and drink for such long periods, I would suggest that they fast for a period of 24 hours only, then eat normally the following day, and fast again on the third day – and so on. Without fasting it is impossible to drive out the devils.

As we can see, this priest is recommending a very strict fast. As stated above, We shall make a more moderate recommendation. In fact, We are recommending this be performed by the faithful, during Holy Week and during the Ember Weeks.

This practice will commence in the evening. If a whole family performs this exercise, the nightly vigil recommended by Fr. Matteo. This consists of a series of Holy Hours commencing at nine in the evening and continuing until all the family member (or group) have made an hour. In families, we recommend that all children over 14 make an individual hour, while the younger children from 7 to 14 can participate in a family Holy Hour led by one of the parents at nine. Those performing this individually may commence after their evening meal with a Holy Hour at any suitable time.

From nine in the evening until three in the afternoon three days later abstain from amusements, such as television and observe a stricter fast. For instance, if one commences on Ember Wednesday evening, one continues through Thursday, Friday and until three in the afternoon on Saturday.

Each day make a Holy Hour at any convenient time. Recite the Saint Michael’s prayer (above). It is recommended also to recite the Leonine Exorcism (which will be sent in a separate file with other prayers.) It is strongly recommended at the beginning to make a thorough examination of conscience together with a Perfect Act of Contrition, since often our problems stem from our own sins.

Since this fast also consists of abstinence from amusements, the actual fast need not be as strict. We recommend as a minimum the common fast laws of the Church. Some may be unable to fast more strictly, which is why We are adding other penances to increase the efficacy of our prayers and penances. However, those who are able might consider fasting until noon or even three in the afternoon, as was the law in the Ages of Faith several centuries ago. Instead of three meals, as currently permitted, one might reduce to two meals. In order to make this easier one can partake of plain yogurt at a meal time, if necessary.

Holy Week

The ideal observance of Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and continues until Easter. The sanctification of this week is required by all, so that it can be truly Holy Week. All distractions and amusements should be set aside, commencing on Monday and continuing until Easter time begins. [6] All should be zealous in fulfilling their daily duties more perfectly.

The Exorcism fast can be placed sometime in this week. We will presume that it is added to the Sacred Triduum, and outline how Holy Week ought to be observed.

Although the Sacred Triduum commences on Holy Thursday, the Exorcism Fast should commence on Wednesday evening, as described above.

Holy Thursday begins the solemn offices of Tenebrae. The laity should devote an hour in prayer for the restoration of the Mass. Remember that in the Ages of Faith all three days of the Sacred Triduum were a special kind of Holyday of Obligation. All were required to be present at the Mass on Holy Thursday in the evening and again at the evening Easter Vigil service and Mass, as well as the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday, under pain of serious sin. [7] Following the Mass on Holy Thursday, the Blessed Sacrament was reserved in a special chapel for Holy Communion the next evening. All through the night, the faithful kept watch before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. In commemoration of this the Holy Hour should be completed in the evening rather than in the morning. [8]

Good Friday is a most solemn day. Even to this day there are places where all businesses close from noon until three in remembrance of the three hours, which Jesus hung on the Cross atoning for our sins. Churches were filled with Catholics from noon until three to observe the Tre Ore. Families with smaller children will be unable to do this, but they can take shifts watching the infants [9] while the rest of the family is in prayer. Those who have no responsibility for children should spend the whole three hours in prayer. Although workman today work on Holy Thursday, those who can should get off at least from noon to three on Good Friday. Those who are self-employed should close their business and cease all labors on Good Friday, devoting their time to prayer. The Tre Ore is sufficient to replace the Holy Hour for the exorcism fast. All are advised to make a Holy Hour at least, to thank Jesus for suffering to atone for our sins on Good Friday.

The current fast law of the Church requires fasting on Holy Saturday until midnight, as promulgated by Our Predecessor of happy memory, Pope Pius XII in 1955. The fast was extended to midnight, because the Easter Vigil commences in the late evening, so that Mass commences at midnight. [10] However, We have permitted the fast to end at noon for those who renew their Baptism Promises in the morning. Those who wait until the afternoon may end their fast after completing their Renewal of Baptismal Promises. Those observing the exorcism fast should meditate well on the necessity of renouncing Satan and all of his works, pomps and suggestions! We recommend that those who observe the exorcism fast until three in the afternoon with their fast, together with total abstinence. Those who end their fast early by Our indulgence must observe complete abstinence until the fast end. Those who do not take advantage of this indulgence observe Holy Saturday as a standard fast day until midnight. We note, that all sin mortally, who do not observe the fast law of the Church in this regard, especially the sede vacantists who erroneously observe the fast law prior to Pope Pius XII’s decree extending the fast until midnight. To exceed the minimum set by law is virtuous, whereas to not observe the laws of the Church is sinful. In the case of the Commandments of the Church, moralists hold that these bind under pain of mortal sin.

Pope Michael

March 25, 2006, the Annunciation

The exorcism, this announcement and the Saint Michael’s prayer can be downloaded at http://www.pmdownload.homestead.com/downloadpage.html

[3] Recommendations will be made in one place below.

[6] Easter time commences at midnight on Holy Saturday evening, but by indulgence may be anticipated as early as noon, provided the Baptismal vows are renewed.

[7] This is no longer of obligation, nor has it been for centuries.

[9] i.e. those below the age of reason, as they are considered by Church Law.

[10] The law permits commencing as early as eight in the evening, if there is some good reason in the parish.