EXORCISM WITH THE SWORD OF SAINT MICHAEL

Powerful Latin Prayer with the Sword of Saint Michael the Archangel. The term Exorcism does not always refer to a solemn and official prayer of the Church to free a person possessed by the Devil. In general, the term refers to a prayer that curbs the power of the Devil and prevents him from doing harm. It is meant to protect us from the danger St. Peter described in Scriptures; your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour (1 Pe 5, 8). Saint Michael is viewed as the commander of the Army of God. From the time of the apostles, he has been invoked and honored as the protector of the Catholic Church. Scripture describes him as one of the chief princes and the leader of heaven's forces in their triumph over the powers of hell.

Saint Michael has four distinct roles. First, he is the Enemy of Satan and the fallen angels. He defeated Satan and ejected him from Paradise and will achieve victory at the hour of the final battle against Satan. Secondly, he is in charge of rescuing the souls of the faithful from Satan, especially at the time of death. Saint Michael's third role is weighing souls (hence the saint is often depicted holding scales) on Judgment Day. And finally, Saint Michael is the Guardian of the Catholic Church.

In editions of the Roman Missal, Saint Michael is mentioned in the Confiteor as recited by the priest and again in altar server's response at Mass. He is mentioned also in celebrations of Solemn Mass when the priest put incense in the thurible, reciting the prayer: Per intercessionem beati Michaelis Archangeli, stantis a dextris altaris incensi, et omnium electorum suorum, incensum istud dignetur Dominus benedicere, et in odorem suavitatis accipere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen (Through the intercession of Blessed Michael the Archangel, standing at the right hand of the altar of incense, and of all his elect, may the Lord kindly bless this incense and accept it as a savour of sweetness). In 1886, Pope Leo XIII added a Prayer to Saint Michael to the Leonine Prayers, which he had directed to be prayed after Low Mass two years earlier.

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Vade retro satana (Latin) is a Medieval Catholic formula for exorcism, recorded in a 1415 manuscript found in the Benedictine Metten Abbey in Bavaria; its origin is traditionally associated with the Benedictines. In current Catholic tradition, the formula is used to repel any possible evil thing or happening, as a spoken sacramental. The initials of this formula have often been engraved around Crucifixes or Catholic Saint Benedict Medals at least since 1780. The exact origin of the passage is not clear. The passage came to general attention in 1647, when women who were prosecuted for witchcraft declared that they had been unable to do harm where there was a cross, and the St. Michael's Benedictine Abbey in Metten was particularly exempt from their influence. A search of the monastery turned up crosses painted on the walls with the formula's initials. The meaning of those letters remained a mystery for some time, until the complete verses were found in a manuscript dating to 1415 in the abbey's library, next to an image of St. Benedict. The same formula was later found in an Austrian manuscript from 1340/50. The formula received the approval of Pope Benedict XIV, and became part of the Roman Catholic ritual in 1742. The formula's popularity grew considerably in the 19th century, mainly due to the efforts of Venerable Leo Dupont.