This blog is extracted from our book Deliver Us From Evil –Prayers and Supplications Which May Be Used in the Struggle Against the Powers of Darkness. Additional  prayers for immediate protection, and other types of protection, can be found in the book.

This section starts with various litanies. These are a form of prayer with which not everyone may be familiar. A litany consists of a series of petitions or supplications, often chanted or recited responsorially, with a fixed structure. The first Christian litany is believed to be the Kyrie Eleison (‘Lord, have mercy’). Litanies are used both in formal liturgical settings and also in private. When there is an awareness of danger or evil they may be recited to seek God’s mercy and intervention. These prayers have long served as a means of expressing humility, seeking divine assistance, and uniting the faithful in communal supplication.

Also contained is a wide range of scripture texts, as well as hymns, which have been sung through all ages of the Church, in addition to prayers invoking the help of the angels and saints. Amongst the saints, particular help is sought of Our Lady. These powerful prayers also serve as a reminder that our authentic prayers are never solitary. We are never alone in praying for what is good. The angels and saints are constant in union with us in prayer.

INVOCATIONS

Invocations to the Most Holy Trinity

Holy is God! Holy and Mighty!
Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on me!

Invocations to Our Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on me.
Jesus, image of the Father, have mercy on me.
Jesus, eternal Wisdom, have mercy on me.
Jesus, splendour of the eternal light, have mercy on me.
Jesus, Word of life, have mercy on me.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on me.
Jesus, God and man, have mercy on me.
Jesus, High Priest, have mercy on me.
Jesus, herald of the Kingdom of God, have mercy on me.
Jesus, the way, the truth and the life, have mercy on me.
Jesus, Bread of Life, have mercy on me.
Jesus, true vine, have mercy on me.
Jesus, brother of the poor, have mercy on me.
Jesus, friend of sinners, have mercy on me.
Jesus, physician of soul and body, have mercy on me.
Jesus, salvation of the oppressed, have mercy on me.
Jesus, solace of the forsaken, have mercy on me.
You came into this world, have mercy on me.
You freed those oppressed by the devil, have mercy on me.
You hung upon the Cross, have mercy on me.
You accepted death for our sake, have mercy on me.
You were laid in the tomb, have mercy on me.
You descended into hell, have mercy on me.
You rose again from the dead, have mercy on me.
You ascended into heaven, have mercy on me.
You sent the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, have mercy on me.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on me.
You will come to judge the living and the dead, have mercy on me.

Invocations to the Holy Spirit

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Holy Spirit, Lord of light,
from the clear celestial height,
thy pure beaming radiance give;
come, thou Father of the poor,
come with treasures which endure;
come, thou Light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best,
thou, the soul’s delightsome guest,
dost refreshing peace bestow:
thou in toil art comfort sweet,
pleasant coolness in the heat,
solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, light divine,
visit thou these hearts of thine,
and our inmost being fill:
if thou take thy grace away,
nothing pure in us will stay;
all his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
on our dryness pour thy dew;
wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
melt the frozen, warm the chill;
guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on those who evermore
thee confess and thee adore,
in thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give them comfort when they die;
give them life with thee on high;
give them joys that never end.

Ascribed to Stephen Langton (d. 1228)
tr. Edward Caswall (1814-78)

Invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary

My Mother, in whom I trust!

Mary, Mother of grace,
Mother of mercy,
protect us from the enemy,
and receive us at the hour of our death.

PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE

The Lord will guard you from evil,
he will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your coming and going
both now and for ever. (Psalm 121 (120):7-8)

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! (Luke 18:38)

Take up the whole armour of God,
That you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand firm. (Eph 6:13)

Gospel: Luke 7:19-23

John the Baptist, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

PRAYERS

Prayers from the Roman Missal

O God, author and lover of peace,
to know you is to live, to serve you is to reign;
defend against every attack those who cry to you,
so that we, who trust in your protection,
may not fear the weapons of any foe.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

O God, our refuge in trials,
our strength in sickness, our comfort in sorrow,
spare your people, we pray,
that, though rightly chastised now by affliction,
they may find relief at last through your loving mercy.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

The Most Holy Name of Mary

O God, whose Son, dying on the altar of the Cross,
willed that the most Blessed Virgin Mary,
whom he had chosen as his Mother,
should be our Mother also,
graciously grant, we pray,
that we, who fly to her protection,
may find comfort by invoking our Mother’s name.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Praying with the Angels

The Guardian Angels

O God, who in your unfathomable providence
are pleased to send your holy Angels to guard us,
hear our supplication as we cry to you,
that we may always be defended by their protection
and rejoice eternally in their company.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Prayer for the Household

Hear us, Lord,
and send your angel from heaven
to visit and protect,
to comfort and defend
all who live in this house.
Amen.

This prayer was formerly used as the conclusion to the Rite of Sprinkling at the principal Mass on Sundays.

Praying with the Saints

Prayer to St Joseph

Blessed Joseph, husband of Mary, be with us this day.

You protected and cherished the Virgin;
loving the Child Jesus as you Son,
you rescued him from danger of death.
Defend the Church, the household of God,
purchased by the blood of Christ

Guardian of the holy family,
be with us in our trials.
May your prayers obtain for us
the strength to flee from error
and wrestle with the powers of corruption
so that in life we may grow in holiness
and in death rejoice in the crown of victory.
Amen.

— Leo XIII (1810–1903) encouraged the recitation of this prayer after the Rosary and the Litany of Loreto during October.

Find more prayers against the powers of darkness in Deliver Us From Evil

This an attractive volume a treasury of prayers and supplications from Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition that can be used by the faithful in spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness, in any time of fear, distress or temptation.

To defend yourself in the struggle against the powers of darkness, order your copy of Deliver Us From Evil today.