Spiritual Protection Against the Evil of Abuse
The Necessity of Deliverance Prayers
In the foreword to my book, Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic’s Guide to Recognizing and Healing from Domestic Abuse, Fr. Charles Dahm of the Archdiocese of Chicago writes:
“Jenny duBay plumbs the meaning of Scripture and helps victims and survivors connect their faith with the evil they have experienced. She emphasizes the need for spiritual healing and guides the wounded along pathways to a new and regenerated life. Her book should be required reading for all parish ministers.”
The key word in Fr. Chuck’s insight is that of the evil survivors of abuse have experienced. It’s important to understand that I’m not calling abusers evil, within the core of their true selves—after all, every single one of us is made in the image and likeness of God. We can all be redeemed—if we let ourselves be open to the healing graces of Christ.
Just because someone does evil things doesn’t make them a chronically evil person; even so, the behaviors themselves can certainly be called evil, and should be. We need to face the truth, to call a spade a spade.
Abuse of any kind is a form of violent evil.
Abusive tactics are destructive and evil assaults, particularly when they’re subtle and covered up with a false mask of so-called “love.” Although there may never be bruises on the body, abuse of any kind creates bruises to the spirit that are deep, shattering, and can be ultimately life-threatening unless thoroughly healed.
That’s why it’s so important to protect ourselves against any and all forms of evil. I find the protection prayers from the Saint Michael Center and Fr. Chad Ripperger’s collection of Deliverance Prayers: For Use By the Laity to be particularly crucial.
A few guidelines for praying deliverance and protection prayers, from the Msgr Rossetti of the Saint Michael Center:
The prayers are typically phrased to be used for praying over oneself. All individuals have authority over their own selves and bodies and therefore they’re free to use both imprecatory prayers (directly commanding demons to leave) and deprecatory prayers (prayers directed to God to cast out the demons).
In the case of praying these prayers for others who are not under their direct authority, Msgr Rossetti recommends the faithful adjust the prayers so that they are directed to God, thus making it a deprecatory prayer. For their own pastoral protection, he recommends that faithful not use imprecatory prayers, ie., directly commanding demons to leave, over others whom they do not have authority.
In accordance with natural law, the laity have authority over their own selves, their spouses and their children. In these cases, they have the authority to use imprecatory prayers.
Here are a few of the prayers I personally recite daily for God’s protection and healing. Obviously these can be prayed at any time of the day, whenever you feel the need—but I particularly recommend praying one of them upon waking in the morning, another in the middle of the day, and yet one more before going to bed.
Perimeter Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, in Thy love and mercy establish a perimeter of protection around all of us and all our loved ones and those who pray for us, and their loved ones. May Thy Holy Angels guard us and all our possessions, establishing a perimeter of protection around us, rendering us immune from any kind of demonic influence. We ask that no demonic bondage, door, portion, demonic entity, portal, astral projections, or disembodied spirit may enter the space of one hundred yards in all directions of each of us. We ask that any demons within this vicinity or any that should try to enter here be rendered deaf, dumb and blind: that Thou would strip them of all weapons, armor, power, illusions, and authority; that Thou would bind, rebuke and disable them from communicating or interacting with each other in any way. Remove them, sending them directly to the foot of Thy Cross. Jesus, Son of the Most High, I ask this in Thy Glorious and Most Holy Name. Amen.
Prayer to Protect Faculties
Lord Jesus Christ, let your Precious Blood flowing from Thy wounded Heart cover me, my cogitative power, memory, imagination, common sense power, sensitive appetites, my sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell, (and any other part of your body) driving the demons to the foot of they Cross where they may be judged by Thee. In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sealing Prayer of Protection
Jesus, I ask you to seal me in Your most Precious Blood against any and all incursions of the evil one, in particular against any clinging, familial, familiar or retaliating spirits, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The below prayer against retaliation, originally from the Archdiocese of Manila and also included in Deliverance Prayers: For Use By the Laity, is particularly useful for those who are in the middle of an embittered divorce or other situation where retaliation may be a possibility.
Prayer Against Retaliation
Lord Jesus Christ, in your love and mercy, pour Thy Precious Blood over me so that no demon, disembodied spirit, or evil power may retaliate against me. Mary, Mother of God, surround me with thy mantle, blocking any retaliating spirits from having any authority over me. St. Joseph, protector of the Holy Family and God’s Holy Church, Terror of Demons, protect me from the attacking enemy. St. Michael, my defender, surround me with thy shield, so that no spirit may take revenge on me. My Holy Guardian Angel, defend your ward. Queen of Heaven, St. Joseph, and St. Michael, send down the legions of angels under your command to fight off any spirits that would seek to harm me. All you saints of heaven, impede any retaliating spirit from influencing me. Lord, Thou art the Just Judge, the avenger of the wicked, the Advocate of the Just, I beg in Thy mercy, that all I ask of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Michael, and all the holy angels and the saints of heaven, be also granted to all my loved ones, those who pray for me and their loved ones, that for Thy Glory's sake, we may enjoy Thy perfect protection. Amen
To close, I’d like to include a prayer of invitation to Jesus, that He may continue to keep us safe in His embrace and fill our bodies with His healing fragrance. From Hope’s Garden Healing Message from Jesus:
Healing Response to Jesus
Dear Jesus, I invite You into all my brokenness, my wounds, and my memories, even those that I keep hidden from myself. Help me to grow in trust so I might truly believe that I am safe with You. I desire to hear Your voice of Truth and Love, to hear You call me Your Beloved. Please come, Lord, and touch me with Your gentle healing hands and fill my mind and heart with Your peace. Thank You, Jesus, for seeking and finding me so that I may be healed and know wholeness and love again. In Your most precious Name I pray, Amen.
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
(Jer. 29:11).
These are very helpful. I already pray the perimeter prayer daily. These others are going to be worked into my day.
Thank you. I need these prayers right now. Grace is everywhere.