I posted in the Library section a thread called "The Truth About the Devil" by Rev. Dominic Syzmanski.  I posted parts of this docuмent on CAF and people questioned was Fr. Syzmanski Catholic.  This is a direct quote on the origins of "A Notebook About the Devil" and "The Truth About the Devil."

Editors Note (1974 from A Notebook About the Devil & Exorcism by Rev. Dominic Syzmanski): “The Truth  About the Devil” was published as a series of articles in  Immaculata from May through December, 1973.  It was written by the late Fr. Dominic Syzmanski (d. 1951), the founder of Marytown, the national shrine of St. Padre Maximillion Kolbe.   Fr. Dominic was assisted journalistically by Fr. Jerome Palmer,  O.S.B.,  then editor of the Grail, St. Meinrad, Ind., and presently Director of the Secular Oblates of  St. Benedict in the USA,  Fr. Dominic was pastor of St. Anthony Church, Rockford, Ill. At the time and had for years been active as an exorcist.  He would admit to friends that he had the gift of detecting Satan’s presence, which he saw as a small blue light.

      The manuscript for “The Truth about the Devil” was found recently in a trunk containing Father Dominic’s personal effects that had been stored away after his death. In view of the outbreak of Satanism and of public interest in exorcism, its importance could never be greater."

   There is much confusion concerning exorcism now in the Church today.  I posted this docuмent because it is a foundational one and essential to understand the Catholic theology concerning deliverance.

     As baptized Catholic Christians, it is important that we fight the Good Fight.  What is taught to priests who study to become exorcists at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University in Rome often is not reflected here in the USA.

     I can give a concrete example.  Cardinal Joesph Ratzinger as Prefect for the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith wrote a letter reminding religious ordinaries concerning Canon 1172.  

Thomas Euteneur wrote a book called "Exorcism and the Church Militant. " Appendix E, pages 260-266 of that volume is titled "Commentary on the 1985 Letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith: On the Current Norms Governing Exorcisms." Euteneur conclusions agree with Fr. Amorth concerning laity & private exorcism or prayer, & the Exorcism Prayer of Pope Leo XIII. Eutenuer goes further citing Fr. Francis Martin in the footnotes on page 263:

"Fr. Francis Martin clarified the cardinal's (Ratzinger's) letter in a talk at Mundelein Seminary, and latter through personal correspondence. He stated that it is clear the restrictions in point three of Cardinal Ratzinger's letter are to be applied to pubic assemblies. He also wrote, "When asked by Fr. Rufus Pereira concerning the third paragraph of [the] statement of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, September 29, 1984 [actually 1985] the then Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joesph Ratzinger, stated that the restrictions apply to public assemblies. While Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) clearly restricts exorcisms and prayers for exorcisms to authorized clergy, there is nothing here to prohibits the laity from using the imperative. "Exorcism" means the Rite of Exorcism not the imperative command."


     So,  Cardinal Ratzinger said that the restrictions apply to public assemblies. Basically this means that the instructions of  His Holiness Pope Leo XIII's instructions for the Catholic faithful to recite the Rosary and then the "Prayer Against Satan and His Apostate Host" stand.

     Yet,  few today pray the Rosary and then the Prayer Against Satan and His Apostate Host,  a prayer composed for these very times to protect our homes and families.

      The way some twist the meaning of Cardinal Ratzinger's letter precludes St. Padre Pio from being called an exorcist; yet,  he was no doubt an exorcist.  Padre Pio never once had the Bishop's mandate to perform exorcisms.  All of his exorcisms were private solemn exorcisms.   However,  I am not suggesting any lay person to attempt any sort of exorcism or prayer of deliverance on anyone unless they have been taught by a Catholic exorcist priest and have undergone examination by their Bishop.

   But simply reciting the Prayer Against Satan and His Apostate Hosts after the Rosary is an important part of private prayer life.  There are no forbidden prayers but there are forbidden uses of prayers.  Cardinal Ratzinger's letter dated Sept. 29, 1985 states clearly what is forbidden for laity.

In the Hearts of  Jesus & Mary,
Miles Dei