As mentioned in a previous post, I was introduced to the concept of deliverance in 2018.

Deliverance is a broad term that can mean being freed from any problem of a spiritual nature or cause. (The St. Paul Center)

Deliverance is a very important ministry, especially in the modern era as demonic activity has increased and people have become involved with many things that cause spiritual harm.

In this post I’ll share a description of deliverance and a virtual resource.

Description

The following excerpt is from the article Getting Unbound: A Reflection on Deliverance Ministry by Msgr. Charles Pope.

Demonic possession is rare and that is what the formal Rite of Exorcism is meant to address. Most people who present themselves (or someone they love) to the Church are not in fact possessed by the devil or demons. There may be obsession, oppression, or torment at work, along with psychological trauma, and other more natural sources of struggle.

For people who are not possessed, what is needed is deliverance, not exorcism.

What is deliverance? Deliverance is prayer and ongoing ministry that uses numerous approaches to bring healing and wholeness to those who, after baptism, have come to struggle significantly with bondage to sin and sinful drives, the influence of demons, or the effects of psychological and/or spiritual trauma.

Deliverance involves taking hold of the full freedom that God is given us, of helping the faithful who struggle to lay hold of the glorious freedom of children of God (cf Rom 8:21). St. Paul says that the Father has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins (Colossians 1:13 – 14).

There is also a magnificent passage in the Acts of the Apostles in which St. Paul is told of his mission to the Gentiles by the Lord: I am sending you to [the Gentiles] to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:17–18).

Fundamentally, this is a description of the ongoing work of deliverance, which the whole Church must accomplish for God’s chosen people. Deliverance seeks to take people out from under Satan’s power and place them under the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ, to bring people to, or restore them to, their true identity as sons and daughters of God.

Even after baptism, it is possible that we open doors to Satan enabling him some degree of access to our heart and mind. When this is the case, a Christian, working with clergy and fellow believers alike, must take a stand against the schemes of the devil by repenting of sin and renouncing any form of agreement with the deceptions of the enemy.

Deliverance involves coming to an understanding of the tactics of the evil one and recognizing the flawed thinking that often infects our minds. It involves coming to know and name these tactics and the deep drives of sin within us. It involves repenting of them and steadily renouncing their influence so that we come to greater serenity, peace, and healing—to deliverance.

This deliverance is effected in many ways: by the Word of God proclaimed and devoutly read; through the frequent reception of sacraments of Holy Communion and confession; through spiritual direction; through the experience of the Sacred Liturgy, praise, and worship; through authentic, close fellowship with other believers; through personal prayer; through psychotherapy (where necessary); and through what might be called “deliverance ministry,” which often involves both clergy and lay praying with those who struggle and offering support and encouragement.

This is the description of a wider ministry of deliverance that looks past exorcism (which only applies in rather rare circumstances of possession). Deliverance ministry seeks to broaden healing to the large number of people (to some extent all of us at certain times) who need healing and deliverance.

Who needs deliverance? While everyone can benefit from such a ministry in a general sort of a way, there are those among us who go through intense crises and need special, focused ministry. This ministry may occasionally involve formal exorcism, but it usually addresses a more general need for deliverance. This deliverance should be a multidisciplinary approach, as described just above.

Resource

I was introduced to the Saint Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal in 2022.

The Saint Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal carries out its ministries with the approval of the Archbishop of Washington. The deliverance prayers used, including both imprecatory and deprecatory prayers, and shared among those who make use of its services do not involve the administration of the sacraments nor do they include constitutive blessings. They are invocations of the grace of the Holy Spirit to deliver individuals, families, and communities from the influence and power of evil, and therefore they may be used by individuals or shared and prayed collectively using the means of electronic communication. This statement is not an endorsement of any particular prayers that may be shared by the Center.

Very Rev. George E. Stuart, J.C.D.

Episcopal Vicar for Canonical Services

Archdiocese of Washington

The Online Deliverance Ministry is very popular and seems to be helping people experience healing in many areas.

Msgr. Stephen Rossetti is an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Washington and President and Founder of the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal.

Each month Msgr. Rossetti leads a free Online Deliverance Session on YouTube.

It’s approximately one-hour long and includes prayers as well as questions and answers at the end.

I’ve been participating in these sessions for the past two years. I normally view them on my own time, not live.

I encourage you to sign-up for the next session!

The link to register is on the homepage (see below).

Videos of past deliverance sessions are available on the website and YouTube (see below).

I also included links to other resources from the St. Michael Center at the end of this post.

Here is a short video of Msgr. Rossetti describing the sessions.

• Homepage
• YouTube
• Blog
• Catholic Exorcism app – Apple
• Catholic Exorcism app – Google Play
• Deliverance Prayers for the Laity *

* These prayers are meant for lay people. Lay people should NEVER say prayers that are meant for exorcists, priests or deacons

Note: I have no affiliation with this organization. I receive no monetary or material compensation for promoting it. I think it’s a great ministry and resource and want to share it