Chapter 54

1On Saturday, let the bishop assemble those who are to receive baptism and command them to kneel while the deacon makes the proclamation. When there is silence, let him lay a hand on them, exorcise them, and say:

2O God of heaven, God of the lights, God of the archangels who are under your authority, God of the angels who are under your power, King of glories and dominions, God of the saints, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; you have released the souls bound by death. You have enlightened the one who was bound and fixed in darkness through the firm establishment of the suffering of your only-begotten Son. You have loosened our bonds and removed every burden from us. You have repelled from us every attack of the Evil One.

3O Son and Word of God, you have made us immortal through your death. You have glorified us with your glory. You have loosened all the bonds of our sins through your suffering. You have borne the curse of our sins through your cross, and through your resurrection you have taught humanity to pass from being children of men to becoming gods. You have taken our humiliation upon yourself. You have trodden the way to heaven for us. You have changed us from corruption to incorruptibility.

4Hear me, O Lord, as I cry to you in pain and fear, O Lord God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before you stand the holy hosts of archangels and cherubim, and innumerable armies of princes and seraphim. Your veil is light, and before your face is fire. The throne of your glory is beyond speech. The dwellings of delight you have prepared for your saints are beyond speech, and their garments and treasures are visible to you alone and to your holy angels.

5Before you all things tremble and offer praise. Your gaze measures the mountains, and your name, when spoken, cleaves the depths. The heavens, enclosed by your hand, hide you from sight. Before you the earth and the depths tremble together. Before you the sea and the dragons within it quake. Because of you the wild beasts stand trembling in awe. Through you the mountains and the foundations of the earth melt with fear. At your power the winter storm quakes and trembles, and the raging whirlwind keeps within its limits.

6Because of you the fire of vengeance does not pass beyond what has been appointed for it, but stops when rebuked by your command. Because of you the whole creation labors and groans, commanded to wait until its time. From you all nature and every opposing creature flees. Because of you the entire army of the adversary is subdued, the Devil has fallen, the serpent is trampled down, and the dragon is slain.

7Because of you the nations that have confessed you are enlightened and strengthened in you, O Lord. Because of you life is revealed, hope confirmed, faith strengthened, and the Gospel proclaimed. Because of you corruption is brought to nothing and incorruptibility grows strong. Through you humanity was formed from the earth, but after believing in you is no longer earth.

8O Lord God Almighty, I exorcise these people in your name and in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Drive away from the souls of these your servants every disease and illness, every stumbling block, all unbelief, doubt, and contempt, and every unclean spirit that works evil: the spirit that practices witchcraft, kills, dwells beneath the earth, is fiery, dark, foul-smelling, devoted to sorcery, lustful, loving gold, proud, loving money, or wrathful.

9Yes, O Lord God, overthrow among these servants who have been named in you all the Devil's weapons: all magic, witchcraft, fear of idols, divination, astrology, necromancy, observation of the stars, astronomy, delight in the passions, love of shameful things, sadness, love of money, drunkenness, fornication, adultery, lustfulness, defiance, contentiousness, wrath, confusion, wickedness, and evil suspicion.

10Yes, O Lord God, hear me and breathe upon these your servants the spirit of tranquility, so that, guarded by you, they may bear in you the fruits of faith, virtue, wisdom, purity, self-discipline, patience, hope, harmony, modesty, and praise.

11For through you they have been called as servants in the name of Jesus Christ, being baptized in the Trinity, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with the angels, glories, dominions, and the entire heavenly army as witnesses.

12O Lord, the true essence of our life and theirs, guard their hearts, O God, for you are mighty and glorious forever and ever.

13Let all the people and the priests say, “Amen. So be it.”

14If anyone, while enduring anything, suddenly rises as the bishop speaks these words, weeps, cries out, foams at the mouth, gnashes the teeth, stares, becomes greatly agitated, or runs away altogether as though quickly carried off, let the deacons take that person aside so that there is no disturbance while the bishop is speaking. Let the priests exorcise that person until cleansed, and then let that person be baptized.

15After the priest exorcises those who have drawn near, or anyone found unclean, let the priest breathe upon them and seal them between the eyes, on the nose, on the heart, and on the ears. Then let him raise them up.