That’s the name of the new book, by Scott L. Smith—Real Catholic Exorcisms–-and it’s a very interesting read indeed.

What it does is take a closer look at famous cases of exorcism, adding details hitherto unknown or not widely disseminated.

There are often deep spiritual lessons in those further details, to be certain; to be learned.

For instance, while many are aware of the exorcism involving Anneliese Michel, whose horrible exorcism, ending with her death, was the stuff of two major movies, not everyone knows that along with her father, the German girl had frequented the controversial (and Church-rejected) apparition site of San Damiano in Italy.

We warned about this place back with The Final Hour.

Did Anneliese pick up a demon from there—or was a devil simply assaulting her for having anything to do with the Virgin Mary (if the Virgin Mary it ever was)?

Recently, an exorcist from Washington, D.C., Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, told us virtually every “full possession” involved false-demonic locutions, visions, or apparitions. Whatever the case, we can see why Rome, in its prudence, is cautious. Often when it prohibits public devotion or otherwise casts shade on a mystical occurrence, it’s due to indications of diabolic involvement.

Sometimes the devil is simply meddling with holy events, and sometimes he creates counterfeits to begin with.

In the book is also the famous case in Earling, Iowa, of an anonymous woman who went by  Emma Schmidt and Anna Ecklund, made known in a highly classic booklet on the exorcism, Begone Satan, by Father Carl Vogl. It was one of the very seminal works in the modern discussion of exorcism.

Let’s focus on this case, for it points up the role of the great Archangel Michael.

Years of possession: from 1898 into the 1920s. It took twenty-three exorcism sessions to deliver Emma-Anna, who was oppressed from age sixteen into her forties.

And fascinating is how it was claimed “a large combination” of both demons and non-demons possessed the girl-woman (spirits of the deceased, including a father and aunt!). The exorcist was Father Theophilus Riesinger (a Capuchin).

So tenebrific was this case the bishop, in authorizing the exorcism, wrote: “As Bishop I will caution you most emphatically that there may be some very serious consequences resulting to you in person. The devil will certainly try his utmost to seek revenge on you, should you be willing that this unfortunate woman be relieved of this terrible oppression.”

To their great aid came the Archangel Michael. This was also true in the case (in St. Louis) upon which The Exorcist was based.

We remember the great Michael in a special way this time of year (feast day, September 29).

“At the very mention of Saint Michael, Satan began to recoil,” writes Smith. “He was tortured by that part of the prayer which refers to the solemn petition in behalf of Saint Michael. He absolutely refused to listen to the statement that Saint Michael, as leader of the faithful angels, cast Lucifer together with his legions into the very abyss of hell. It was astounding how much he dreaded the prayer in honor of Saint Michael commonly recited at the end of the Mass.”

And so we’ll leave it there. We know that, don’t we: about the prayer (the modern version penned by the great Pope Leo XIII).

But it is always powerful to be reminded.

Many more details are there, for certain. We’re making the book available [below]. As for the prayer, many of us know that one by heart:

“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”

[resources: Real Catholic Exorcisms and Begone Satan!]

[Footnote: Is this the original prayer?

Reports Inside the Vatican:

Pope Leo XIII had the soldier-angel in mind when, in 1886, he ordered that a prayer to St. Michael and several other prayers be recited by priest and faithful at the end of every Low Mass. On May 18, 1890, twenty years after the Capture of Rome had deprived the Pope of the last vestige of his temporal sovereignty, and the papal residence at the Quirinal Palace had been converted into that of the King of Italy, a much longer prayer to St. Michael was approved for use, and we cite this here:

“O glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, defend us in battle, and in the struggle which is ours against the Principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against spirits of evil in high places (Eph 6:12). Come to the aid of men, whom God created immortal, made in his own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil (Wis 2:23-24, 1 Cor 6:20).

“Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. But that cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with all his angels (Rev 12:7-9).

“Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of man has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of his Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity.

“These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions (Lam 3:15).

“In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered. Arise then, O invincible prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and bring them the victory. Amen.”

Or this:

The Original St. Michael Prayer

“O Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, and spirits of evil.

Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist Thee, nor was there place for them any longer in heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels.

Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men; his depraved mind, corrupt heart, his spirit of lying, impiety, blasphemy, his pestilential breath of impurity and of every vice and iniquity. These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the Spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.

Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate Thee as their protector and patron; in Thee Holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to Thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, do Thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.

Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered, hostile powers.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, the root of David.

Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord

As we have hoped in Thee.

O Lord, hear my prayer.

And let my cry come unto Thee

Let us pray:

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy name, and we humbly implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel St. Michael, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls.

Amen.”]