Areas of Interest
There are two types of influence the devil can wield over us: the first is, the "ordinary" influence, "temptation." Temptation is something all of us deal with and need to be able to battle daily.
The next is called, "extraordinary" Influence of the devil and it is becoming more and more common in our world. This type of influence consists of several different areas: Obsession, Oppression, Infestation, and Possession.
Below are brief explanations for each of the first three areas. This is where people may find and explanation for what they are suffering and a remedy for their circumstance.
Possession will be discussed in a different section.
Obsession
In Catholic spiritual warfare, obsession is a siege of the mind. The enemy attacks from without to attempt to break the spirit within. The path to victory lies not in fighting the thoughts directly, but in strengthening one's relationship with Christ through specialized prayer, physical action, and the Sacraments, thereby reclaiming the peace that the enemy seeks to steal.
Oppression
In Catholic spiritual warfare, oppression is an external harassment. The demon acts as a robber and a destroyer, attacking the body, relationships, and goods to crush the spirit. Unlike obsession, the mind remains clear; unlike possession, the body remains under the person's control. The victory over oppression is won by enduring the trial with faith, trusting that God is greater than the temporal losses, and through specialized prayer.
Infestation
In Catholic spiritual warfare, infestation is the demonic harassment of places or things. It is an external attack on the environment. While often terrifying, it is considered the lowest level of extraordinary activity. The solution is to reclaim the territory for Christ through, the proper use of sacramentals, closing any doors previously opened through illicit activities, and the removal and renunciation of any occult activities, objects or sinful attachments that may have invited the presence.
The effectiveness of spiritual warfare prayers depend upon jurisdiction. Your jurisdiction as a layperson is your family, your home, your automobile, your and place of business... Those things and areas which God has placed under your stewardship. Do not go outside of your jurisdiction or you can open yourself to negative spiritual consequences (demonic retribution).
Prayers: Remedy for Obsessions For you and your family, only
Surrender Prayer
Lord I surrender my mind to you. Deliver me (or name of loved one) from anxiety, sadness and obsessions of any type. Deliver me from confusion and send your angels to help me clear my mind of any sinful thoughts. Paralyze the demons who attempt to affect my thinking. Holy Spirit, displace those thoughts in my mind, those images in my imagination, and erase the bad memories, which tend to take over my thoughts. Wash my soul in the BIood of Jesus. I ask all this in the name of my Lord, God, and King, Jesus Christ.
Alternatively: Binding Prayer
St. Paul tells us in, 2 Corinthians 10:5 "...we take all thoughts captive to obey Christ." In Your name Lord Jesus and by Your Blood, I take all evil thoughts captive. I bind any demonic entity and thought in Your blood Lord Jesus and cast them out, never to return. I loose the Holy Spirit into the resulting vacancy, so that my mind may become renewed and refreshed. I ask all this in Your name my Lord, God, and King, Jesus Christ.
Prayers: Remedy for Oppression For you and your family only
Precatory Prayer (Commanding)
In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and by the power of His Blood poured out for me on the Cross: I command you, spirit of oppression, to leave me. I command you, spirit of fear, anxiety, and despair (name the spirit specifically), to depart from me. You have no dominion here, for I belong to Jesus Christ. I strip you of any power you claim over my life, my body, my family, my mind, and my property. I bind you in the Name of Jesus and command you to depart immediately to the foot of the Cross, so that there you may receive your just sentence, and never to return. Blessed Virgin Mary, Cover me with your mantle or protection. Holy Spirit, please fill me with your presence. I ask all of this in the name of my Lord, God, and King, Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Remedy for Infestation
Laity should always pray to God, commanding the evil in the name of Jesus, but they should never attempt to dialogue with or command the demon directly by their own authority.
Here is a prayer derived from the Roman Ritual and the recommendations of Father Amorth, suitable for a lay person to pray against infestation of their own home or place.
Prayer Against Infestation (Minor Exorcism)
Preparation: Exorcists recommend beginning with a prayer of contrition and invoking the protection of the Precious Blood of Jesus.
The Prayer:
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I come before You in profound humility. I place myself, this place (home/room/office...), and all who dwell here under the protection of Your Most Precious Blood, O Jesus.
Lord Jesus Christ, by the authority given to the Church, I ask You to bind any unclean spirits, any powers of darkness, and any evil influences that may be present in this place. I command you, every unclean spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to leave this place immediately and forever. Go to the foot of the Cross and be judged by Him who is your Lord and Master.
May the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, which was shed for us, wash this place clean of all malice and deceit. May the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Angels, and St. Michael the Archangel, the defender in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May this home be a sanctuary of peace, grace, and light. I claim this ground for Jesus Christ.
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."
Concluding Prayer:
"O God, who by the humility of Your Son has raised up a fallen world, grant to Your faithful perpetual joy; that those whom You have delivered from the danger of death, You may cause to rejoice in the possession of endless happiness. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen."
Husband and wife, do this together with your children... Pray this throughout your house, sprinkling exorcised water in every room (if you have exorcised salt, spread this over the door lintel).
Warning: Never attempt to do this prayer in a home or office or any other place which is not your own. We can only pray over places over which we have jurisdiction over. What God has given us stewardship over.