Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
Saint 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 hosts,
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
The Origin of the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
1. Pope Leo XIII's Vision (1884):
Exactly 33 years after the Sun Miracle in Fátima, on October 13th, 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a terrifying vision after celebrating Mass. When the Pope finished celebrating Mass in the private chapel in the Vatican, attended by several cardinals and Vatican employees, he suddenly stood still in front of the altar, looking into the distance and completely pale. He quickly went to his study, where he recited a prayer to St. Michael.
When his secretary later asked him what had happened, Leo XIII explained that he had heard two voices.
- The gentle and loving voice of Jesus Christ and the harsh and rough voice of the devil, who boasted that he could destroy the Church and conquer the world if he had enough time and power (about 75 to 100 years).
2. The Order of Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. (1886): This experience so deeply shook Pope Leo XIII that two years later, in 1886, the Pope ordered that the prayer to St. Michael be recited at the end of every silent Mass. This text contained strong pleas for protection against Satan and evil spirits. Priest and laypeople recited it on their knees for deliverance from evil and for the protection of the Church.
3. A shorter version for daily use:
Although the obligation to recite this prayer to St. Michael after Mass ended after the Second Vatican Council (around 1964), popes encouraged people to pray this shortened version privately. Svätý Ján Pavol II. oživil jej význam v modernej dobe. During his pilgrimage to the shrine on Monte Gargano in Italy in 1987, he said:
"This prayer is still needed to help us fight against the devil, against the spiritual darkness that assails the world."
The original long version of the prayer to Saint Michael:
O glorious prince of the heavenly host, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible struggle which we wage against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, created in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan.
Fight the Lord's battle today with the holy angels, as you have fought against the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate army, who were powerless to resist you and for whom there was no longer any place in heaven. That cruel, ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who deceives the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this ancient enemy and murderer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of evil, he wanders with all the host of evil spirits and invades the earth to blot out the name of God and His Christ, to seize, kill and cast into eternal damnation souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This evil dragon pours out a flood of the poison of his malice upon men of corrupt minds and corrupt hearts, the spirit of lies, impiety, blasphemy, and the poisonous breath of impurity and of every vice and iniquity.
These most cunning enemies have filled and intoxicated with gall and bitterness the Church, the bride of the spotless Lamb, and have laid their impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the very Sanctuary, where the Chair of Saint Peter and the Chair of Truth were established as the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the evil intention that the sheep should be scattered when the Shepherd should be smitten.
Arise, then, O invincible Prince, Saint Michael the Archangel, bring help to the people of God against the attacks of lost souls and give them victory. They worship you as their protector and patron; in you the holy Church glorifies herself as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to you God has entrusted the souls of men, that they may be established in heavenly bliss. O, pray to the God of peace, that he may put Satan under our feet, so far defeated that he may no longer be able to hold men captive and harm the Church. Present our prayers before the Most High, that they may quickly find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and conquer the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and cast him into the abyss again, that he may no longer deceive the nations. Amen.
V. Behold the Cross of the Lord; scatter, you hostile powers.
R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, the Root of David.
V. May your mercy be upon us, Lord.
R. How we hoped in You.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry reach you.
Let us pray. O God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we invoke your holy name and as suppliants we beseech you for your indulgence, that through the intercession of Mary, ever Immaculate Virgin and our Mother, and of the glorious Saint Michael the Archangel, you may help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits who wander the world, harming the human race and corrupting souls. Amen.