St. Michael Prayer
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
WHO: St. Michael is a Archangel, whose name means, “one who is like God,” which led the army of angels who cast Satan and the rebellious angels into Hell; at the end of time, he will wield the sword of justice to separate the righteous from the evil (cf. Revelation 12:7ff).
WHY: On Oct. 1, 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a deeply disturbing mystical experience after Mass. He had just finished celebrating in his private chapel when he suddenly stood transfixed in front of the altar in a trance like state. Immediately, he went to his office and composed a prayer to St. Michael and told staff the prayer should be offered throughout the Church.
WHEN: The prayer was discontinued in 1964. Thirty years later, in his Regina Coeli address, Pope John Paul II revived use of the prayer. He said, “Although the prayer is no longer recited at the end of Mass, I ask every one not to forget it and to recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and against the spirit of the world.”
