St Michael Prayer

Pope Leo XIII composed the prayer to St Michael the Archangel and in 1886 ordered it said after Low Mass. This page gives the short prayer in its earliest printed English form, with Leo XIII's longer prayer and other prayers to the archangel.

Prayer to St Michael the Archangel

Pope Leo XIII, 1886

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. We humbly beseech God to command him; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the divine power thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Latin

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio; contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen.

Latin from Manuale sacerdotum ad altare (1889)

Line by line with the English: St Michael Prayer in Latin

From the Little Month of November (1912)

Also on Tuesday Prayers

More prayers

Glorious Archangel St Michael

Pope Leo XIII

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

From the Raccolta (1910)

Most Glorious Prince, Michael the Archangel

Most glorious Prince, Michael the Archangel, be mindful of us: pray for us always both here and everywhere to the Son of God.

℣.In the sight of the Angels I will sing psalms to Thee, O my God.℟.I will adore at thy holy temple, and will confess to thy name.

Let us pray. O God, who disposest the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; mercifully grant that those who ever stand before Thee, ministering to Thee in Heaven, may themselves also protect our life here upon earth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Raccolta (1910)

Collect of St Michael and All Angels

O Everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; Mercifully grant, that as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so, by thy appointment, they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer (1928)

Questions

Who wrote it?

Pope Leo XIII, 1886.

Is there a Latin version?

Yes, under the English on this page. St Michael Prayer in Latin has it line by line with the English and a guide to pronouncing it.

Can I print just one of these prayers?

Yes. Print card prints one prayer on its own page, ready to fold or frame. Large print makes the text bigger across the whole site.

Prayers to other saints