The Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel asks the great defender of God's people to protect us against evil. It is one of the most widely prayed prayers of protection in the Church.
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 host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
When to Pray It
- After Mass; many parishes still pray it together at the end
- After the Holy Rosary
- In times of temptation, spiritual struggle, or danger
- Before sleep, as part of Night Prayer
Who Is St. Michael?
St. Michael is one of the three archangels named in Scripture, along with Gabriel and Raphael. His name means "Who is like God?", a challenge to the pride of Satan, who wanted to be like God.
Scripture shows Michael as the protector of God's people:
- He is called "one of the chief princes" and the great prince who stands guard over God's people (Daniel 10:13; 12:1).
- He contends with the devil (Jude 1:9).
- He leads the angels in the great battle in heaven, and the dragon is cast down (Revelation 12:7–9).
The Church celebrates the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael on September 29.
Where It Comes From
This prayer was written by Pope Leo XIII in the 1880s. In 1886, he ordered it to be prayed after every Low Mass throughout the world, along with other prayers known as the Leonine Prayers.
A well-known story says Pope Leo wrote the prayer after a frightening vision during Mass. The story is popular, but it is not firmly documented.
The required prayers after Mass ended in 1964. Even so, Pope St. John Paul II encouraged Catholics to keep praying it in 1994, and in 2018 Pope Francis asked the faithful to pray it daily with the Holy Rosary during October.
What It Means
- "Defend us in battle": the Christian life includes a real spiritual struggle against evil (Ephesians 6:12).
- "May God rebuke him": Michael does not defeat Satan by his own power, but by God's. The words echo Jude 1:9.
- "Thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits": we ask that evil be driven away from us and from the world.
- "Seeking the ruin of souls": the devil's aim is to separate us from God. Echoing 1 Peter 5:8, the prayer reminds us to stay watchful.
In Latin
Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio; 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.