DEVOTIONS TO ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
Pope Leo XIII added a Prayer to Saint Michael to the Leonine Prayers in 1886. Although these prayers are no longer recited after Mass, as they were until 1964, Pope John Paul II encouraged the Catholic faithful to continue to pray it, saying: "I ask everyone not to forget it and to recite it to obtain help in the battle against forces of darkness."
Exactly 33 years to the day prior to the great Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, that is, on October 13, 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a remarkable vision. When the aged Pontiff had finished celebrating Mass in his private Vatican Chapel, attended by a few Cardinals and members of the Vatican staff, he suddenly stopped at the foot of the altar. He stood there for about 10 minutes, as if in a trance, his face ashen white. Then, going immediately from the Chapel to his office, he composed the above prayer to St. Michael, with instructions it be said after all Low Masses everywhere.
When asked what had happened, he explained that, as he was about to leave the foot of the altar, he suddenly heard voices - two voices, one kind and gentle, the other guttural and harsh. They seemed to come from near the tabernacle. As he listened, he heard the following conversation:
The guttural voice, the voice of Satan in his pride, boasted to Our Lord: "I can destroy your Church."
The gentle voice of Our Lord: "You can? Then go ahead and do so."
Satan: "To do so, I need more time and more power."
Our Lord: "How much time? How much power?
Satan: "75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service."
Our Lord: "You have the time, you will have the power. Do with them what you will."
In 1886, Pope Leo XIII decreed that this prayer to St. Michael be said at the end of "low" Mass (not "high", or sung Masses) throughout the universal Church, along with the Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen); and the practice of the congregation praying these prayers at the end of Mass continued until about 1970, with the introduction of the new rite of the Mass.
Prayer Against Satan and the Rebellious Angels
Published by order of H. H. Pope Leo XIII
The Holy Father exhorts priests to say this prayer as often as possible, as a simple exorcism to curb the power of the devil and prevent him from doing harm. The faithful also may say it in their own name, for the same purpose, as any approved prayer. Its use is recommended whenever action of the devil is suspected, causing malice in men, violent temptations and even storms and various calamities. It could be used as a solemn exorcism (an official and public ceremony, in Latin), to expel the devil: It would then be said by a priest, in the name of the Church and only with the Bishop's permission.
Saint Michael's Prayer:
Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel. defend us in "our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places" (Ephes. 6:12). Come to the assistance of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers unto the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; take hold of "the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan." Bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit "so that he may no longer seduce the nations" (Apoc. 20:2).
Saint Michael's Prayer (short version)
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in our hour of conflict; Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God restrain Him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast Satan into Hell, and with him all the other evil spirits, who wander through the world, for the ruin of souls. Amen.
John Paul II and St. Michael
However, at the end of his Angelus message given in St. Peter’s Square, Sunday, April 24, 1994, Pope John Paul II urged Catholics to recite this prayer to Saint Michael once again:
"The prayer can fortify us for that spiritual battle about which the Letter to the Ephesians speaks [of]: "Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power."(Ephesians 6:10). And to this same battle that the Book of the Apocalypse refers [to], recalling in front of our eyes the image of St. Michael the Archangel (cf. Revelations 12:7). Surely, this scene was very present to Pope Leon XIII, when, at the end of the previous century, he introduced to the entire Church a special prayer to St. Michael: ‘St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil… ’
"Even if today this prayer is no longer recited at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, I invite all to not forget it, but to recite it in order to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and the spirit of this world."
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The Hymn
Pope Pius VII by a Rescript of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, May 6, 1817, granted:-
- An indulgence of 200 days once a day to all the faithful who, with contrite hearts and devotion, say the following hymn, with the antiphon and prayer, in honour of St. Michael the Archangel; to obtain for themselves the mighty aid which his patronage affords to all in the assaults of the enemy of man, whether in life or death.
- A plenary indulgence to all who shall have said this hymn every day for a month together, on any one day when, after Confession and Communion, they shall pray according to the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.
O Jesus, lifespring of the soul, The Father's power, and glory bright!
Thee with the angels we extol; From Thee they draw their life and light.
Thy thousand thousand hosts are spread Embattled over the azure sky;
But Michael bears Thy standard dread, and lifts the mighty cries on high.
He in that sign the rebel powers did with their dragon prince expel;
And hurled them from the heaven's high towers down like a thunderbolt to hell.
Grant us with Michael still, O Lord, against the Prince of Pride to fight;
So may a crown be our reward, before the Lamb's pure throne of light.
To God the Father glory be, and to His sole-begotten Son;
The same, O Holy Ghost, to Thee, while everlasting ages run.
Antiphon: Most glorious Prince, Michael the Archangel, be thou mindful of us; here, and in all places, pray for us to the Son of God most high.
V. I wilt sing praises to Thee, my God, before the Angels.
R. I will adore Thee in Thy holy temple, and praise Thy Name.
Let us pray.
O God, who in the dispensation of Thy providence dost admirably dispose the ministry of angels and of men; mercifully grant that the Holy Angels, who ever minister before Thy throne in heaven, may be the protectors also of our life on earth. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Angelical Crown in Honour of St Michael the Archangel
It is a pious tradition, that the Archangel Michael revealed to a holy person that he would be well pleased by his bringing into use the following prayers in his honour and in honour of all the angelic host; and that he would repay those who practised this devotion with signal favours, particularly in such times as the Catholic Church should experience some special trial. In this belief, a holy Carmelite nun, of the convent of Vetralla, in the diocese of Viterbo, who died with the reputation of sanctity in the year 1751, made it her delight to practise this method of prayer, commonly called the "Angelic Chaplet;" and it was at the instigation of the nuns of her convent that his Holiness Pius IX, by a decree of the S. Congr. of Rites, dated August 8, 1851, granted the following indulgences:-
- An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines every time the Chaplet is said.
- An indulgence of 100 days daily to any one who carries this Chaplet about him, or kisses the medal with the representation of the holy angels appended to the said Chaplet.
- A plenary indulgence once a month to every one who says daily this Chaplet, on any one day when, after Confession and Communion, he shall pray for the exaltation of our holy Mother the Church and the safety of the Sovereign Pontiff.
- A plenary indulgence, with the conditions above named, on the following date. 1) The Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael May 18. 2)The Dedication of St Michael September 29. 3)St. Gabriel the Archangel March 18. 4)St Raphael the Archangel October 24. 5) Holy Angel Guardians October 2.
The following corresponding salutations being said at the same time in their proper order, with the antiphon and prayer at the end as given below. To gain these Indulgences, a Chaplet must be used. These Chaplets must be blessed by the actual Father confessor of the convent of Vetralla, or some other priest who has obtained faculties for this purpose.
Let every one, according to his ability, begin with an act of sincere contrition, kneeling before a representation of the holy Archangel; then let him say with devotion the following salutation:
V. Deus in adjutorium meum intende.
R. Dontine ad adjuvandum me festina.
First Salutation
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria's, to the First Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of the Seraphim, may it please God to make us worthy to receive into our hearts the fire of His perfect charity. Amen.
Second Salutation
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria's, to the Second Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of the Cherubim, may God grant us grace to abandon the ways of sin, and run the race of Christian perfection. Amen.
Third Salutation
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria's, to the Third Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the sacred choir of the Thrones, may it please God to infuse into our hearts a true and earnest spirit of humility. Amen.
Fourth Salutation
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria's, to the Fourth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of the Dominations, may it please God to grant us grace to have dominion over our senses, and to correct our depraved passions. Amen.
Fifth Salutation
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria's, to the Fifth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of the Powers, may God vouchsafe to keep our souls from the wiles and temptations of the devil. Amen.
Sixth Salutation
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria's, to the Sixth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of the admirable celestial Virtues, may our Lord keep us from falling into temptation, and deliver us from evil. Amen.
Seventh Salutation
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria's, to the Seventh Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of the Principalities, may it please God to fill our souls with the spirit of true and hearty obedience. Amen.
Eighth Salutation
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria's, to the Eighth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of Archangels, may it please God to grant its the gift of perseverance in the faith and in all good works, that we may thereby be enabled to attain unto the glory of Paradise. Amen.
Ninth Salutation
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria's, to the Ninth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of Angels, may God vouchsafe to grant us the safe conduct of the holy Angels through life, and after death a happy entrance into the everlasting glory of Heaven. Amen.
Then say four Pater noster's in conclusion; the first to St Michael, the second to St Gabriel, the third to St Raphael, the fourth to your Angel Guardian.
Antiphon: Michael, glorious Prince, chief and champion of the Heavenly host, guardian of the souls of men, conqueror of the rebel angels, minister in the house of God, our worthy captain under Jesus Christ, endowed with superhuman excellence and virtue; vouchsafe to free us all from every evil, who with full confidence have recourse to thee; and by thy powerful protection enable us to make progress every day in the faithful service of our God.
V. Pray for us, most blessed Michael, prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of His promises.
Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God, who in thine own marvellous goodness and pity didst, for the common salvation of man, choose the glorious Archangel Michael to be the prince of Thy Church; make us worthy, we pray Thee, to be delivered by his beneficent protection from all our enemies, that at the hour of our death no one of them may approach to harm us, and that by the same Archangel Michael we may be introduced into the presence of Thy high and Heavenly Majesty. Through the merits of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Litany in honour of St Michael:
For private use
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of Angels, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, filled with the wisdom of God, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, perfect adorer of the Incarnate Word, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, crowned with honor and glory, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, most powerful Prince of the armies of the Lord, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, standard-bearer of the most Holy Trinity, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, guardian of Paradise, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, guide and comforter of the people of Israel, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, splendor and fortress of the Church Militant, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, honor and joy of the Church Triumphant, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, light of Angels, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, bulwark of orthodox believers, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, strength of those who fight under the standard of the Cross, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, light and confidence of Souls at the hour of death, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, our most sure aid, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, our help in all adversities, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, herald of the everlasting sentence, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, consoler of Souls detained in the flames of Purgatory, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, whom the Lord has charged to receive Souls after death, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, our prince, R. Pray for us.
St. Michael, our advocate, R. Pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of His promises.
Let us pray.
Sanctify us, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus, with Thy holy blessing, and grant us, by the intercession of St. Michael, that wisdom which teaches us to lay up treasures in Heaven by exchanging the goods of this world for those of eternity, Thou who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.