Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Forgotten Prayers: The St. Michael Prayer

Pope Leo XIII composed this prayer to St. Michael in about 1888, and directed that it be recited at the end of every Low Mass -- a practice that ended in 1964. It is said that he composed it after hearing the devil boast to God that he could destroy the Church in 100 years. My Dominican chapter recites it at the end of every Rosary.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense 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, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Here it is 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.

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