After a fearful vision he witnesses in 1886 between God and Satan, Pope Leo XIII immediately composes a prayer for the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel against evil. Henceforth, the Pope requests this prayer be said following every Catholic mass. To this day, many churches still recite this prayer after mass. In my own diocese, the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel was re-implemented a few years ago and is faithfully prayed after each mass.
A biblical figure, the Archangel Michael is one of the three of the seven Archangels who finds his mention in Scripture, along with Archangels Gabriel and Raphael. Known specifically as Defender against Evil, St. Michael is a mighty servant of God “harkening to the voice of his word” (CCC, 329).
One of the most telling references to the Archangel Michael’s power is found in the last book of the bible when a war breaks out in Heaven between Michael and the “dragon”—the “ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.” Michael and his angels crushingly defeat Satan, and the Devil is “thrown down to the earth” along with his angels, the evil spirits (Rev. 12:7-9).
St. Michael Prayer
The following is the prayer to St. Michael composed by Pope Leo XIII. Learn it so that you can pray it in times of personal or worldly troubles, distress or—even better—as a daily protective shield against the Devil’s designs. Simply pray:
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.
