SAINT MICHEAL THE ARCH-ANGEL
One day, after
celebrating Mass, the aged Pope Leo XIII was in conference with the Cardinals
when suddenly he sank to the floor in a deep swoon. Physicians who hastened to
his side could find no trace of his pulse and feared that he had expired.
However, after a short interval the Holy Father regained consciousness and
exclaimed with great emotion: “Oh, what a horrible picture I have been
permitted to see!”He had been shown a vision of evil spirits who had been
released from Hell and their efforts to destroy the Church. But in the midst of
the horror the archangel St. Michael appeared and cast Satan and his legions
into the abyss of hell. Soon afterwards Pope Leo XIII composed the following prayer
to Saint Michael, which is the original version:
Original – Prayer to St. Michael
“O
Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defends us in
the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the
principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness,
against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created
immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price
from the tyranny of Satan.
“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, ancient serpent, which 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 the See of Holy
Peter and the Chair of Truth has been set up as 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. 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 the holy Church glories as her defense 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 find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing
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.
V. Behold the Cross of
the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers.
R. the Lion of the tribe
of Judah has conquered the root of David.
V. Let Thy mercies be
upon us, O Lord.
R. As we have hoped in
Thee.
V. O Lord, hear my
prayer.
R. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
O God, the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as supplicants, we implore
Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our
Mother, and of the glorious St. Michael the Archangel, Thou wouldst deign to
help us against Satan and all the other unclean spirits who wander about the
world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.”
Roman Raccolta, July 23,
1898, supplement approved July 31, 1902,London: Burnes, Oates & Washburn
Ltd., 1935, 12th edition.
Short Prayer to St. Michael the
Archangel
The well-known short
version of this prayer follows in English and Latin. The Pope ordered this
prayer to be recited daily after Low Mass in all the churches throughout the
Catholic world. However this practice was almost completely swept away in the
1960s by liturgical changes made in the wake of Vatican Council II. Saint
Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the
malice 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 evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.