This coming week we celebrate the liturgical feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and St. Raphael. For well over a year now we have been praying the Prayer to St. Michael at the conclusion of all of our daily and Sunday Masses. What many people may not know is that the prayer that we say is actually a shortened version of the “full” St. Michael prayer. As powerful as the short version is, the longer version is even more so. In this time when we as Catholics face so many dangers, both of body and of spirit, I would encourage everyone to occasionally pray this longer version of the prayer to our great protector and guardian, St. Michael. This version comes from the official English translation of the Raccolta, a
collection of indulgenced prayers published by the Vatican until 1950.
God bless,
Fr. John Paul
Prayer to St. Michael, composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1888
O GLORIOUS Archangel St Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defence in the terrible warfare which
we carry on against principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to
the aid of man, whom GOD created immortal, made in his own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price
from the tyranny of the devil. 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, that ancient serpent, who 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 has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for 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 scattered. 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 thee holy Church glories as her defence 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 conciliate the mercies of the LORD; and beating down 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 suppliants we implore
thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious
Archangel St Michael, thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander
about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen
Comments