Explanation of the St. Michael Prayer

The St. Michael prayer is a powerful devotional prayer that has been used by Catholics for generations to invoke the protection and intercession of St. Michael the Archangel. Pope Leo XIII wrote the long form of the prayer in 1886, according to tradition, in response to a vision he had of the spiritual battle between good and evil and the increasing concerns about temptation and evil in the world.

The Long Form of the St. Michael Prayer

The long form of the prayer, also known as the "St. Michael the Archangel Prayer", reads as follows:

"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, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."

The Short Form of the St. Michael Prayer

The short form of the St. Michael prayer, used by those who want to invoke St. Michael's protection, reads as follows:

"St. Michael the Archangel, protect us in battle. Amen."

A Prayer for Daily Battle

Pope Leo XIII also directed that the St. Michael prayer be recited after Low Mass, a testament to the weight the Church gave it. In both its long and short forms, the prayer gives Catholics a powerful means of seeking the protection and intercession of St. Michael the Archangel. Pray it at the end of your Rosary, in moments of temptation, or whenever the battle presses close.

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