In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness 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,
cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This prayer was composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1886. According to tradition, he wrote it after experiencing a disturbing vision of demonic forces threatening the Church during the coming century. He immediately ordered its recitation after every Low Mass throughout the Catholic world, a practice that continued for decades. In 1964, following the Second Vatican Council’s liturgical changes, this requirement was formally lifted. Nevertheless, many parishes and individual believers never abandoned the practice, continuing to pray it faithfully after Mass or during personal devotion.
Pope John Paul II specifically encouraged Catholics to return to this prayer in 1994, describing it as urgently needed amid growing societal evil. Consequently, many dioceses reintroduced it as an optional prayer following Sunday Mass, particularly from the early 2000s onward. Today, believers often pray it during times of temptation, spiritual attack, or simply as part of a daily habit of protection. Saint Michael’s role as defender against evil, drawn from the Book of Revelation, makes this prayer particularly fitting for moments requiring courage and vigilance.
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