Sancte Michael Archangele

Fr. Scott Haynes
2 days ago
1 min read

Can a battle inspire a prayer? In 1884, Pope Leo XIII composed the Saint Michael prayer after reportedly witnessing a terrifying vision: evil spirits, attempting to fulfill Satan's boast of destroying our Lord's Church within a century, were launching severe attacks against it.

Even though the Pope also saw St. Michael driving Satan (also known as the devil) and his demons back into Hell in his vision, he was so disturbed by what he had witnessed that he felt compelled to aid in defending our faith in this conflict.

In the Saint Michael prayer, he challenges "the father of lies," as Jesus refers to the devil in John's Gospel (8:44), by seeking the assistance of a very special Archangel:

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 Divine Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.