How The Prayer of St. Michael Came to be Written

St Michael Center for the Blessed Virgin ^ | December 3, 2003 | St. Michael Center for the Blessed Virgin

[franky]

It is impossible to understand why the prayer to St. Michael came to be omitted after all Low Masses on Sunday, especially now when we need the protection of this angelic warrior more than at an other time in history. We wish the Church authorities would reinstate the great prayer to St. Michael, and perhaps that would happen if we respectfully petitioned of bishops. In the meantime, we can all say the prayer privately in our homes, chapels and churches. We need this prince of the heavenly host in the present struggle.

Pope Leo XIII, realizing by Divine enlightenment the present and future struggles of the Church against the powers of hell, felt convinced that through the intervention of St. Michael, hell would be conquered, and the Church restored to peace and liberty. He therefore composed a prayer in honor of the warrior archangel, and ordered it to be recited daily after Los Mass in all the churches throughout the Christian world.

This is how this prayer came to be written: It is said that one day having celebrated the Holy Sacrifice, the aged Pontiff Leo XIII was in conference with the Cardinals. Suddenly he sank to the floor in a deep swoon. Physicians who hastened to his side feared that he had already expired, for they could find no trace of his pulse. However, after a short interval the Holy Father rallied, and opening his eyes exclaimed with great emotion: "Oh what a horrible picture I was permitted to see!" He had been shown in spirit the tremendous activities of the evil spirits and their ravings against the Church. But in the midst of this vision of horror he had also beheld consoling visions of the glorious Archangel Michael, who had appeared and cast Satan and his legions back into the abyss of hell. Soon afterward he composed the well-known prayer. We know that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church, for Our Lord has promised to be with her till the end of time, but we must do our part in defending her cause. God might cast the angels down to hell by a single act of His will, but He chose rather to send against them His armies of loyal spirits, under the leadership of the great St. Michael. So too, in the present critical times, He could confound the enemies of the Church by merely willing to do so. But He wills, rather, that we should cooperate in her defense, under the leadership of the great captain of the heavenly hosts.

Pope John Paul II (St. Peter's Square, Sunday, April 24 1994):

"May prayer strengthen us for the spiritual battle we are told about in the Letter to the Ephesians: "Draw strength from the Lord and from His mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10). The Book of Revelation refers to this same battle, recalling before our eyes the image of St. Michael the Archangel (Revelation 12:7). Pope Leo XIII certainly had a very vivid recollection of this scene when, at the end of the last century, he introduced a special prayer to St. Michael throughout the Church. Although this prayer is no longer recited at the end of Mass, I ask everyone not to forget it and to recite it to obtain help in the battle against forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world."

[franky]

EWTN Masses still pray it. What ever happened to the rest of the Church? Another example of Church problems?

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O prince of the heavenly host, 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.

[sinkspur]

In the meantime, we can all say the prayer privately in our homes, chapels and churches.

Precisely.

Anyone who wishes to say the prayer after Mass is free to say it. The Church is right in not demanding that every Catholic be forced to participate in a private devotion.

[sinkspur]

If people like you, who hate praying, didn't like it, they were free to leave. The Church was not wrong in encouraging people to pray - you have a sick mind if you are against that.

You are one nasty piece of work.

[NeoCaveman]

3D, you don't understand. If one person leaves everyone must leave it's how we show "community" after the "celebration of the communal meal". And of course as a "community" we must be able to get out of the church parking lot before our neighbor, even if it means cutting off our neighbor.

Plus our seperated brethern don't do it and we must not make them uncomfortable. We must water everything down until are "one" and to even think that this (as currently practiced) means "one of them" is both close-minded and hateful. As is the thought of bringing them all back to the fullness of truth which would also be triumphantism.

I'd continue but I fear I am out of sarcasm.

[sinkspur]

You're too young to remember this prayer. Even in the pre-Vatican II days, people were streaming out the doors while the priest dashed through the prayer.

If you want to start saying it, go right ahead.

[Salvation]

**What ever happened to the rest of the Church?**

At our church a group says a daily Rosary and they say The Prayer of St. Michael also!

[NeoCaveman]

If you want to start saying it, go right ahead.

Already started. It gives me something to do in church while everyone else is running to the doors.

I was pleased to see it at the back of the OCP missalette, until last week. The new one this liturgical season decided on other prayers. Is this seasonal or do they just not like it? Anyways, I'll just have to print it out and take it with me.

[Salvation]

[franky]

YES!

[franky]

Terrific. I live in Harrisburg PA and I have not heard of any saying it. I think I will check with the Pastor of my Church (I'm new to the parish)

[franky]

I'm not too young to not remember. I also remember the conversion of Russia being included.

The priests in my parish never ran off the altar and no one left until the prayer was over. MOF, our Pastor, Father Mulz would turn around after the last Gospel and tell anyone leaving to stop in their tracts. Of course that would be after he took those people who stood in the back and sat in the last rows and moved them down to the front of the Church.

He also swatted me for having my elbows on the altar railing while receiving communion. 65 years ago and I can still remember him saying, "Show some respect to our Lord and put your arms down".

If we had priests like him today, there would not be as much confusion in the Church. He was a leader who obeyed the Pope's directives to a T. And we Catholics of those days are better for it.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Here is an older, longer version. I would not classify it as a private devotion. It is a prayer for protection of the individual and the Church, and most appropriate for Mass.

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in "our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places" (Ephes.,VI, 12). Come to the assistance of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; take hold of "the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan," bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit "so that he may no longer seduce the nations." (Apoc. XX, 2).

[Land of the Irish]

Here's the unabbreviated Prayer to St. Michael composed by Pope Leo XIII:

O Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense 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 his depraved mind, corrupt heart, spirit of lying, impiety, blasphemy, his 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 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 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

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Wow, thanks! I thought I had the unabbreviated version!

[narses]

Funny thing Sink - at the Latin Masses that I've attended, 99% of the congregants remain on their knees and pray with the priest the Prayer to St. Michael.

[narses]

Funny thing Sink - at the Latin Masses that I've attended, 99% of the congregants remain on their knees and pray with the priest the Prayer to St. Michael.

[sneakers]

"Funny thing Sink - at the Latin Masses that I've attended, 99% of the congregants remain on their knees and pray with the priest the Prayer to St. Michael.

Wish they did that at my church. I do say it to myself, but it would be so powerful when said as a community.

[NeoCaveman]

Wish they did that at my church. I do say it to myself, but it would be so powerful when said as a community.

That would be very nice.

[cpforlife.org]

BIG BUMP for St. Michael the Archangel and http://www.EWTN.com

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