Saint 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 Host,
By the power of God, thrust into hell
Satan and all the evil spirits
Who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin or souls
Amen
Words by Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903), with slight modifications
Music by Karl Kohlhase
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."
