Prayer to St. Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel held an important heavenly role in doing battle against evil, protecting Christians against assault from the devil.  The Prayer usually refers to one specific Catholic prayer to Michael the Archangel, among the various prayers in existence that are addressed to him. Legend has it that the Pope received a vision in which he saw the great damage Satan would do to the Church and the world in the 20th century. It falls within the realm of prayers on spiritual warfare.

On Sunday 24 April 1994, Pope John Paul II recommended its use, saying:

May prayer strengthen us for the spiritual battle that the Letter to the Ephesians speaks of: ‘Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might’ (Ephesians 6:10). The Book of Revelation refers to this same battle, recalling before our eyes the image of St Michael the Archangel (cf. Revelation 12:7). Pope Leo XIII certainly had this picture in mind when, at the end of the last century, he brought in, throughout the Church, a special prayer to St Michael: ‘Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil…’ 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 the forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world.