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Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

by Catherine Frakas 24 Jan 2023

The prayer to Saint Michael is a Catholic prayer asking for protection and guidance from Saint Michael the Archangel. It goes as follows:

"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, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."

Who wrote the prayer?

The exact origin of the prayer to Saint Michael is uncertain, but it is attributed to Pope Leo XIII. He was the Pope of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, which makes him one of the longest-reigning popes in history. He was known for his efforts to modernize the Church and for his strong stance on social justice issues. He also wrote many encyclicals, including Rerum novarum, which dealt with the rights and duties of capital and labor. He also composed several prayers including this one to Saint Michael.

It is said that Pope Leo XIII had a vision in which he saw Satan attacking the Church and heard a voice urging him to write a prayer to Saint Michael. It is also mentioned that He had this vision during an exorcism rite, where he felt a strong sense of the presence of evil and satan in the world.

After the vision, Pope Leo XIII wrote the prayer to Saint Michael and ordered that it be recited after every low Mass in the Catholic Church. The year in which the prayer was written is uncertain, but it was officially added to the liturgy of the Catholic Church in 1886 by Pope Leo XIII.

It's important to note that the exact details of Pope Leo XIII's vision, and the reason why he composed the prayer to Saint Michael, are not well-documented and may vary in different accounts.

While not a mandatory part of the mass, some parishes recite it before and others recite it after the mass.

Why do Catholics say the prayer?

Catholics say the prayer to Saint Michael for protection and guidance from Satan and evil spirits. The prayer invokes the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, who is considered a powerful protector in Catholic tradition. Saint Michael is venerated as the leader of the heavenly armies, and the prayer calls upon him to defend us against the wickedness and snares of the devil. The prayer also asks for God's rebuke of Satan and for the eternal damnation of all evil spirits.

Many Catholics believe that reciting the prayer to Saint Michael will help to protect them from spiritual harm and evil influences, and will also help to keep their faith strong. It's also a way to remember the constant need for God's protection in the spiritual battle.

How to pray the St. Michael chaplet

A St. Michael Chaplet is a devotional prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, similar to the traditional Catholic Rosary. It is a form of devotion that is prayed using a chaplet, which is a string of beads similar to those used for the Rosary. The chaplet is divided into three sections, each with a specific intention: for the protection of the Church, for the protection of one's family, and for the protection of one's self. The chaplet is usually composed of 9 beads, but it can be of different numbers as well.

The St. Michael Chaplet is prayed by reciting specific prayers to Saint Michael before and after each bead. These prayers typically include invocations for protection and guidance from Satan and evil spirits, as well as prayers for the intercession of Saint Michael.

Here is one way to pray the St. Michael Chaplet:

  1. Hold the chaplet in the left hand and the crucifix in the right hand
  2. Make the Sign of the Cross, and recite the Apostle's Creed.
  3. Recite the prayer to Saint Michael: "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, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."
  4. Hold the first bead and recite the "Hail Mary."
  5. Recite the prayer to Saint Michael again
  6. Continue reciting the "Hail Mary" on each bead, reciting the prayer to Saint Michael before and after each bead.
  7. When you reach the end of the chaplet, recite the "Glory Be to the Father" and the "Fatima Prayer": "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy."
  8. Conclude by reciting the prayer to Saint Michael again: "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, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."
  9. End with the Sign of the Cross.

It's important to note that different variations of the St. Michael Chaplet may have slight variations in the prayers or sequence.

It's also important to note that reciting the chaplet is a form of meditation on the life of Jesus and Mary, and is a traditional devotion in the Catholic Church. The prayers to St. Michael are added to the chaplet as an invocation for protection and guidance from Satan and evil spirits. St. Michael pendants are also a popular reminder of devotion and prayer to the saint on a daily basis.

St. Michael the Archangel - Act of Consecration Prayers

The Act of Consecration typically includes an invocation of Saint Michael, a declaration of one's willingness to place oneself under his protection, and a request for his intercession. It may also include a commitment to living a virtuous life, and to striving to imitate the example of Saint Michael in one's daily life. They are a personal devotion that can be recited daily as a form of spiritual protection.

Here are a few examples of a St. Michael Act of Consecration:

"Saint Michael the Archangel, I choose you this day as my special protector and guardian. I place myself under your protection, and I ask you to watch over me and guide me in my daily life. I pledge to imitate your virtues, and to live a life that is pleasing to God. Please help me to resist the temptations of the devil, and to remain strong in my faith. I trust in your powerful intercession, and I ask you to protect me from all harm. Amen."


"Saint Michael the Archangel, I consecrate myself to you today, and I ask that you protect me and guide me in my daily life. I pledge to live a virtuous life, and to strive to imitate your example of courage and devotion. Help me to resist the temptations of the devil, and to remain strong in my faith. I trust in your powerful intercession, and I ask you to protect me and my loved ones from all harm. Amen."


"O glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. 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, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen."

Note that these are examples and you can use them as a guide to create your own act of consecration prayer to St. Michael, making it more personal and meaningful for you.

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