|
The Saint Michael Prayer
Has A Calming Effect
"Put on the armor of God, that you may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil."
-Ephesians 6:11
The customary version of the Saint Michael prayer is as follows:
Saint Michael Prayer
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in the day of battle.
Be our safeguard against the
wickedness and the snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray
and do thou O Prince of the Heavenly Host,
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl throughout the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
All of your anxiety can be quieted by asking for Saint Michael's protection.
Return to Catholic Rosary Mysteries page
Saint Michael Prayer Is A
Powerful Prayer Against
The Forces of Evil
"And in all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer,
believing, you shall receive."
-Matt 21:22
Saint Michael is one of the three archangels mentioned in the Bible. The other two are Raphael and Gabriel.
You will find the story of Gabriel in the meditation for the first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation.
Saint Michael, the prince of all the other angels, fights Satan and all the demons.
When praying this prayer you ask God to send Satan back to Hell.
The most famous Biblical passage referring to Saint Michael is found in the book of Revelation.
"And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels. And they prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world."
-Rev. 12:7-9
This is the account of both the battle that will take place at the end of time as well as the battle that took place in heaven before time began.
The Archangel Michael is often depicted as a warrior due to his role in this Bible passage. He is usually drawn wearing armor and holding a sword with Satan under his feet. By doing so he protects you from them and their evil influence.
The name Michael is Hebrew and means "Who is like God?". The significance of this phrase is shone in the following story. Lucifer, the bad angel who is now called Satan, wanted to be better than God. He told God, "I will not serve."
Saint Michael responded, "Who is like God?"
Then, as the above passage states, he cast Satan and the bad angels out of heaven.
Saint Michael is spoken of three other times in the Bible. Twice in the Old Testament book of Daniel concerning the end of times.
"But at that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people: and a time shall come, such as never was from the time that nations began, even until that time. And at that time shall thy people be saved, every one that shall be found written in the book."
-Daniel 12:1
"Behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me."
-Daniel 10:13
And in the New Testament book of St. Jude.
"When Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he durst not bring against him the judgment of railing speech, but said: The Lord command thee."
-Jude 1:9
Return to Catholic Rosary Prayers page
Return to What Is A Rosary page
Demons And Angels Are Very, Very Real
Saint Michael Prayer Wards Off Demons
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying:
Glory to God in the highest; and on earth
peace to men of good will."
-Luke 2:13-14
Demons and Angels are not just things of fairy tales. They are as real as you and me. Angels are pure spirits. They have no physical bodies. Sometimes God allows angels to appear in a human form when they deliver messages to people. Angels appear in human form often in the Bible. Two such events are found in St. Luke's gospel. One is when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. Another event is when the angels appeared to the shepherds telling them of Jesus' birth.
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will." -Luke 2:13-14 You will find more on that account in the meditation for the third Joyful Mystery, the Nativity. There are approximately 228 references to them in the Old and New Testament of the Douay Rheims Bible.
The Old Testament book of Tobias in particular shows how angels interact with humans.
Tobias was a holy man. Among his many virtues, his trust in God's will, patience and piety are the most prominent.
He struggled through many great trials.
God sent the Archangel Raphael to protect and guide Tobias as an answer to his prayers.
The book of Tobias is a wonderful example of how angels help us.
Some Angels In The Old Testament
- third Joyful Mystery, "The Lord, said he, in whose sight I walk, will send his angel with thee, and will direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my own kindred, and of my father's house." -Genesis 24:40
- "Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him in the desert of upper Egypt." -Tobias 8:3
- "Behold I will send my angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have prepared." -Exodus 23:20
- "And he cast himself down, and slept in the shadow of the juniper tree: and behold an angel of the Lord touched him, and said to him: Arise and eat." -3 Kings 19:5
More Angels In The New Testament
- "But an angel of the Lord by night opening the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said: Go, and standing speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." -Acts 5:19-20
- "And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him." -Matthew 2:13
- "And an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water, was made whole, of whatsoever infirmity he lay under." -John 5:4
- "And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him: and a light shined in the room: and he striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands." -Acts 12:7
Evil Spirits Prowl Throughout The World
Just as angels protect and guide you, demons can also have an influence over you as
they tried to do with Saint John Vianney.
Demons are the bad angels that refused to serve God.
Demons want to harm people because they hate God's creation.
The main way that they try to hurt you is by tempting you to sin because sin makes you an enemy of God.
The part of the Saint Michael prayer that states,
..."Defend us in the day of battle"
Refers to times when you are being tempted.
The battle being referred to is the battle for your immortal soul.
Anxiety often results when you are being tempted by demons. All anxiety will quickly disappear and you will have a much more peaceful state of mind when you make a habit of asking for Saint Michael's protection by saying the Saint Michael Prayer.
"The Lord will give strength to his people:
the Lord will bless his people with peace."
-Ps 28:10
Return from Saint Michael Prayer page to our Home page
Frightening Vision Inspires Pope
To Pen Saint Michael Prayer "What a horrible picture I was permitted to see!"
The Saint Michael prayer was written by Pope Leo XIII in 1884. There are some variations on the exact events that inspired him to write this prayer.
After saying Mass one day, Pope Leo suddenly fell into an unconscious state.
People who were around him thought he was having a stroke or some other medical emergency.
Just as suddenly he regained consciousness and there was no evidence of a medical condition.
He is reported to have said, "What a horrible picture I was permitted to see!"
He heard two distinct voices coming from the tabernacle, the place where Jesus, truly present under the appearance of a consecrated host remains after the Mass.
One voice was kind and gentle. This was the voice of Jesus.
The other voice was harsh and wicked. This was the voice of Satan.
The conversation he heard was Satan telling Jesus that he could destroy His Church.
Jesus told Satan that if he thought he could destroy the Church then he could try.
Satan responded that he needed more power and more time. Satan asked for a century and for more influence over those people who were willing to be his servants.
Jesus said He would allow this to happen.
This frightening vision inspired Pope Leo XIII to write the Saint Michael Prayer.
He knew that the world would need this prayer to get through the horrible century when Satan would have more power over the wicked.
Pope Leo XIII felt this prayer was so important that he asked that it be said after Mass.
Even though this practice {saying the Saint Michael Prayer after mass) was suppressed when the New Mass of Paul VI began in 1964, Pope John Paul II asked people to reestablish the practice of saying this prayer after Mass once again in 1994. John Paul II said,
"Although this prayer is no longer recited at the end of Mass, I ask everyone not to forget it and to recite it [The Saint Michael Prayer] to obtain help in the battle against forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world."
-Pope John Paul II
There is a longer form of the Saint Michael Prayer that by some accounts is the original written by Pope Leo XIII. Others say it was written by him later. This may be why there are so many versions of the shorter Saint Michael Prayer.
The slight differences in wording however is unimportant and all versions are fine.
The short form of the Saint Michael Prayer is commonly said at the end of the Rosary prayer. This came into practice for the same reason it was said at the end of the Mass.
The Saint Michael Prayer is a powerful prayer against Satan and all evil spirits and is very appropriate to incorporate any time.
Longer Version Of Saint Michael Prayer Taken from the Roman Raccolta
Saint Michael Prayer
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 depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the 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
Verse: Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers.
Response: The Lion of the tribe of Juda has conquered the root of David.
Verse: Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord.
Response: As we have hoped in Thee.
Verse: O Lord, hear my prayer.
Response: And let my cry come unto Thee.
Let us pray.
O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy name, and as supplicants we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel St. Michael, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander
about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls.
Amen.
This version of the Saint Michael Prayer is taken from the Roman Raccolta which is a book that contains prayers that Popes have attached indulgences to.
Besides the Rosary, one of the most beneficial devotions you can nurture is a devotion to Saint Michael the Archangel.
It is so important this day and age when you are constantly bombarded by the attacks of the devil.
The prayer to Saint Michael truly is a very calming prayer and those who say it frequently live a much more peaceful life under his protection.
Isn't it wonderful and appropriate that the Rosary prayer would end with the Saint Michael prayer.
You are making use of two very powerful means of bringing more peace and tranquillity into your life.
Return to Catholic Rosary Prayers Page
Return to our Saint John Vianney page
Catholic Mysteries Of The Rosary
Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from St. Luke's Gospel in the New Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus' childhood. The most joyful event in all of human history is the Incarnation or when God became man and dwelt among us read more...
Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary
What a gift the the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary are. Meditating on these
Mysteries of Light bring even deeper understanding of the public life of Jesus.
They fill in the blanks between Jesus' childhood and His suffering and death on
the cross. Therefore read more...
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary remind you of how much Jesus
loves you. He suffered and died for you. "Greater love than this no
man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-John 15:13. You are loved by Jesus read more...
Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
The Glorious Mysteries are the crown of Jesus' triumphs. How
exhilarating to know that Jesus is God and that He rose from the dead,
making you an heir to Heaven. Reminding yourself of these glorious
events as you pray the Rosary prayer will keep your faith alive and strong read more...
Return to our Origin of the Rosary page
|
Mystic Monk Coffee
Catholic Company
Inspiring Quotes
Daily Meditation
Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son and upon the acts of praise and satisfaction which He renders unto Thee in the name of sinners; and do Thou, in Thy great goodness, grant pardon to them who seek Thy mercy, in the name of the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end. Amen.
-From the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Please, help this site
continue running
by donating
just $5 or more
Why this?
|
