"Call me old fashioned, but......." (Prayer to St. Michael)

Love the Tradition- Loathe the Traddies ^ | 5/11/2010 | The Raven

[markomalley]

At the end of Mass this morning, as is the custom, we said the extra prayers appointed. The Prayer to St Michael the Archangel seemed to leap from the page.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice 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.

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio. Contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur. Tuque princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen.

The Lord speaks to us in strange ways at times and I'm just wondering exactly what we're in for now. Perhaps I'm just a little sensitive to things at the moment having had a glorious week of non stop Gregorian Chant in one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. Coming back to earth with a thud could be an explanation. More likely it was a conversation I had by chance with a respected parishioner in the street. It was quite obvious that despite a sound catechesis many years ago they had actually sold out to the 'cafeteria' approach to Catholicism a long time ago. It was the subtlety of the arguments that disturbed me. 'Has God really said?' was the underlying theme. It reminded me of something slithering around a tree in a garden soon after God had completed creation.

What does strike me is the subtle way that Satan's work continues in the world. His greatest success in the campaign against our salvation is to make us doubt that he (or she) even exists. The fact that this prayer is now rarely 'lisped by little ones' let alone known by my own 'Generation X' catholics makes me quite sure that we have been lulled into a sense of false security.

What is probably less well known is the 'long' version of the prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII after he had a vision of evil spirits released from Hell to attack the world.

“O Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan.

“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, 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 the See of Holy Peter and the Chair of Truth has been set up as 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.

“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 find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing 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.

St Michael, pray for us!

[pkmaine]

Thanks for posting the complete prayer. In my parish, we recite that prayer after every Mass. It is always funny to see visitors to the church look in bewilderment as the congregation remains standing, and after the last note of the recessional hymnn - immediately begins that prayer.

[johngrace]

Thank you for posting long form!

[Judith Anne]

Thanks for posting the long form. I’m bookmarking this, for future quick reference.

[mlizzy]

One of our parishes we attend recites the St. Michael prayer after daily Mass. And they have an awesome statue of St. Michael as well. I liked the mention of Gregorian Chant in this post ... when I recently put together a site with audios of the Rosary, I included first some chant ... I will leave this chant on sometimes all day long ... I have read it dispels darkness and chases away demons ... it's beautiful ...

Rosary for Peace
The 3:30 Beads -- join us!

[GonzoII]

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 for
the ruin of souls. Amen.

[Salvation]

I like that!

It might stop the applause for the choir that thinks they are performing. We haven’t gotten them to the weekend Masses, but this would be worth trying.

After daily Mass we say

3 Hail Marys
1 Our Father
1 Glory Be
1 St. Michael the Archangel

I understand these are previous prayers that were prayed by the priest after every Mass dismissal. He would come right back out and say them.

Are they called Leonine prayers?

[Salvation]

~ PRAYER ~

St. 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,
 Cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
 Amen
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