The Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel was composed by Pope Leo XIII in the late 19th century. The prayer was recited after all ‘said” Masses (Mass was either ‘said’ or ‘sung’ in those days) until the mid-Sixties. Its use was dormant by the Seventies and Eighties, but began to revive in the Nineties. Saint Mary’s parishioners already offer this prayer after ferial (‘weekday’) Masses, but Bishop Stika asks the faithful of the diocese to now offer this prayer after dominical (Saturday evening and Sunday) Masses, beginning this weekend. If you are not familiar with this prayer, then please print a copy to use after Mass. Versions follow in English, Spanish and the original Latin:
St. 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 hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
San Miguel Arcángel,
defiéndenos en la batalla;
sé nuestro amparo contra la perversidad
y asechanzas del demonio.
Reprímale Dios, pedimos suplicantes;
Y tú, Príncipe de la milicia celestial,
arroja al infierno, con el divino poder,
a Satanás y a los demás espíritus malignos
que andan dispersos por el mundo
para la perdición de las almas. Amén.
Sáncte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio,
cóntra nequítiam et insídias diáboli ésto præsídium.
Ímperet ílli Déus, súpplices deprecámur:
tuque, prínceps milítiæ cæléstis,
Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos,
qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in múndo,
divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde. Ámen.