Saint Michael Prayer in English

This is a well-known prayer that many people use to pray to St. Michael’s sword. These are prayers for good and faith-building as well as for protection from evil.

This is a well-liked traditional prayer that military personnel frequently recite.

This prayer has traditionally been recited for soldiers who have died or been gravely injured during combat. So, it is also frequently said that this prayer has the ability to stop both the killing and the injuring effects of bullets.

Saint Michael prayer in English

Saint Michael the Archangel is a powerful protector and intercessor in the Christian faith. Many believers turn to him in times of need for his assistance and protection. The Saint Michael prayer in English is a popular prayer that invokes the aid of this mighty archangel. Below are nine prayers that can be recited to seek Saint Michael’s help and guidance.

1. Prayer for Protection

O Saint Michael, 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 hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

2. Prayer for Strength

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 the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

3. Prayer for Guidance

O Saint Michael, guide me in making decisions that honor God. Help me to discern right from wrong and to follow the path of virtue. Lead me away from temptation and towards the light of salvation. Amen.

4. Prayer for Deliverance

Saint Michael, deliver us from evil and protect us from harm. Shield us from the forces of darkness and lead us into the light of God’s love. Grant us your strength and courage so that we may overcome all trials and tribulations. Amen.

5. Prayer for Healing

O Saint Michael, heal the wounds of our body, mind, and spirit. Restore us to wholeness and bring us comfort in times of pain and suffering. May your divine power bring us peace and restoration. Amen.

6. Prayer for Justice

Saint Michael, defender of justice, help us to seek righteousness in all our actions. Guide us in upholding the truth and standing up for what is right. Protect the innocent and bring justice to the oppressed. Amen.

7. Prayer for Faith

O Saint Michael, strengthen our faith and trust in God’s mercy. Help us to believe in His goodness and to rely on His grace. Guard us against doubt and fear, and lead us to a deeper relationship with our Creator. Amen.

8. Prayer for Forgiveness

Saint Michael, intercede for us before the throne of God. Obtain for us His mercy and forgiveness for our sins. Help us to repent of our wrongdoing and to seek reconciliation with Him. Grant us the grace to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Amen.

9. Prayer for Protection of Loved Ones

O Saint Michael, watch over our loved ones and keep them safe from harm. Shield them from danger and guide them in the ways of righteousness. Protect them from all evil and lead them into the light of God’s presence. Amen.

Prayer	Bible Verse
Prayer for Protection	1 Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

St Michael the Archangel Prayer In Latin

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae caelestis, in virtute Dei, in infernum detrude satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo. Amen.

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 the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..

Exorcism prayer

A quite different prayer to Saint Michael was included in an exorcism formula published in the 1890−1891 edition of Acta Sanctae Sedis for use by bishops and by those priests authorized to perform exorcisms. To any of these who devoutly recited the formula daily Pope Leo XIII granted on 18 May 1890 a partial indulgence on each day and a plenary indulgence whenever they did so for a whole month.

This “Exorcism against Satan and the apostate angels” (Latin: Exorcismus in Satanam et angelos apostaticos) opens with some verses from the Psalms and then presents a long prayer to Saint Michael followed immediately by the actual prayer of exorcism, which began with a series of ten conjurations.^[14][15]

The exorcism formula, with its incorporated prayer to Saint Michael, was inserted into the 1898 edition of the Roman Ritual.

The 1890 prayer to Saint Michael

Latin text	English translation
Princeps gloriosissime caelestis militiae, sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio et colluctatione, quae nobis adversus principes et potestates, adversus mundi rectores tenebrarum harum, contra spiritualia nequitiae, in caelestibus.	O glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, defend us in battle, and in the struggle which is ours against the principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against spirits of evil in high places (Eph 6:12).
Veni in auxilium hominum, quos Deus creavit inexterminabiles, et ad imaginem similitudinis suae fecit, et a tyrannide diaboli emit pretio magno.	Come to the aid of men, whom God created immortal, made in his own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil (Wisdom 2:23–24, 1 Cor 6:20).
Proeliare hodie cum beatorum Angelorum exercitu proelia Domini, sicut pugnasti contra ducem superbiae Luciferum, et angelos eius apostaticos: et non valuerunt, neque locus inventus est eorum amplius in coelo. Sed proiectus est draco ille magnus, serpens antiquus, qui vocatur diabolus et satanas, qui seducit universum orbem; et proiectus est in terram, et angeli eius cum illo missi sunt.	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 a place for them any longer in Heaven. But that cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with all his angels (Rev 12:7–9).
En antiquus inimicus et homicida vehementer erectus est. Transfiguratus in angelum lucis, cum tota malignorum spirituum caterva late circuit et invadit terram, ut in ea deleat nomen Dei et Christi eius, animasque ad aeternae gloriae coronam destinatas furetur, mactet ac perdat in sempiternum interitum.	Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of man 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.
Virus nequitiae suae, tamquam flumen immundissimum, draco maleficus transfundit in homines depravatos mente et corruptos corde; spiritum mendacii, impietatis et blasphemiae; halitumque mortiferum luxuriae, vitiorum omnium et iniquitatum.	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.
Ecclesiam, Agni immaculati sponsam, faverrimi hostes repleverunt amaritudinibus, inebriarunt absinthio; ad omnia desiderabilia eius impias miserunt manus.	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 (Lam 3:15).
Ubi sedes beatissimi Petri et Cathedra veritatis ad lucem gentium constituta est, ibi thronum posuerunt abominationis et impietatis suae; ut percusso Pastore, et gregem disperdere valeant.	In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most blessed 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.
Adesto itaque, Dux invictissime, populo Dei contra irrumpentes spirituales nequitias, et fac victoriam.	Arise then, O invincible prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and bring them the victory.
Te custodem et patronum sancta veneratur Ecclesia; te gloriatur defensore adversus terrestrium et infernorum nefarias potestates; tibi tradidit Dominus animas redemptorum in superna felicitate locandas.	The Church venerates thee as protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious powers of this world and of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude.
Deprecare Deum pacis, ut conterat satanam sub pedibus nostris, ne ultra valeat captivos tenere homines, et Ecclesiae nocere.	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 nostras preces in conspectu Altissimi, ut cito anticipent nos misericordiae Domini, et apprehendas draconem, serpentem antiquum, qui est diabolus et satanas, ac ligatum mittas in abyssum, ut non seducat amplius gentes.	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.

The 1902 prayer to Saint Michael

In 1902, a year and a half before the death of Pope Leo XIII, a new edition of the Roman Ritual considerably shortened the exorcism formula as a whole and in particular the prayer to Saint Michael within it.

Latin text	English translation
Princeps gloriosissime caelestis militiae, sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio adversus principes et potestates, adversus mundirectores tenebrarum harum, contra spiritalia nequitiae, in caelestibus.	St. Michael the Archangel, illustrious leader of the heavenly army, defend us in the battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of darkness and the spirit of wickedness in high places.
Veni in auxilium hominum, quos Deus ad imaginem similitudinis suae fecit, et a tyrannide diaboli emit pretio magno.	Come to the rescue of mankind, whom God has made in His own image and likeness, and purchased from Satan’s tyranny at so great a price.
Te custodem et patronum sancta veneratur Ecclesia; tibi tradidit Dominus animas redemptorum in superna felicitate locandas.	Holy Church venerates you as her patron and guardian. The Lord has entrusted to you the task of leading the souls of the redeemed to heavenly blessedness.
Deprecare Deum pacis, ut conterat Satanam sub pedibus nostris, ne ultra valeat captivos tenere homines, et Ecclesiae nocere.	Entreat the Lord of peace to cast Satan down under our feet, so as to keep him from further holding man captive and doing harm to the Church.
Offer nostras preces in conspectu Altissimi, ut cito anticipent nos misericordiae Domini, et apprehendas draconem, serpentem antiquum, qui est diabolus et Satanas, et ligatum mittas in abyssum, ut non seducat amplius gentes. Amen.	Carry our prayers up to God’s throne, that the mercy of the Lord may quickly come and lay hold of the beast, the serpent of old, Satan and his demons, casting him in chains into the abyss, so that he can no longer seduce the nations. Amen.

In 1999, the Holy See issued a revised version of its Rite of Exorcism. In its “supplication and exorcism that may be used in special circumstances affecting the Church”, it includes, for optional use, the 1902 prayer to Saint Michael and also allows it to be replaced by another prayer better known by the people (pp. 76−77). It includes the 1886 (Leonine Prayers) text as one of the “supplications that the faithful can use in their struggle against the powers of darkness” (p. 83). The 1890 prayer is not included.

Saint Michael fighting the dragon (miniature from the Book of Hours of the Knight Étienne)

The threat to the church at the time was the Italian government’s campaign against the Papal States.^[22] The 1890 text was composed and published twenty years after the capture of Rome had deprived the Pope of the last vestige of his temporal sovereignty. The papal residence at the Quirinal Palace had been converted into that of the King of Italy.

On 29 September 1985, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote to Catholic Ordinaries, recalling the need to maintain the canonical norm that exorcisms are to be performed only by select priests who have been authorized by the local Ordinary, and that it is therefore illicit for other Catholics to use the formula of exorcism against Satan and the fallen angels, extracted from the one published by order of Pope Leo XIII, still less to use the integral text of this exorcism.

History of Saint Michael prayer in English

The “Leonine Prayers” date back to 1884, when Pope Leo XIII directed that specific prayers be recited following Low Mass in support of the Holy See’s autonomy. The Pope prayed to God for help in dealing with the loss of his worldly sovereignty, which prevented him from having the independence thought necessary for the effective exercise of his spiritual authority. [2] In 1886, the prayer to Saint. Michael that was previously mentioned was added to the Leonine Prayers.

When the State of Vatican City was established in 1929, the Pope’s authority as a temporal ruler was reinstated. The following year, Pope Pius XI issued an order specifying the purpose for which these prayers should now be offered: “to permit tranquilly and freedom to profess the faith to be restored to the afflicted people of Russia.”

The 26 September 1964 Instruction Inter oecumenici, which took effect on 7 March 1965, legally outlawed chanting this and the other Leonine prayers after Mass.

The removal of the requirement to say this prayer after Low Mass—along with the three Hail Marys, the Hail Holy Queen, and the prayer for the Church—did not entail its prohibition from recitation in other settings, whether in private or in public. Pope John Paul II endorsed its use thirty years later, saying:[11][12]
The letter to the Ephesians warns us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might,” thus may prayer help us in the spiritual conflict it describes (Ephesians 6:10). The fight is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, bringing the image of St. Michael the Archangel to mind (cf. Revelation 12:7). When Pope Leo XIII instituted a particular prayer to St. Michael across the Church at the turn of the 20th century, he undoubtedly had the following image in mind:

“Archangel Saint Michael, protect us in combat. Be our defence against the devil’s tricks and wickedness; may God punish him, we humbly beg; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast Satan and all demonic spirits who prowl the earth looking to destroy souls into hell. Amen.”

Notwithstanding the fact that this prayer is no longer said at the conclusion of Mass, I kindly beg everyone to remember it and say it in order to be supported in the struggle against evil and the spirit of this world.

― Pope John Paul II in Regina Caeli on April 24, 1994

On September 29, 2018, Pope Francis urged Catholics worldwide to pray the Rosary every day in the month of October and to end it with the Leonine prayer to Saint Michael and the antiquated prayer “Sub tuum praesidium.” “Pray that the Holy Mother of God place the Church under her protective mantle: to preserve her from the attacks of the devil, the great accuser, and at the same time to make her more aware of the faults, the errors, and the abuses committed in the present and in the past, and committed to combating without any hesitation, so that evil may not prevail,” he urged them. [3]
A month ago, in response to crises surrounding incidents of Catholic Church sexual abuse, Pope Francis more broadly urged “a penitential exercise of prayer and fasting.”
[13]
Every Catholic should learn the St. Michael the Archangel prayer by memory since it is a potent one. In these days that we are living in, prayer is very important. Outside and inside the Church, there are opponents who would do anything to eliminate the Church and any remnants of Christianity from the world.

St. Michael is uniquely suited to deal with the devil and his demons because of God’s might. After all, when he disobeyed God, God’s power drove him out of heaven.

Similar to this, contemporary world powers are so arrogant as to genuinely believe they can destroy the Church and the Kingdom of God. When Church leaders submit and reconfirm their terrible views, these beliefs are strengthened. These authorities are ignorant of the fact that when we oppose Satan, we get stronger while both he and his demons deteriorate.

Pray the prayer whenever you feel in danger or especially under the grip of evil. Make a request to St. Michael for help. He’ll look out for you.

When you are tempted to commit sins against purity, pray this prayer. Not only may St. Michael protect us from physical harm, but also from spiritual danger. In fact, he can aid us in thwarting all the devil’s tricks.

If you ask St. Michael for his intercession, you can bet the devil will run away.

When your children are acting rebelliously and have turned their backs on God, say the St. Michael prayer.

When your marriage is having issues or you’re experiencing depression, pray this prayer.

“The Devil hates Latin,” it is said. It’s crucial to master the Latin St. Michael Prayer for this reason. It has a certain impact to offer this prayer in a lovely, old language that is eternally “dead” and unchangeable.

As Catholics, we have access to the Saints, who, if we just ask, will act as our advocates.

St. Michael is a strong angel, yet he is also gentle and willing to stand up to Satan and his henchmen on behalf of God’s people.

We cannot defeat the devil on our own because we are just mortal, but with God’s assistance and St. Michael’s intercession, we may.