Includes prayers for many occasions, as well as a novena
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St. Michael the Archangel is the closest angel to God’s throne. He is the angel destined to cast Satan into Hell.
His name means “Who is like God?”
“Michael” was a battle cry of the angels during the War in Heaven, when the fallen angels first disobeyed God.
Lucifer, the former Archangel, tried to become greater than God. Michael stood against him, asking “Who is like God?”
Nobody is like God, thus Satan’s plan failed.
St. Michael the Archangel is a powerful ally that you should want on your side in our current spiritual war.
“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; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” Revelation 12:7–9
Praying to Saints
If you have never prayed to a saint before, don’t mistake the act of praying to a saint as worshiping a saint. Worship, Catholics believe, is reserved for God alone.
See this type of prayer almost as a conversation, a talk with a friend. Since the saints are in Heaven, these are your friends in Heaven who, since they fully know the love of God, want us to join them in God’s love.
We ask the saints to “pray for us” the same way we would ask a friend to pray for us. But the prayers of the saints are more powerful than the prayers of our friends because they are so close to the throne of God. If we pray to them, they will plea to God on our behalf.
Prayers to St. Michael the Archangel
Novena:
A novena is a nine-day prayer where you ask for something; while growing closer to a saint, and while growing your dedication to prayer. You can either ask for help in overcoming a certain sin or request a special favor.
To do a novena to St. Michael the Archangel, pray the next two prayers every day, possibly in the morning or before bed, for nine straight days.
Prayer for intercession:
“O glorious prince Saint Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.” Amen.
Now mention your request . . .
“Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel Saint Michael Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord.” Amen.
(Can also add an optional St. Michael Prayer here)
St. Michael the Archangel prayer
“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, cast into Hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.”
St. Michael the Archangel prayer (long version)
This prayer was composed Pope Leo XIII in 1886 after his vision of the demonic. He wrote this prayer soon after and many parishes say it after Mass.
Tradition in Action summarizes the event: “One day, after celebrating Mass, the aged Pope Leo XIII was in conference with the Cardinals when suddenly he sank to the floor in a deep swoon. Physicians who hastened to his side could find no trace of his pulse and feared that he had expired. However, after a short interval the Holy Father regained consciousness and exclaimed with great emotion: “Oh, what a horrible picture I have been permitted to see!”
He had been shown a vision of evil spirits who had been released from Hell and their efforts to destroy the Church. But in the midst of the horror the archangel St. Michael appeared and cast Satan and his legions into the abyss of hell”
“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 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 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.
V. Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers. R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, the root of David. V. Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord. R. As we have hoped in Thee. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. 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 St. Michael the Archangel, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all the other unclean spirits who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls.” Amen.
Consecration to St. Michael the Archangel
“Oh most noble Prince of the Angelic Hierarchies, valorous warrior of Almighty God and zealous lover of His glory, terror of the rebellious angels, and love and delight of all the just angels, my beloved Archangel Saint Michael, desiring to be numbered among your devoted servants, I, today offer and consecrate myself to you, and place myself, my family, and all I possess under your most powerful protection. I entreat you not to look at how little, I, as your servant have to offer, being only a wretched sinner, but to gaze, rather, with favorable eye at the heartfelt affection with which this offering is made, and remember that if from this day onward I am under your patronage, you must during all my life assist me, and procure for me the pardon of my many grievous offenses, and sins, the grace to love with all my heart my God, my dear Savior Jesus, and my Sweet Mother Mary, and to obtain for me all the help necessary to arrive to my crown of glory. Defend me always from my spiritual enemies, particularly in the last moments of my life. Come then, oh Glorious Prince, and succor me in my last struggle, and with your powerful weapon cast far from me into the infernal abysses that prevaricator and proud angel that one day you prostrated in the celestial battle.” Amen.
St. Michael Policeman’s Prayer
“St. Michael, Heaven’s glorious Commissioner of Police, look with a kindly and professional eye on your earthly force. Give us cool heads, stout hearts, and wise judgement. Inspire us by your sense of duty that so pleased God, and your angelic self-control. And when we lay down our night sticks, enroll us in your Heavenly Force when we will be as proud to guard the throne of God as we have been to guard the city of men.” Amen.
Prayer for Protection
“Saint Michael, the Archangel, Glorious Prince, chief and champion of the heavenly hosts; guardian of the souls of men; conqueror of the rebel angels! How beautiful art thou, in thy heaven-made armor. We love thee, dear Prince of Heaven! We, thy happy clients, yearn to enjoy thy special protection. Obtain for us from God a share of thy sturdy courage; pray that we may have a strong and tender love for our Redeemer and, in every danger or temptation, be invincible against the enemy of our souls. O standard-bearer of our salvation! Be with us in our last moments and when our souls quit this earthly exile, carry them safely to the judgment seat of Christ, and may Our Lord and Master bid thee bear us speedily to the kingdom of eternal bliss. Teach us ever to repeat the sublime cry: “Who is like unto God?” Amen.
The Litany of St. Michael
“Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Queen of the Angels, pray for us St. Michael, the Archangel, pray for us Most glorious attendant of the Triune Divinity, pray for us Standing at the right of the altar of Incense, pray for us Ambassador of Paradise, pray for us Glorious Prince of the Heavenly armies, pray for us Leader of the Angelic hosts, pray for us The standard-bearer of God’s armies, pray for us Defender of Divine glory, pray for us First defender of the Kingship of Christ, pray for us Strength of God, pray for us Invincible Prince and warrior, pray for us Angel of Peace, pray for us Guide of Christ, pray for us Guardian of the Catholic Faith, pray for us Champion of God’s people, pray for us Guardian Angel of the Eucharist, pray for us Defender of the Church, pray for us Protector of the Sovereign Pontiff, pray for us Angel of Catholic action, pray for us Powerful intercessor of Christians, pray for us Bravest defender of those who hope in God, pray for us Guardian of our souls and bodies, pray for us Healer of the sick, pray for us Help of those in their agony, pray for us Consoler of the Souls in Purgatory, pray for us God’s messenger for the souls of the just, pray for us Terror of the evil spirits, pray for us Victorious in battle against evil, pray for us Guardian and Patron of the universal Church, pray for us Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.