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Original - Prayer to St.
Michael the Archangel
“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.
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.”
Roman
Raccolta, July 23,
1898, supplement
approved July 31, 1902,
London: Burnes, Oates &
Washbourne Ltd., 1935,
12th edition. |