St. Michael the Archangel Prayer

Patron saint of soldiers, police officers, paramedics, the Church, the dying Feast day: September 29

The Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel was composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1886 and ordered to be prayed at the end of every Low Mass until 1964. Catholics pray it for protection against evil and spiritual attack.

About the St. Michael Prayer

Pope Leo XIII composed this prayer in 1886 following a vision he experienced after celebrating Mass in the Vatican. Troubled by what he had seen regarding trials facing the Church, he composed both a longer exorcism prayer and the short form now universally known, ordering both to be prayed by priests and faithful after Low Mass — a practice that continued until the liturgical reforms of 1964.

St. Michael appears in Scripture as the heavenly warrior who defeats Satan (Revelation 12:7-9), who disputes with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 1:9), and as the protector of God's people (Daniel 12:1). His name means Who is like God — a battle cry asserting that nothing equals God.

When to Pray It

Many Catholics pray the St. Michael Prayer daily at the end of the Rosary. It is appropriate whenever spiritual protection is needed. Some parishes have restored it after Mass.

Choose a version

Short form Most common

The four-sentence form known by most Catholics. Prayed daily by millions worldwide, often at the end of the Rosary.

Long form Full version

The complete prayer as composed by Pope Leo XIII. Includes a fuller invocation and more explicit exorcism prayer.

Short form version

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.

Pope Leo XIII, 1886. Public domain.

Frequently asked questions

Who composed the St. Michael Prayer?: Pope Leo XIII composed the St. Michael Prayer in 1886 and ordered it prayed at the end of every Low Mass, a practice that continued until 1964.
What is the difference between the short and long form?: The short form is the four-sentence version most Catholics know beginning St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. The long form is the complete prayer Pope Leo XIII composed, including a fuller description of the spiritual battle and a more explicit exorcism prayer.
When should I pray the St. Michael Prayer?: Many Catholics pray it daily at the end of the Rosary. It is appropriate whenever spiritual protection is needed, before dangerous situations, or as part of a morning prayer routine.
Is there a St. Michael Prayer in Spanish?: Yes. The Spanish form begins San Miguel Arcángel, defiéndenos en la batalla... Use the EN/ES toggle on this page to switch between English and Spanish.
What does the name Michael mean?: The name Michael comes from the Hebrew Mi-ka-El meaning Who is like God — understood as a battle cry asserting that nothing and no one equals God. It is the war cry St. Michael used when casting Satan from heaven.

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