+JMJ

A Brief Note about the St. Michael Prayer

 

Like many parishes throughout the country, we recently have begun to pray the St. Michael Prayer after the conclusion of each Mass. The St. Michael Prayer was composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1886 after having experienced a disturbing vision of demonic spirits. The prayer was then mandated to be recited after Mass until 1965. While it is not required by liturgical law, Pope St. John Paul II once remarked, “I ask everyone not to forget it and to recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world.” The end of Mass is a fitting occasion since we have just been commanded to “Go forth.” When we “go forth” from the church, strengthened by the Presence of Christ, we are sent into the world to fight against temptation and evil with the truth of the Gospel. St. Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Ephesians, “We are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” While it can be unpopular in our present age to admit that there are indeed evil spirits set entirely against us, this “bad news” is the flip side of the “Good News” of the Gospel, which gives us all the power we need to reject evil and live in the full freedom of the children of God.  St. Michael the Archangel, protect us!

 

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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.