The tradition presenting this prayer claims that invoking Saint Michael — 'Prince of the heavenly host' — will obtain his defense in spiritual battle, that God will rebuke Satan, and by God's power Michael will thrust Satan and other evil spirits into Hell, thus protecting souls from the devil's snares.
This entry records a short, standalone devotional prayer addressed to Saint Michael the Archangel, historically prominent in Catholic devotional practice. The specific English text quoted in the sources petitions Michael to 'defend us in battle' and asks God to rebuke Satan and have Michael 'thrust into Hell' Satan and other evil spirits who seek the ruin of souls. From 1886 to 1964 this prayer was commonly recited after Low Mass in the Catholic Church as a post‑Mass devotional recitation, though it was not part of the official Mass text or rubrics. Ethnographic and devotional materials present the prayer as part of a broader Christian 'spiritual warfare' repertoire, where angels are conceived as ministering spirits who assist and protect humans. The provided sources do not supply a Coptic‑rite version, Coptic language text, or documentation that this specific form belongs to the Coptic Orthodox liturgical tradition; any Coptic attribution is therefore not documented in these materials. Multiple other prayers to Saint Michael exist in Christian devotion; the quoted text is the commonly cited late‑19th/early‑20th‑century devotional formulation.
- 01Prepare for private or communal recitation by adopting a posture of prayer (standing or kneeling) appropriate to the practitioner's custom.
- 02If reciting communally after a Mass or service, wait until the conclusion of the service; historically this prayer was recited after Low Mass (1886–1964) though it was not part of the Mass rubrics.
- 03Address Saint Michael aloud or silently with the full prayer text: 'Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.'
- 04Continue the prayer with the petition: 'May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:'
- 05Conclude the invocation: 'and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all of the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.'
- 06End the prayer with the word 'Amen.'
- ⚠No formal contraindications listed in the provided sources.
- ⚠This prayer is a devotional invocation and is not documented as a substitute for formal pastoral, medical, or clinical intervention in cases of severe alleged possession or mental illness (inference marked as uncertain in sources).
Community Record
- [1]Prayer to Saint Michael. Wikipedia: 'Prayer to Saint Michael' (summary and quoted text; notes on recitation after Low Mass 1886–1964)wiki
- [2]Devotion to the nine choirs of holy angels, and especially to the Angel‑Guardians. Archive: devotional treatise excerpt describing angels as 'ministering spirits' who 'watch over' humans and grounds for angelic intercessionother
- [3]The Truth About Pope Leo XIII, the Archangel Michael and Satan. Archive video/description discussing historical context of the Leo XIII era prayer and devotion to Saint Michaelother
- [4]Prayer To St Michael For Personal Protection HD. Archive media presentation of the prayer as a Catholic invocation for protection; illustrates contemporary devotional usage with images/audioother