The Saint Michael prayer is one of the most well-known prayers in the Catholic Church. Originally written by Pope Leo XIII in 1886, Catholics throughout the world have invoked St. Michael the Archangel for protection against evil and help in spiritual battle for over a century.
You may have heard this prayer recited after Mass, prayed at the end of the Rosary, or used during times of personal struggle and temptation. The prayer is short, but its message is powerful: we are asking the leader of the heavenly armies to defend us against the forces of evil.
The Saint Michael 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 the evil spirits
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.Amen.
Who Is Saint Michael the Archangel?
Before understanding the prayer itself, it helps to understand who Saint Michael is.
St. Michael is one of the chief angels mentioned in Sacred Scripture, and his name means:
“Who is like God?”
In the Bible, Michael appears as a warrior and protector of God’s people.
In the Book of Daniel, he is described as the great prince who defends the people of God (Daniel 12:1). In the Book of Revelation, he leads the heavenly armies in battle against Satan:
“Michael and his angels fought against the dragon… and the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan.” (Revelation 12:7–9)
For this reason, the Church has long honored St. Michael as (1) the defender of the Church, (2) the leader of the heavenly hosts, and (3) the protector against the powers of evil.
When Catholics pray the Saint Michael prayer, they are asking this powerful archangel to defend them in the spiritual battle of the Christian life.
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What Does the Saint Michael Prayer Mean?
Though the Saint Michael prayer is short, every line expresses an important truth about the Christian life. Below is a breakdown of the prayer and the meaning of each line.
“Defend us in battle”
The Christian life involves a real spiritual struggle. Scripture repeatedly speaks of the battle between good and evil and calls Christians to remain vigilant against temptation.
This line asks St. Michael to defend us in that spiritual struggle.
“Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil”
The prayer recognizes that evil is not merely an abstract idea. The Church teaches that Satan and the fallen angels are real spiritual beings who oppose God and seek to lead souls away from Him.
By praying this line, we ask for protection from their influence.
“May God rebuke him, we humbly pray”
This line reminds us that God alone ultimately defeats evil. Even the archangel Michael acts only by the authority and power of God.
“Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits”
Here we ask St. Michael to exercise his role as the leader of the heavenly armies by driving away the powers of darkness.
The prayer echoes the victory described in the Book of Revelation when Michael and the angels defeat the devil.
“Who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls”
This final line reminds us that spiritual vigilance is necessary. The goal of the Christian life is the salvation of our souls, and the Church encourages us to remain alert against anything that might lead us away from God.
The History of the Saint Michael Prayer
The Saint Michael prayer was composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1886.
After celebrating Mass one morning, Pope Leo XIII reportedly experienced a powerful vision that impressed upon him the reality of spiritual battle within the Church and the world. Shortly afterward he composed a series of prayers asking for God’s protection.
These prayers eventually became known as the Leonine Prayers.
For many years Catholics throughout the world prayed these prayers—including the Saint Michael prayer—after every Low Mass.
Although the Leonine Prayers were no longer required after Mass following the liturgical reforms of the 1960s, devotion to the Saint Michael prayer has continued.
In fact, in recent years many parishes have once again encouraged its recitation at the end of Mass.
When Should Catholics Pray the Saint Michael Prayer
The St. Michael the Archangel prayer can be anytime, however, today it is commonly prayed in several situations:
After Mass
As mentioned above, many parishes have revived the tradition of praying the prayer after Mass as a way of asking God’s protection for the Church.
After the Rosary
The prayer is often said at the end of the Rosary, especially when praying for protection from temptation and evil.
During times of spiritual struggle
Many Catholics pray the Saint Michael prayer during moments of temptation, fear, or spiritual difficulty.
In family prayer
Families sometimes include the prayer in their daily prayer routine, asking for God’s protection over their home. In my family, we pray the Saint Michael prayer every night, along with other prayers, just before putting my children to sleep.
Why the Saint Michael Prayer Is So Powerful
The Saint Michael prayer remains one of the most powerful and beloved prayers in the Catholic tradition for a simple reason: it reminds us that we are not alone in the spiritual battle.
God has given His people the help of the angels.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that angels are spiritual creatures who serve God and assist those who are called to salvation. Among them, St. Michael holds a special place as the defender of the people of God.
When we pray the Saint Michael prayer, we are entrusting ourselves to the protection of the heavenly armies.
For generations of Catholics, this prayer has been a reminder that evil does not have the final word. Christ has already conquered sin and death, and through His victory the powers of darkness ultimately fail.
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Saint Michael Prayer in Latin
Do you enjoy praying in Latin? Check out the Saint Michael prayer in Latin:
Sancte Michael Archangele,
defende nos in proelio.
Contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur:
tuque, Princeps militiae caelestis,
Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos
qui ad perditionem animarum
pervagantur in mundo,
divina virtute in infernum detrude.Amen.
