Taken from the 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia, we read that Holy Mother Church gives to St. Michael four offices:
- To fight against Satan.
- To rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death.
- To be the champion of God’s people, the Jews in the Old Law, the Christians in the New Testament; therefore he was the patron of the Church, and of the orders of knights during the Middle Ages.
- To call away from earth and bring men’s souls to judgment.
The following prayers were written by Pope Leo XIII after he witnessed a vision of God and Satan during Mass, in 1884, 33 years before the appearance of Our Lady at Fatima. The “middle” version is a shorter edition published in the Roman Ritual of 1902.
Original, Shortest Version, now used after Mass, written in by Pope Leo in 1886.
Sáncte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio, cóntra nequítiam et insídias diáboli ésto præsídium. Ímperet ílli Déus, súpplices deprecámur: tuque, prínceps milítiæ cæléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos, qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in múndo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde. Ámen.
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.
Medium Length version taken from the original, long version. This appeared in the 1902 Roman Ritual.
Prínceps gloriosíssime cœléstis milítiæ, sancte Míchaël Archángele, defénde nos in prǽlio et colluctatióne, quæ nobis advérsus príncipes et potestátes, advérsus mundi rectóres tenebrárum harum, contra spirituália nequítiae, in cœléstibus. Veni in auxílium hóminum, quos Deus creávit inexterminábiles, et ad imáginem similitúdinis suæ fecit, et a tyránnide diáboli emit prétio magno. Te custódem et patrónum sancta venerátur Ecclésia; tibi trádidit Dóminus ánimas redemptórum in supérna felicitáte locándas. Deprecáre Deum pacis, ut cónterat sátanam sub pédibus nostris, ne ultra váleat captivos tenére hómines, et Ecclésia nocére. Offer nostras preces in conspéctu Altíssimi, ut cito antícipent nos misericórdiæ Dómini, et apprehéndas dracónem, serpéntem antíquum qui est diábolus et sátanas, et ligátum mittas in abyssum, ut non sedúcat ámplius gentes. Amen.
St. Michael the Archangel, illustrious leader of the heavenly army, defend us in the battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of darkness and the spirit of wickedness in high places. Come to the rescue of mankind, whom God has made in His own image and likeness, and purchased from Satan’s tyranny at so great a price. Holy Church venerates thee as her Patron and Guardian. The Lord has entrusted to thee the task of leading the souls of the redeemed to heavenly blessedness. Entreat the Lord of peace to cast Satan down under our feet, so as to keep him from further holding man captive and doing harm to the Church. Carry our prayers up to God’s throne, that the mercy of the Lord may quickly come and lay hold of the beast, the serpent of old, Satan and his demons, casting him in chains into the abyss, so that he can no longer seduce the nations. Amen.
Original, Long Version composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1884, as published in the Roman Ritual of 1890.
Prínceps gloriosíssime cœléstis milítiæ, sancte Míchaël Archángele, defénde nos in prǽlio et colluctatióne, quæ nobis advérsus príncipes et potestátes, advérsus mundi rectóres tenebrárum harum, contra spirituália nequítiae, in cœléstibus. Veni in auxílium hóminum, quos Deus creávit inexterminábiles, et ad imáginem similitúdinis suæ fecit, et a tyránnide diáboli emit prétio magno. (I Cor. VI)
Præliáre hódie cum beatórum Angelórum exércitu prælia Dómini, sicut pugnásti olim contra ducem supérbiæ Lucíferum, et ángelos eius apostáticos; et non valuérunt, neque locus invéntus est eórum ámplius in cælo. Sed proiéctus est draco ille magnus, serpens antíquus qui vocátur diábolus et sátanas, qui sedúcit univérsum orbem; et proiéctus est in terram, et ángeli eius cum illo missi sunt (Apoc. XII).
En antíquus inimícus et homicída veheménter eréctus est. Transfigurátus in ángelum lucis, cum tota malignórum spirituum catérva late circuit et invádit terram, ut in ea déleat nomen Dei et Christi eius, animásque ad ætérnæ glóriæ corónam destinátas furétur, mactet ac perdat in sempitérnum intéritum.
Virus nequitiæ suæ tanquam flumem immundissimum, draco maléficus transfúndit in hómines depravátos mente et corrúptos corde; spiritum mendácii, impietátis et blasphémiæ; halitúmque mortiferum luxúriæ, vitiórum ómnium et iniquitátum.
Ecclésiam, Agni immaculáti sponsam, vaférrimi hostes replevérunt amaritudínibus, inebriárunt absinthio; ad ómnia desiderabilia eius ímpias misérunt manus.
Ubi sedes beatíssimi Petri et Cáthedra veritátis ad lucem géntium constitúta est, ibi thronum posuérunt abominatiónis impietátis suæ; ut percússo Pastóre, et gregem dispérdere váleant.
Adésto itaque, Dux invictíssime, pópulo Dei contra irrumpéntes spiritáles nequitias, et fac victóriam.
Te custódem et patrónum sancta venerátur Ecclésia; te gloriátur defensóre advérsus terréstrium et infernórum nefárias potestátes; tibi trádidit Dóminus ánimas redemptórum in supérna felicitate locándas. Deprecáre Deum pacis, ut cónterat sátanam sub pédibus nostris, ne ultra váleat captivos tenére hómines, et Ecclésiæ nocére.
Offer nostras preces in conspéctu Altissimi, ut cito antícipent nos misericórdiæ Dómini, et apprehéndas dracónem, serpéntem antiquum, qui est diábolus et sátanas, ac ligátum mittas in abyssum, ut non sedúcat ámplius gentes (Apoc. XX).
Hinc tuo confísi præsídio ac tutéla, sacra ministérii nostri auctoritáte, ad infestatiónes diabólicæ fraudis repelléndas in Nómine Iesu Christi Dei et Dómini nostri fidéntes et secúri aggrédimur.
V. Ecce crucem Dómini, fúgite partes advérsæ,
R. Vicit leo de tribu Juda, radix David.
V. Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos,
R. Quemádmodum sperávimus in te.
V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam,
R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat.
V. Dóminus vobíscum,
R. Et cum spíritu tuo.
Orémus: Deus, et Pater Dómini nostri Iesu Christi, invocámus nomen sanctum tuum et cleméntiam tuam súpplices expóscimus, ut per intercessiónem Immaculátæ semper Vírginis Dei Genitrícis Mariæ, beáti Michaélis Archángeli, beáti Joseph eiúsdem beátæ Virginis Sponsi, beatórum Apostolórum Petri et Pauli et ómnium Sanctórum, advérsus sátanam, omnésque álios immúndos spiritus, qui ad nocéndum humáno géneri animásque perdéndas pervagántur in mundo, nobis auxilium præstáre dignéris. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
Cor Iesu Sacratissimum, miserere nobis. (ter)
Cor Immaculatum Mariæ, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioseph, ora pro nobis.
In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Amen.
O glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, defend us in battle, and in the struggle which is ours against the principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against spirits of evil in high places (Eph 6:12). Come to the aid of men, whom God created immortal, made in his own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil (Wisdom 2:23-24, 1 Cor 6:20).
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 a place for them any longer in Heaven. But that cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with all his angels (Rev 12:7-9).
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 (Lam 3:15).
In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most blessed Peter and the Chair of Truth for 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 scattered.
Arise then, O invincible prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and bring them the victory.
The Church venerates thee as Protector and Patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious powers of this world and 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 conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down 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, 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.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray: God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy name, and we humbly implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel St. Michael, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.
Most Secred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. (3x)
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.