The Devotion to St. Michael the Archangel

The devotion to St. Michael dates back to the Old Testament and he’s recognized by Christianism, Judaism and Islamism as an Archangel and the Leader of God’s military. In the Old Testament, he appears three times in the book of Daniel, both as a guardian of the Israelites and as their advocate before God. In the New Testament, the position of St. Michael is also very important, as in the book of Revelation it is him who presides the final battle against Satan and his fallen angels.

In the Tradition of the Catholic Church, St. Michael heads all the angels in the cult of adoration and he offers all the prayers of the faithful to God, represented by the incense that rises before the altar.

Several Marian apparitions have included apparitions of St. Michael, where his relationship with the adoration to Jesus in the Eucharist and to the Holy Trinity are evident.

In 1916, in Fatima, he appeared to the three shepherd children, before the first apparition of Our Lady, and taught them this beautiful prayer to Jesus in the Eucharist:

“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You! I beg pardon for all those that do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.”

The liturgy of the Church also teaches us that St. Michael constantly battles Satan and the other demons who want to destroy the Church and lead souls away from God.

On October 13, 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a terrible vision after celebrating mass, while meeting with his cardinals. He suddenly stopped, with an expression of horror drawn on his face. He recounted seeing demons saying blasphemies and all kind of derisions. He heard Satan defying God, saying he could destroy the Church and take every soul to Hell if he was given enough time and power. The devil asked for 100 years to exert greater influence in the world. The Pope then saw that if the devil did not succeed on his purpose in the allotted time, he would be humiliated and defeated. He also saw St. Michael the Archangel appear and throw Satan and his legions in the abyss of Hell.

Immediately after his vision ended, the Pope wrote down a prayer and called the Secretary for the Sacred Congregation of Rites ordering that the prayer be recited after each mass.

This is the prayer written by Pope Leo XIII:

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 Hosts,

cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

The name “Michael” means “Who is like God?”. St. Michael is considered the patron saint of police officers, paramedics, and the military. We celebrate his Feast Day on September 29.

Add one of these, or both, prayers to St. Michael the Archangel to your everyday life to invoke his heavenly protection and his devotion to the Holy Eucharist!