Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense 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.
About this prayer
Pope Leo XIII composed this prayer in 1886 and asked that it be recited after every Low Mass, a practice that continued for decades before falling out of common use. St. John Paul II later called for Catholics to take it up again, describing it as a prayer for protection in a world that often forgets the reality of spiritual struggle.
It is short enough to memorize in a single sitting, which is part of why it has endured. It does not ask for comfort. It asks for defense.
When to pray it
Many Catholics pray this after daily Mass, before bed, or in a specific moment of temptation, anxiety, or spiritual heaviness. It is also a steady companion prayer for parents asking protection over their household.