Pope
Leo XIII’s
Prayer
to Saint Michael
PRINCEPS gloriosissime
caelestis militiae, sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio et colluctatione, quae nobis adversus principes et potestates, adversus mundi rectores tenebrarum harum, contra spiritualia nequitiae, in caelestibus. Veni in auxilium hominum, quos Deus creavit inexterminabiles, et ad imaginem
similitudinis suae fecit, et a tyrannide diaboli emit pretio magno. Proeliare hodie cum
beatorum Angelorum exercitu proelia Domini, sicut pugnasti contra ducem
superbiae luciferum, et angelos eius apostaticos: et non valuerunt, neque
locus inventus est eorum amplius in caelo. Sed proiectus est draco ille
magnus, serpens antiquus, qui vocatur diabolus et satanas, qui seducit
universum orbem; et proiectus est in terram, et angeli eius cum illo missi
sunt. |
O GLORIOUS Prince of the heavenly host, Saint Michael the
Archangel, defend us in the battle and fearful warfare that we are waging
against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of
darkness, against the evil spirits. Come thou to the assistance of men, whom
Almighty God created immortal, making them in His own image and likeness and
redeeming them at a great price from the tyranny of Satan. Fight this day the
battle of the Lord with thy legions of holy Angels, even as of old thou didst
fight against Lucifer, the leader of the proud spirits and all his rebel
angels, who were powerless to stand against thee, neither was their place
found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast forth, the ancient
serpent, who is called the devil and satan, who
seduces the whole world; and he was cast forth upon Earth, and his angels
were sent with him. |
En antiquus inimicus et
homicida vehementer erectus est. Transfiguratus in angelum lucis, cum tota
malignorum spirituum caterva late circuit et invadit terram, ut in ea deleat
nomen Dei et Christi eius, animasque ad aeternae gloriae coronam destinatas
furetur, mactet ac perdat in sempiternum interitum. Virus nequitiae suae,
tamquam flumen immundissimum, draco maleficus transfundit in homines
depravatos mente et corruptos corde; spiritum mendacii, impietatis et
blasphemiae; halitumque mortiferum luxuriae, vitiorum omnium et iniquitatum. |
But behold! the ancient enemy of mankind and
a murderer from the beginning has been fiercely aroused. Changing himself
into an angel of light, he goes about with the whole multitude of the wicked
spirits to invade the earth and blot out the Name of God and of His Christ,
to plunder, to slay, and to consign to eternal damnation the souls that have
been destined for a crown of everlasting life. This wicked serpent, like an
unclean torrent, pours into men of depraved minds and corrupt hearts the
poison of his malice, the spirit of lying, impiety and blasphemy, and the
deadly breath of impurity and every form of vice and iniquity. |
Ecclesiam, Agni immaculati sponsam, vaferrimi hostes repleverunt amaritudinibus, inebriarunt absinthio; ad omnia desiderabilia eius impias miserunt
manus. Ubi sedes beatissimi Petri et
Cathedra veritatis ad lucem gentium constituta est, ibi thronum posuerunt
abominationis et impietatis
suae; ut percusso Pastore, et gregem disperdere valeant. |
Be favorable to Thy Church, the Bride of the Lamb
without spot, whose enemies have filled to overflowing with gall and
inebriated with wormwood. They have laid profane hands upon Her most sacred
treasures. Where the See of the most blessed Peter and the Chair of Truth has
been constituted as a light to the nations, there they have placed a throne
of their abomination and impiety; so that with the Pastor struck, they may
prevail to disperse the flock. |
Adesto itaque, Dux
invictissime, populo Dei contra irrumpentes spirituales nequitias, et fac
victoriam. Te custodem et patronum sancta veneratur Ecclesia; te gloriatur
defensore adversus terrestrium et infernorum nefarias potestates; tibi
tradidit Dominus animas redemptorum in superna felicitate locandas. Deprecare
Deum pacis, ut conterat satanam sub pedibus nostris, ne ultra valeat captivos
tenere homines, et Ecclesiae nocere. Offer nostras preces in conspectu
Altissimi, ut cito anticipent nos misericordiae Domini, et apprehendas
draconem, serpentem antiquum, qui est diabolus et satanas, ac ligatum mittas
in abyssum, ut non seducat amplius gentes. |
Therefore, most invincible Leader, be with the people of God against
this spiritual wickedness and bring about victory. Thou art venerated by Holy
Church as Her guard and patron; Thou art glorified as our defender against
the impious powers of earth and of hell. Unto thee the Lord hath handed over
the souls of the redeemed to be placed in happiness above. Entreat the God of
peace, to obliterate satan beneath our feet, lest
he prevail further to hold men captive, and to injure the Church. Offer our
prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that the mercy of the Lord may
swiftly overtake us, and apprehend the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is
the devil and satan, and send him bound into the
abyss, so that he may seduce the nations no more. |
(Pope Leo XIII,
1888, Motu proprio) |