Against the SNARES

St. Michael the Archangel

(Hebrew "Who is like God?").

St. Michael is one of the principal angels; his name was the war-cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against the enemy and his followers. Four times his name is recorded in Scripture:

(1) Daniel 10:13 sqq., Gabriel says to Daniel, when he asks God to permit the Jews to return to Jerusalem: "The Angel [D.V. prince] of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me . . . and, behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me . . . and none is my helper in all these things, but Michael your prince."

(2) Daniel 12, the Angel speaking of the end of the world and the Antichrist says: "At that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people."

(3) In the Catholic Epistle of St. Jude: "When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses", etc. St. Jude alludes to an ancient Jewish tradition of a dispute between Michael and Satan over the body of Moses, an account of which is also found in the apocryphal book on the assumption of Moses (Origen, De Principiis III.2.2). St. Michael concealed the tomb of Moses; Satan, however, by disclosing it, tried to seduce the Jewish people to the sin of hero-worship. St. Michael also guards the body of Eve, according to the "Revelation of Moses" ("Apocryphal Gospels", etc., ed. A. Walker, Edinburgh, p. 647).

(4) Apocalypse 12:7, "And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon." St. John speaks of the great conflict at the end of time, which reflects also the battle in heaven at the beginning of time. According to the Fathers there is often question of St. Michael in Scripture where his name is not mentioned. They say he was the cherub who stood at the gate of paradise, "to keep the way of the tree of life" (Genesis 3:24), the angel through whom God published the Decalogue to his chosen people, the angel who stood in the way against Balaam (Numbers 22:22 sqq.), the angel who routed the army of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35).




Prayer of Protection
Prayer against evil
An older generation of Catholics may remember a prayer that used to be said after every Mass -this is an era when the priest faced the altar and the Mass was said in Latin. But few even of them, perhaps know what inspired that prayer, composed by Leo XIII who died in l903.The pope, meeting with several cardinals, sank to the floor as if in a faint. Some of the cardinals thought he was dead. After some time, he “came to,” as it were, and told those around him of a terrible ‘vision’ he had been shown: “what the coming times would bring, misleading powers and raving devils in all countries fighting against the Church.” As the Most Rev. William L. Adrian, Bishop of Nashville, narrated the scene to an audience on Sept. 22, l966, the pope then saw St. Michael appear - “in the nick of time” - to cast Satan and his legions back into hell.Following that frightening vision, Pope Leo composed the prayer that for decades was recited in every Catholic Church in the world. A reader suggested we would do well to publish it anew:St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we most humbly pray. And do thou, O prince of heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all other evil spirits that prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. AmenIn his l966 address, Bishop Adrian told his audience he hoped Catholics were still saying the prayer privately. “Some recent popes and saints have warned us,” he added, “that the anti-Christ will appear around the year 2,000 he is already born. Watch!”

Prayer Against Satan & The Rebellious Angels
Published by order of H.H. Pope Leo XIII
The Holy Father exhorts priests to say this prayer as often as possible, as a simple exorcism to curb the power of the devil and prevent him from doing harm. The faithful also may say it in their own name, for the same purpose, as any approved prayer. Its use is recommended whenever action of the devil is suspected, causing malice in men, violent temptations and even storms and various calamities. It could be used as a solemn exorcism (an official and public ceremony, in Latin), to expel the devil.
It would then be said by a priest, in the name of the Church and only with the Bishop’s permission.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen
Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in “our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places” (Ephes., VI, l2). Come to the assistance of men who God has created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; take hold of “the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan”, bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit “so that he may
no longer seduce the nations” (Apoc. XX, 2).Exorcism In the Name of Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints. (and powerful in the holy authority of our ministry), we confidently undertake to repulse the attacks and deceits of the devil.
PSALM 68 God arises; His enemies are scattered and those who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish at the presence of God.V.

Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee bands of enemies.R. He has conquered, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the offspring of David.V. May thy mercy, Lord, descend upon us.R. As great as our hope in Thee.(The crosses indicate a blessing to be given if a priest recites the Exorcism; if a lay person recites it, they indicate the Sign of the Cross to be made silently by that person.)

We drive you from us, whoever you may be, unclean spirits, all satanic powers, all infernal invaders, all wicked legions, assemblies and sects; in the Name and by the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ, + may you be snatched away and driven from the Church of God and from the souls made to the image and likeness of God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of the Divine Lamb. + Most cunning serpent, you shall no more dare to deceive the human race, persecute the Church, torment God’s elect and sift them as wheat. + The Most High God commands you. + He with whom in great insolence, you still claim to be equal; “He who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim., 11, 4). God the Father commands you. +God the Son commands you. +God the Holy Ghost commands you. +Christ, God’s Word made flesh, commands you; + He who to save our race outdone through you envy, “humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death” (Phil., 11,8); He who had built His Church on the firm rock and declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Her, because He will dwell with Her “all days even to the end of the world” (St. Mat., XXVIII, 20). The sacred Sign of the Cross commands you, + as does the power of the mysteries of the Christian Faith. + The glorious Mother of God; the Virgin Mary, commands you; + She who by her humility and from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception, crushed your proud head. The faith of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and of the other Apostles commands you. + The blood of the Martyrs and the pious intercession of all the Saints commands you. + Thus, cursed dragon, and you, diabolical legions, we adjure you by the living God, + by the true God, + by the holy God, + by the God “who so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that every soul believing in Him might not perish but have life everlasting” (St. John, III); stop deceiving human creatures and pouring out to them the poison of eternal damnation; stop harming the Church and hindering her liberty. Be gone, Satan, inventor and master of all deceit, enemy of man’s salvation. Give place to Christ in whom you have found none of your works; give place to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church acquired by Christ at the price of His Blood. Stoop beneath the all-powerful Hand of God; tremble and flee when we invoke the Holy and terrible Name of Jesus, this Name which causes hell to tremble, this Name to which the Virtues, Powers and Dominations of heaven are humbly submissive, this Name which the Cherubim and Seraphim praise unceasingly repeating: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, the God of Armies. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee. V. May the Lord be with thee. R. And with thy spirit.Let us pray. God of heaven God of earth, God of Angels, God of Archangels, God of Patriarchs, God of Prophets, God of Apostles, God of Martyrs, God of Confessors, God of Virgins, God who has power to give life after death and rest after work, because there is no other God than Thee and there can be no other, for Thou art the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, of whose reign there shall be no end, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy glorious Majesty and we beseech Thee to deliver us by Thy power from all the tyranny of the infernal spirits, from their snares, their lies and their furious wickedness; deign, O Lord, to grant us Thy powerful protection and to keep us safe and sound. We beseech Thee through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord. That Thy Church may serve Thee in peace and liberty, we beseech Thee to hear us. That Thou may crush down all enemies of Thy Church, we beseech Thee to hear us. (Holy water is sprinkled in the place where we may be.)Imprimatur: +Henri, O.M.I. Vicar Apostolic of James Bay - Aug. 15, l967
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 thrust into Hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman Archbishop of New York,
February 24,1961
I know of no other prayer like this one that puts the authority over evil back into Christian hands. It is a profession of faith and should be said daily aloud in your homes and at the office.
PDF File of the Prayer of Protection