Catholic (not attested in Coptic sources provided) · Western Roman Catholic liturgical practice (historically Europe/Roman Catholic Church contexts)

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel (English; no Coptic form attested in sources)

protectiondemonprobable

A short Catholic devotional prayer invoking Saint Michael for spiritual warfare and protection against Satan and other evil spirits. The text reproduced in sources is the frequently printed English formulation associated in devotional use with the late 19th/20th-century Roman Catholic context; no Coptic-language version or distinct Coptic liturgical variant is attested in the provided sources. It addresses demonic forces and petitions angelic and divine intervention to repel them.

Claimed Effect

The tradition presenting this prayer petitions Saint Michael, as 'Prince of the heavenly host,' to defend the faithful in battle and, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls; it therefore claims angelic intervention that rebukes and banishes demonic agents and protects souls.

Description

This entry records the short devotional text commonly titled 'Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel' as reproduced in English devotional and encyclopedic sources. The prayer is framed as an invocation of Saint Michael for defense 'in battle' against the devil and other malevolent spirits. In Roman Catholic devotional practice in the late 19th and 20th centuries this English form was popularly printed and, from 1886 until 1964, was commonly recited after Low Mass in many parishes as an appended devotional formula (the practice was appended to liturgical celebration and was not incorporated into the rubrics or text of the Mass itself). The supplied sources do not give a Coptic-language text, Coptic liturgical placement, ritual gestures, sacramentals, or a specialist priestly formula unique to a Coptic tradition; therefore this entry does not assert Coptic provenance or additional ritual actions beyond the prayer text and its historical devotional placement in the Roman Catholic context.

Procedure
  1. 01Stand or kneel as custom dictates in the local devotional context (the cited source does not prescribe a specific posture).
  2. 02Recite the prayer text in full aloud or silently: '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, thrust into Hell Satan and all of the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.'
  3. 03If performed in parish practice historically attested in sources, recite the prayer after the conclusion of Low Mass as an appended devotional formula (the source notes this placement from 1886–1964 but indicates it was not part of the Mass rubrics).

Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    Prayer to Saint Michael - Wikipedia. Wikipedia contributors, 'Prayer to Saint Michael,' Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_to_Saint_Michael (accessed date not provided in source notes).wiki
probable