Leo XIII Oratio ad Sanctum Michael Archangelum

Prínceps gloriosíssime caeléstis milítiae, sancte Michaël Archangele, defénde nos in praelio et colluctatióne, quae nobis adversus príncipes et potestátes, adversus mundi rectores tenebrárum harum, contra spirituália nequítiae, in caeléstibus. Veni in auxilium hóminum, quos Deus creávit inexterminábiles, et ad imaginem similitúdinis suae fecit, et a tyránnide diaboli emit prétio magno. Praeliáre hodie cum beatórum Angelórum exércitu praelia Domini, sicut pugnásti contra ducem supérbiae lucíferum, et angelos ejus apostáticos: et non valuérunt, neque locus invéntus est eorum ámplius in coelo. Sed projéctus est draco ille magnus, serpens antíquus, qui vocatur diábolus et sátanas, qui sedúcit univérsum orbem; et projectus est in terram, et angeli ejus cum illo missi sunt.

En antíquus inimícus et homicída veheménter erectus est. Transfigurátus in angelum lucis, cum tota malignórum spirítuum caterva late circuit et invádit terram, ut in ea deleat nomen Dei et Christi ejus, animásque ad aeternae glóriae corónam destinátas furetur, mactet ac perdat in sempitérnum interitum. Virus nequítiae suae, tamquam flúmen immundíssimum, draco maléficus transfúndit in homines depravátos mente et corrúptos corde; spiritum mendácii, impietátis et blasphemíae; halitumque mortíferum luxúriae, vitiorum omnium et iniquitátum.

Ecclesiam, Agni immaculati sponsam, faverrimi hostes replevérunt amaritudínibus, inebriárunt absinthio; ad omnia desiderabília ejus impias misérunt manus. Ubi sedes beatissimi Petri et Cathedra veritatis ad lucem gentium constitúta est, ibi thronum posuerunt abominatiónis et impietatis suae; ut percusso Pastore, et gregem disperdere váleant.

Adesto itaque, Dux invictissime, populo Dei contra irrumpéntes spirituáles nequítias, et fac victóriam. Te custodem et patronum sancta veneratur Ecclésia; te gloriatur defensóre adversus terrestrium et infernorum nefarias potestates; tibi tradidit Dominus animas redemptórum in supérna felicitáte locandas. Deprecare Deum pacis, ut conterat sátanam sub pedibus nostris, ne ultra valeat captivos tenére homines, et Ecclesiae nocére. Offer nostras preces in conspéctu Altíssimi, ut cito anticipent nos misericórdiae Domini, et apprehéndas dracónem, serpentem antíquum, qui est diabolus et satanas, ac ligatum mittas in abýssum, ut non sedúcat amplius gentes.

V. Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. R. Vicit Leo de tribu Juda radix David.
V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos.
R. Quemadmodum speravimus in te.

V. Domine, exaudi oratiónem meam. R. Et clámor meus ad te veniat.

Oremus.
Deus, et Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, invocámus nomen sanctum tuum, et cleméntiam tuam súpplices expóscimus ut, per intercessiónem immaculátae semper Virginis Dei Genitrícis Mariae, et beati Michaëlis Archangeli, adversus sátanam, omnésque alios immúndos spirítus, qui ad nocendum humáno generi animásque perdendas pervagantur in mundo, nobis auxilium praestare dignéris. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Leo XIII The Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

O Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in his own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels.

Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he moves about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of his Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. That wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity.

Those most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.

Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits. Bring help to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and Patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations.

V. Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers.
R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered the root of David. V. Let thy mercies be upon us, O Lord.
R. As we have hoped in thee.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us pray.
O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon thy holy name, and as suppliants we implore thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel St. Michael, thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.