Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel and the nine angelic choirs
Approved by: Traditional Catholic devotion; approved for private and public use; the most widely circulated version was popularised by the Confraternity of St. Michael
When to pray: On the Feast of the Archangels (September 29); in times of spiritual battle; for protection against the snares of the devil.
About this litany
St. Michael (whose name means ‘Who is like God?’) is venerated in Sacred Scripture as the prince of the heavenly host (Daniel 10:13, 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7-9). The Litany of St. Michael invokes him under his various scriptural titles and asks his protection against evil. The famous Prayer to St. Michael composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1886, after a mystical experience in his private chapel, has been recited at the end of every Mass in the Roman Rite for nearly eighty years and continues to be recited widely today as a Leonine prayer of exorcism.
Opening Kyrie and Trinitarian invocations → invocation of the nine angelic choirs → invocations of St. Michael under his various titles → three-fold Agnus Dei → versicle/response → collect.
Opening
- V. Lord, have mercy.
- R. Lord, have mercy.
- V. Christ, have mercy.
- R. Christ, have mercy.
- V. Lord, have mercy.
- R. Lord, have mercy.
- V. Christ, hear us.
- R. Christ, graciously hear us.
- V. God the Father of Heaven,
- R. have mercy on us.
- V. God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
- R. have mercy on us.
- V. God the Holy Spirit,
- R. have mercy on us.
- V. Holy Trinity, one God,
- R. have mercy on us.
- V. Holy Mary, Queen of Angels,
- R. pray for us.
Invocations
- V. Holy Seraphim,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Holy Cherubim,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Holy Thrones,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Holy Dominations,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Holy Virtues,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Holy Powers,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Holy Principalities,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Holy Archangels,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Holy Angels,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, full of the wisdom of God,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, perfect adorer of the Word Incarnate,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, crowned with honour and glory,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, most powerful Prince of the armies of the Lord,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, standard-bearer of the Most Holy Trinity,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, guardian of Paradise,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, guide and consoler of the people of Israel,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, splendour and fortress of the Church Militant,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, honour and joy of the Church Triumphant,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, light of Angels,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, rampart of orthodox believers,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, strength of those who fight under the standard of the Cross,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, light and confidence of souls at the hour of death,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, our most sure aid,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, our help in all adversities,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, herald of the everlasting sentence,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, consoler of souls in Purgatory,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, whom the Lord has charged to receive souls after death,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, our Prince,
- R. pray for us.
- V. St. Michael, our advocate,
- R. pray for us.
Concluding Invocations
- V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
- R. spare us, O Lord.
- V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
- R. graciously hear us, O Lord.
- V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
- R. have mercy on us.
- V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ,
- R. that we may be made worthy of His promises.
Closing Prayer
V. Let us pray. Sanctify us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the holy blessing of Thy heavenly servants, and deliver us by their continual aid from all the snares of the enemy. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Primary sources