Help Against Spiritual Enemies

Warm lamps illuminate the porch of a stone mountain refuge surrounded by snow at dusk.
Courage grows where shelter and steadfastness meet.

Glorious St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, who standest always ready to give assistance to the people of God; who didst fight with the dragon, the old serpent, and didst cast him out of heaven, and now valiantly defendest the Church of God that the gates of hell may never prevail against her, I earnestly entreat thee to assist me also, in the painful and dangerous conflict which I have to sustain against the same formidible foe. Be with me, O mighty Prince! that I may courageously fight and wholly vanquish that proud spirit, whom thou hast by the Divine Power, so gloriously overthrown, and whom our powerful King, Jesus Christ, has, in our nature, so completely overcome; to the end that having triumphed over the enemy of my salvation, I may with thee and the holy angels, praise the clemency of God who, having refused mercy to the rebellious angels after their fall, has granted repentance and forgiveness to fallen man. Amen.

Further reading

This petition asks St. Michael for courage in spiritual struggle and ends in praise of God’s mercy. Scott Hahn’s Angels and Saints offers a biblical account of the heavenly communion to which the prayer turns, placing angelic help within the wider life of the Church.

Angels and Saints: A Biblical Guide to Friendship with God’s Holy Ones by Scott Hahn (hardcover) on Amazon (paid link)