Tuesday 20 November 2012

Should the Prayer to St. Michael Be Reinstated after Mass?

Should the Prayer to St. Michael Be Reinstated after Mass?


Pope Leo XIII added the Prayer to St. Michael in 1886 to the Leonine Prayers, which he had directed to be said after Low Mass. The practice of reciting these prayers after Mass was suppressed in 1964. 


However, Pope John Paul II referred to the St Michael prayer in his Regina Coeli address of 24 April 1994 as follows:

"May prayer strengthen us for the spiritual battle that the Letter to the Ephesians speaks of: 'Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might' (Ephesians 6:10). The Book of Revelation refers to this same battle, recalling before our eyes the image of St Michael the Archangel (cf. Revelation 12:7). 

Pope Leo XIII certainly had this picture in mind when, at the end of the last century, he brought in, throughout the Church, a special prayer to St Michael: 'Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil...'

1 comment:

  1. OPN,
    Excellent post-Yes I totally agree that the Leonine prayers should be reinstated after Mass,especially now for exaltation of the Church and for World Peace also!

    God Bless,

    Michael.

    ReplyDelete