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Prayer — Prayers to the Angels

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O Princeps caelestis militiae

O Prince of the Heavenly Host (Prayer to St. Michael for the Hour of Death)

Latin, printed in the Orate Fratres, 1901

A Latin prayer to Michael in his three offices — defender of the Church, champion against Satan, and guardian of souls leaving this world — asking his protection 'especially at the hour of my death'.

The Prayer · Multiple Versions
Latin · Original
O Princeps caelestis militiae, sancte Michael, qui superbum Luciferum cum omnibus suis asseclis in tartarum deiecisti, o defensor et protector Ecclesiae, o animarum ex hoc saeculo migrantium praeses: succurre populo Dei, defende Ecclesiam tibi commendatam contra omnes insidias satanae; adiuva animam meam contra eundem hostem constitutam, quam tibi nunc commendo. Praesertim me in hora mortis meae protege, ut ad paradisi gaudia admittar, ubi cum omnibus Angelis Deum aeternis laudibus depraedicem. Amen.
English
O Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael, who didst cast the proud Lucifer with all his followers down into hell; O defender and protector of the Church; O guardian of the souls that pass out of this world: come to the help of the people of God, defend the Church committed to thee against all the snares of Satan; help my soul, set to face that same enemy, which I now commend to thee. Protect me above all in the hour of my death, that I may be admitted to the joys of paradise, where with all the angels I may praise God for ever. Amen.

(Our translation.)
When the Prayer is Said

At night prayers; for the dying; on 29 September.

History & Background

The Church's liturgy for the dead asks that 'the standard-bearer Michael bring them into the holy light' (Offertory of the Requiem Mass), and the old Roman Ritual commends the departing soul to him. This prayer is built on that office: Michael is praeses, the one set over souls migrating out of this world, and is asked to keep the soul he is given 'at the hour of my death, that I may be admitted to the joys of paradise'.

The Latin is printed in the Orate Fratres of 1901 as the Thesaurus Precum Latinarum records it; the English is our own translation.

Related Saints
St. Michael the Archangel
Created before the world – Immortal
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