PRAYERS TO OUR LADY

40-Day Devotion to St. Michael The Archangel

40-Day Devotion to St. Michael The Archangel

August 15 to September 29

It is important to remember that the devotion can be realized beginning any date of the year, August and September being a special moment.

To prepare it is necessary to:
* Light a candle before an image or print of St. Michael the Archangel
* Complete a penance for 40 days;
* Start by making the sign of the cross; *

Pray these prayers every day: Start by praying the Saint Michael the Archangel, prayer!

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by power of God, cast into Hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

Then: Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! (x3)

Lord have mercy on us.
(Christ have mercy on us.)
Lord have mercy on us.

Christ hear us. (Christ graciously hear us.)
God the Father of heaven, (have mercy on us.)

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (have mercy on us.)

God the Holy Ghost, (have mercy on us.)

Holy Trinity one God, ( have mercy on us.)

Holy Mary Queen of Angels (pray for us).

St Michael (pray for us)
St Michael filled with the wisdom of God, (pray for us)
St Michael, perfect adorer of the Incarnate Word, (pray for us)
St Michael crowned with honor and glory, (pray for us)
St Michael most powerful Prince of the armies of the Lord, (pray for us)
St Michael standard-bearer of the Most Holy Trinity, (pray for us)
St Michael victor over Satan, (pray for us)
St Michael guardian of Paradise, (pray for us)
St Michael guide and comforter of the people of Israel, (pray for us)
St Michael splendor and fortress of the Church Militant, (pray for us)
St Michael, honor and joy of the Church Triumphant, (pray for us)
St Michael light of angels, (pray for us)
St Michael bulwark of orthodox believers, (pray for us)
St Michael strength of those who fight under the standard of the Cross, (pray for us)
St Michael light and confidence of souls at the hour of death, (pray for us)
St Michael our most sure aid, (pray for us)
St Michael our help in all adversities, (pray for us)
St Michael Herald of the Everlasting Sentence, (pray for us)
St Michael Consoler of souls detained in the flames of Purgatory, (pray for us).

Thou whom the Lord has charged to receive souls after death, (pray for us)
St Michael our Prince, (pray for us)
St Michael our Advocate, (pray for us)

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.)
Christ hear us. (Christ graciously hear 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.) Sanctify us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, with Thy holy blessing, and grant us, by the intercession of St. Michael, that wisdom which teaches us to lay up treasures in Heaven by exchanging the goods of this world for those of eternity, Thou Who livest and reignest, world without end (Amen.)

Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St Michael, St Gabriel, St Raphael and our Guardian Angel.

O glorious prince St Michael chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day. Pray for us O glorious St Michael Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ that we may be made worthy of His promises. Almighty and Everlasting God Who by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men has appointed the most glorious Archangel St Michael Prince of Your Church make us worthy we ask You to be delivered from all our enemies that none of them may harass us at the hour of death but that we may be conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Oh, most Noble Prince of the Angelic Hierarchies valorous warrior of Almighty God and zealous lover of His glory, terror of the rebellious angels and love and delight of all the just ones my beloved Archangel Saint Michael, desiring to be numbered among your devoted servants I today offer and consecrate myself to you and place myself my family and all I possess under your most powerful protection. I entreat you not to look at how little I as your servant have to offer being only a wretched sinner but to gaze rather with favorable eye at the heartfelt affection with which this offering is made and remember that if from this day onward I am under your patronage you must during all my life assist me and procure for me the pardon of my many grievous offenses and sins the grace to love with all my heart my God, my dear Savior Jesus and my Sweet Mother Mary and obtain for me all the help necessary to arrive to my crown of glory. Defend me always from my spiritual enemies particularly in the last moments of my life. Come then oh Glorious Prince and succor me in my last struggle and with your powerful weapon cast far from me into the infernal abysses that prevaricator and proud angel that one day you prostrated in the celestial battle. Saint Michael defend us in our daily battle so that we may not perish in the last Judgement.

AMEN

The 40 days devotion of St. Michael the Archangel began with St Francis, who was devoted to the Archangel. St. Francis felt the desire to experience in body and soul the Passion of Christ, His pain and also the immense love to give himself over to suffering for us.

In 1224, the saint realized the first 40 days of fasting and prayer, on Mount Alverne, in the desert, for his own prayer. St. Francis said: “To honor God, the beatitude of the Virgin Mary and of St. Michael the Archangel, prince of angels and of souls, I want to make a 40 days devotion here.”

On the 17th of September, during his devotion, whenever he was in prayer, he had a vision of a seraphim, which later drew near. It had six wings of fire and also was crucified, feet and hands extended and tied to the cross. Two wings were elevated above his head, to others were open to fly and two others covered his body. And, in the middle of this vision, Francis could understand better the true sense of the Passion.

When the Feast in honor of St. Michael the Archangel arrived, Francis descended Mount Alverne, bringing in his hands and feet the stigmata of Jesus. As he found himself unworthy of becoming equal to Christ, he remained in total fasting, on the last of these days and he drank water and ate a piece of bread.
It is important to remember that the devotion can be realized beginning any date of the year, August and September being a special moment.