The Saint Michael prayer was recited at the end of every Mass prior to 1964. St Michael is the defender of the Eucharist, and is a significant figure in the Catholic church.

In 1884, Pope Leo XIII, when praying in a private chapel after Mass, saw a vision of a conversation between Jesus and Satan. In this vision, Satan said to Jesus "give me 75 or 100 years to destroy your church".

Afterwards, Pope Leo XIII devised three St Michael prayers, known as the Leonine prayers, the shortest of which he instated to be prayed at the end of each Mass.