Mount Alverna, August 1224. Francis of Assisi climbs the mountain to fast forty days in honor of St. Michael the Archangel.
The tradition goes back to the 13th century: St. Bonaventure recounts that Francis, "out of devotion to the angels, fasted forty days from the Assumption of the glorious Virgin." It was during this Lent, near the feast of the Holy Cross, that Francis received the stigmata — the wounds of Christ in his own body. The "Lent of St. Michael" was born there: forty days of prayer, fasting and penance, from the Assumption of Our Lady to the feast of St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael.
It is not an official liturgical Lent — it is a devotion of popular piety, of Franciscan roots, which in recent years has mobilized millions of the faithful who wake up at dawn to pray the Rosary. We walk alongside that wave, for the rest of the day: at the hour of the Angelus, when there is a pause, there is a video with the day's prayer, a meditation and the Way of the Day — a concrete step to Perceive, Decide and Live.
On the first day you choose the grace you will ask for during the forty days and a renunciation to sustain the request. In the final weeks, the journey flows into the traditional novena to St. Michael, in the nine days before the feast, and ends on it, with the consecration to the Archangel.
The companion book — the forty days complete, with the traditional prayers in full and the source of each one — is free: leave your email below and receive the complete PDF right away, plus your place on the 40-day journey (reminders before it begins, the daily prayer videos and free material along the way). Prefer it printed? Paperback and hardcover editions are also available on Amazon, further down this page.
“Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.”
This is the daily prayer of the journey: added by Leo XIII to the prayers after Mass in 1886, and recommended by St. John Paul II in 1994 — "I ask everyone not to forget it and to recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness." In the itinerary you will find the full text and the documented history of each prayer.
Not a prayer to repeat alone: it is a forty-day journey with the Prince of the heavenly host.
The prayer to St. Michael prayed in full, a meditation and the Way of the Day — in the noon pause, when there is time to stop and pray calmly.
The prayer of Leo XIII (1886), the traditional consecration linked to the shrine of Gargano, and the Litany of St. Michael — in full, with the history of each one.
On day 1 you choose the grace you will ask for during the 40 days and a concrete renunciation to sustain the request — and you walk with them until the feast.
In the nine days before the feast, the traditional novena to St. Michael within the journey; on the feast day itself, the consecration to the Archangel.
“40 Days with Saint Michael” — in Kindle, paperback and hardcover editions.
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Real comments from our YouTube videos.
I have felt a Great uplifting shift in my daily life since I started this Wonderful St. Michael Lenton Devotion. It's brought Joy, Happiness and a Great sense of relief to my life. I was Sad, Depressed and So Lost before, but now I'm found!
@carlosgallardo65I was having a severe crisis of Faith at the beginning of this novena, due to many misfortunes such as illness. Those misfortunes still exist; but my Faith has been rejuvenated, and is much stronger than before.
@mgtowabbott6924I love this novena more than any other I've done in a whole lifetime because it's tough me I'm knotted like a pretzel 😅 I laugh about it for a moment but I'm very serious.
@peggydubarry8180Free PDF by e-mail — or the printed paperback on Amazon.
Printed paperbackWrite your Way of the Day by hand and pray with your family or prayer group — a paperback you can mark up, lend and keep within reach every day.
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Leave your best email and receive the complete “40 Days with Saint Michael” right now, free — the forty days in full, the traditional prayers complete, ready to print and pray with your family or prayer group. Plus your place on the 40-day journey: a reminder as it begins on the Assumption of Our Lady, the daily prayer videos and free material along the way. Prefer it already printed? The paperback and hardcover editions are available on Amazon, just below.
Printed paperbackWrite your Way of the Day by hand and pray with your family or prayer group — a paperback you can mark up, lend and keep within reach every day.
Buy on AmazonDelivered to your door by Amazon.