Expert: Sam - 7/14/2008

Question
Dear Sam,
I saw your excellent postings on "AllExperts" and so thought you might be able to help me with the following translation/cultural question:  Is there a Slovak version of the Catholic Church's prayer to St. Michael the Archangel?  Here is the full text.  
"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 the power of God,
cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls."

Historically, the prayer was added to the Leonine Prayers by Pope Leo XIII in 1888, but was suppressed in 1964. Pope John Paul II brought it back into favor in 1988.  

Many thanks.  A

Answer
Hello,

yes, there is a Slovak version. I don't have a literal transcript from a prayer book, but I have found a person who knows the prayer by heart, so I have taken it down from him. Thus the punctuation and the line breaks are copied from your text.

Svätý Michal archanjel,
chráň nás v boji;
proti zlostiam a úkladom diablovým buď našou ochranou.
Pokorne prosíme, nech ho zavráti Boh:
a ty, Knieža vojska nebeského,
Božou mocou,
zažeň do pekla Satana i ostatných zlých duchov,
ktorí sa na skazu duší potulujú po svete. [Amen]

If the special Slovak characters are not displayed correctly, you can always do with the following text:

Svaty Michal archanjel,
chran nas v boji;
proti zlostiam a ukladom diablovym bud nasou ochranou.
Pokorne prosime, nech ho zavrati Boh:
a ty, Knieza vojska nebeskeho,
Bozou mocou,
zazen do pekla Satana i ostatnych zlych duchov,
ktori sa na skazu dusi potuluju po svete. [Amen]

I hope that helps.

Sam