The Policeman's Prayer to St. Michael

St. Michael, heaven's glorious Commissioner of Police,who once so neatly and successfully cleared God's premisesof all its undesirables, look with kindly and professionaleyes on your earthly force.

Give us cool heads, stout hearts, hard punches, and uncanny flair forinvestigation and wise judgment.

Make us the terror of burglars, the friends of children andlaw-abiding citizens, kind to strangers, polite to bores,strict with law-breakers and impervious to temptations.

In troubles and riots give us sheer muscle without temper; at the police count, give us love for truth and evidence without any thought of self.

You know, St. Michael, from your own experienceswith the devil that the policeman's lot on earth is notalways a happy one; but your sense of duty that sopleased God, your hard knocks that so surprised thedevil, and your angelic self- control give us inspiration. Make us as loyal to the law of God as we are particular about the law of the land. 

And when we lay down our night sticks, enroll us in yourheavenly force, where we will be as proud to guard thethrone of God as we have been to guard the city of all the people.- Rev. Patrick J. Gallagher, S.J. of Washington