Hymne à Saint Michel, Hymn to St. Michael, a French song of the paratroopers

Folk Songs

Hymn to St. Michael
Hymne à Saint Michel - Song of the French paratroopers
Hymn to Saint Michael (Hymne à Saint Michel ) is a French Paratrooper song that seems to have been popularized during the Second World War. St. Michael was chosen to be the patron saint of the French paratroopers in 1948 under the inspiration of Fr. Marcel Jégo, Chaplain of the French Airborne Troops. Before leaving for Indochina, Fr. Jégo celebrated a Mass for the troops. He ended his homily with these words: “And by St. Michael, long live the paratroopers.”

The song is an earnest prayer in which the soldier asks St. Michael for bravery, faith and “holy audacity” in order to complete his mission. The melody was taken from a Bearnese song; the words are from a Scout song written by Fr. Dancoeur in 1927.

It is interpreted here by an unknown French military chorus.

Listen to Hymn to St. Michael

Lyrics:
1. O Michel, ange des paras,
Trempe nos cœurs de hardiesse.
Conduis nos pas joyeux,
Aux vastes bois tout plein de Dieu.
Guide-nous dans les durs sentiers,
Et garde-nous de nos détresses.
O Michel, ange des paras,
Trempe nos cœurs de hardiesses.

2. O Michel, ange chevalier,
Lave nos cœurs de nos rotures,
Fais-nous loyaux et braves,
Bons aux petits à tous courtois.
Pour servir fais-nous être prêts,
Et défend-nous de tout parjure.
O Michel, ange chevalier,
Lave nos cœurs de nos rotures.

3. O Michel, ange des guerriers,
Arme nos cœurs de sainte audace,
Ta main trancha les cieux,
Arrache-nous des camps peureux.
Laisse-nous résolus et fiers,
Sangle nos chairs dans les cuirasses.
O Michel, ange des guerriers,
Arme nos cœurs de sainte audace.

English translation:
1. O Michael, angel of the paratroopers,
Steep our hearts in boldness.
Lead our joyful steps,
Toward the bounteous divine regions.
Guide us on the hard paths,
And guard us in our distresses.
O Michael, angel of the paras,
Steep our hearts in boldness.

2. O Michael, angelic knight,
Cleanse our hearts from our mediocrities,
Make us loyal and brave,
Good to the little ones, courteous to all.
Make us ready to serve,
And defend us from all treachery.
O Michael, angelic knight,
Cleanse our hearts from our mediocrities.

3. O Michael, angelic warrior,
Arm our hearts with holy audacity,
Your hand severed the heavens,
Tear away fearful thoughts from us.
Leave us resolute and proud,
Make our flesh firm under our armor.
O Michael, angelic warrior,
Arm our hearts with holy audacity.