from "St Michael's College and Academy - A Celebration 1921-2007",
published June 2007

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Many former pupils will, with affection, recall this hymn, sung initially in St Mary's Church Irvine and later in our Assembly Hall in Kilwinning each year on our patronal feast day - 29th September.

Life and strength of all thy servants,
Brightness of the father's light,
Men with angels, earth with heaven,
In thy praise their songs unite.

Thousand, thousand warrior princes
In thy angel army stand;
Flames the victor's cross before them,
Grasped in Michael's dauntless hand.

Hurling back from heaven the rebel
With the lifting of his sword,
In the might of God he tramples
On the dragon's head abhorred.

Lord of angels, Christ, we pray thee,
Bid them aid us in our strife,
Chase afar the hosts of evil
Till we reach the land of light.

God the Father, God immortal,
God the Son for us who died,
God the Comforter, the Spirit,
Evermore be glorified.

The School Prayer: Divine Jesus, Bless the pupils, past and present, of our school. Keep them steadfast in the faith, pure in body and soul, and strong against temptation. Give to each one the grace of final perseverance, through the merits of Thy bitter passion and death. Mother of God, keep them safe in your immaculate heart. Amen.

1

Bless them all,
Bless them all,
The long and the short and the tall;
Bless wee Jimmy for he rings the bell,
Curse wee M— and send her to hell;
’Cos we're saying goodbye to them all
And back to St ——– we'll go;
We get no enjoyment
From Polly's employment,
So good bye, good luck,
Bless them all.

2

Burn St Michael's,
Bum St Michael's,
It's a place of misery –
There's a signpost on the corner
Saying welcome unto thee.

Don't believe it,
Don't believe it,
’Cos it's just a pack of lies;
If it wisnae for the teachers,
It would be a paradise.

Build a bonfire,
Build a bonfire,
Put the teachers on the top,
Put the teachers in the middle,
And we'll burn the blooming lot.

Submitted by a former pupil who is now a respected(!) member of staff