St. Michael
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. But today I want to focus in on St. Michael because the prayer to St. Michael is so important. But where did it come from?
One
Prayer to St. Michael
In 1884 Pope Leo XIII celebrated morning Mass, then went to a meeting with the Cardinals. Suddenly he collapsed on the floor in unconsciousness. The doctors who came to his aid found no cause for the collapse, although his pulse almost ceased. Suddenly he awoke and was fresh as ever. He reported that he had seen a terrible vision in which the Devil and his demons would gain great power and seem to rule in the latter half of the 20th and first part of the 21st century. The goal of Satan’s domination was the complete destruction of humanity.
In his vision, Pope Leo XIII saw St. Michael the Archangel appear and cast Satan with all his demons back into Hell. Seeing that we needed the help of the Angelic Army and especially its leader St. Michael, Pope Leo XIII composed the Prayer to St Michael and then commanded it be prayed at the end of every Mass throughout the world perpetually. “St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard 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, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”
The entire Church prayed the prayer of St. Michael after every Mass until 1968. Then for some unknown, and demonic reason we abruptly stopped, and literally all hell broke loose in the late 60’s with no-fault divorce, contraception, abortion, the sexual revolution, the breakdown of the family, rampant drug use and the Marxist ideologies in the media and our secular institutions. I think we need the help of St. Michael.
Two
The epic battle between the Woman and Michael against the Dragon
The Book of Revelation 12, describes a great battle between Mary, the Woman clothed with the Sun, and Michael and his angels who fight against Satan, the Great Red Dragon and his demons. Verse 7 tells us, “And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had deceived all the world, was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him.”
Following Scripture, Christian tradition gives St. Michael three responsibilities: To fight against Satan and to rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death. St. Thomas taught that St. Michael has a special role of leading lead each soul at the moment of death to the Judgment seat of God. Since he will be by your side at your particular judgement before God, it would be a good idea to make friends with him now I think.
Three
The Ruler of this World
At the Last Supper, in John 14:30, Jesus called Satan the ruler of this world. God reigns in the heart of those who do His will. Satan reigns in the hearts of those who turn away from God and live a life of sin.
The more humans reject God and live in obedience to Satan, the more the power of Satan grows in the world and the more we see two things: lies and murder. Why? Because at his core, Satan is a liar and a murderer. Jesus said as much. What do we see growing in the world? Lies and murder. Lies in the news and murder, especially in abortion and euthanasia.
As humans turn away from God and toward the devil mankind is divided by fear which grows to hate, followed by murder and war. Satan gains power through our personal sin. Satan would have no power if we would stop sinning. The problem is not out there some where. It is not other people that are the problem. Sin is the problem, mine and yours.
Therefore, the only solution is our personal conversion.
Four
Letter to Pope John Paul II
On December 2nd, 1983 the visionaries of Medjugorje sent a letter to Pope John Paul II summarizing the Blessed Virgin’s call to conversion. In addition to this basic message, Mirjana related an apparition she had in 1982 in which Satan appeared disguised as the Blessed Virgin and asked her to renounce the Madonna and follow him. Then Our Lady appeared and said, “Excuse me for this, but you must realize that Satan exists. One day he appeared before the throne of Go and asked permission to submit the Church to a period of trial. God gave him permission to try the Church for one century. These 100 years are under the power of the Devil, but when the secrets confided to you come to pass, his power will be destroyed. Even now he is beginning to lose his power and has become aggressive. He is destroying marriages, creating divisions among priests and is responsible for obessions and murder. You must protect yourselves against these things by fasting and prayer, especially community prayer.”
Five
Fasting, Prayer, and Community Prayer
In 1872, St. Bernadette Soubirous, the visionary of Lourdes, France, gave an interview to a journalist. She was asked if an encroaching Prussian army was predicted by Our Lady. She responded in the negative. The journalist then asked if there was nothing to fear. St. Bernadette replied that she feared one thing only, “bad Catholics.”
Personal sin is the problem, Conversion is the answer, mine and yours. So, what do we do to have the greatest impact?
Commit to daily meditation on the Word of God in the Rosary. This is what Our Lady asked us to do because daily meditation with a resolution which results in a change of life. It results in conversion. When you pray the Rosary, offer it for the conversion of your loved ones and all those who have not yet encountered the love of God.
Fast, fast from everything that distracts you from God. Fast especially from the distraction that comes from your screens. Fast because Our Lady asked us to.
We also need community prayer. We need prayer in families and among friends. So invite family and friends to get together for meals or to do some good thing together. If everyone is open to it, invite them to pray the Rosary with you. Pray the Rosary together because this is what Our Lady asked us to do.
Finally, since it is Our Lady and St. Michael who lead the war against Satan, pray the prayer of St. Michael daily and become friends with him. Then when he leads you to the judgment seat of God at the moment of your death, you will have a good friend at your side!