St. Michael and Satan
Armies and Enemies
The Devil is the absolute destroyer, his goal is to divide and conquer by turning man against God and man against man. The weapons he uses is to sow doubt in us toward God the Father and to sow fear, hatred and polarization between husbands and wives, families and nations. Look around and we see precisely this at every level. There are human actors but this is first and foremost a spiritual war fought between spiritual beings, God, angels and demons. St Paul describes this in Ephesians 6:10 Finally, grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power. Put God's armor on so as to be able to resist the devil's tactics. For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness in this world, the spiritual army of evil in the heavens. That is why you must rely on God's armor, or you will not be able to put up any resistance when the worst happens, or have enough resources to hold your ground.
If this was not Sunday we would be celebrating today, September 29, the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. But since we are inundated with the powers of darkness in the world and in the Church I want to reflect on the often forgotten and vital role of St. Michael the Archangel, the Prince or Leader of the Spiritual Army of Angels.
Prince of Angels
The Book of Revelation 12:7, Describes a great battle between Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, the devil and his demons. This conflict began with the creation of the angels and it rages to this day and until the end of the world. St. Basil (Hom. de angelis) and other Greek Fathers place St. Michael over all the angels; they say he is called "archangel" because he is the prince or leader of the other angels.
Following Scripture Christian tradition gives to St. Michael four responsibilities:
To fight against Satan.
To rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death.
To be the champion of God's people, the Jews in the Old Law, the Christians in the New Testament; therefore he was the patron of the Church, and of the orders of knights during the Middle Ages.
St. Michael will lead each soul at the moment of death to the Judgment seat of God. So if you don’t believe in presence and power of St. Michael today, you will at the moment of death and you shall tremble.
Turn Back to St. Michael
In 1884 Pope Leo XIII had celebrated a morning Mass, he went to a meeting with the Cardinals. Suddenly he collapsed into 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 be unleashed in the later half of the 20th and first part of the 21st century as a punishment for sinful humanity. He was granted to see the devil’s seductiveness and ravaging for the coming ages in all lands. In this distress St. Michael the Archangel appeared 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.
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 rapid inculcation of Marxist ideologies in our government and education system. I think we need to turn back to St. Michael!
Confidence and Salvation
On Oct 13, 1973, Mary the Mother of God at the Approved apparition of Akita Japan warned of the impending dangers for the Church
"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres...churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
"The demon will be relentless against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them"
"Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able still to save you from the calamites which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved."
State of My Soul
Let us not forget the words of Ephesians 6: For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness in this world, the spiritual army of evil in the heavens… So stand your ground, with truth buckled round your waist, and integrity for a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to put out the burning arrows of the evil one. And then you must accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the word of God from the Spirit to use as a sword.
Am I really preparing myself each day for this spiritual battle by meditation and a resolution, examination of conscience, the frequent reception of the Eucharist and Confession?
Am I living my spiritual warfare by the example of St. Michael? Meaning, defending God's Kingdom with my life and actions on a daily basis?
What is the meaning of spiritual battle and how am I caring out my mission within my spiritual battles?
As you know I have been fighting some things that have no explanations other than the spiritual battle. So I am entrusting myself to St. Michael and sticking very close to him, developing a friendship with him because He is the Leader of God's army and I am a very weak foot soldier.