Category: Feastdays: Our Lady, Saints, Prayers and Reflections

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Yesterday was the Feast of St Michael the Archangel – 29th September

Saint Michael appears in scripture

The Bible refers to Michael in Daniel 10:13, 21, 12:1, 

Jude 1:9, and Revelation 12:7

Michael is called “one of the chief princes” (Daniel 10:13). He is the chief and highest in rank.

A couple of verses further, Michael is called “your prince” (Daniel 10:21), implying that Michael is the heavenly prince of his exiled nation. Later, Daniel 12:1 calls Michael “the great prince who has charge of your people,” reinforcing the idea of Michael as the head of the exiled Jews.

Revelation 12:7-9 depicts Michael as head of the heavenly armies. It reads:

“Then a war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels fought back. But it was not strong enough, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon was hurled down. That ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, along with its angels.”

The Bible describes Michael as a warrior-like individual

One distinctive characteristic of the commander of the Lord’s army is that he held a “drawn sword” in his hand, ready for battle (Joshua 5:13).

St Michael wasn’t just for the Old Testament – The following is my favourite story of St Michael – still watching over God’s remnant today. We are in the times of Revelation (Apocalypse):

St  Michael- patron saint of soldiers: A U.S. Marine  in the Korean war

This is a letter written by a marine to his mother after he was wounded in 1950, during the Korean War. Various internet sources say that Father Walter Muddy, Navy chaplain, was shown the letter, verified its facts, and made it public the next year at a gathering of 5,000 marines in San Diego, California. Thereafter, the letter became famous, being published in print and read on television and on the radio, as per the audio below. The text of the letter follows:

“Dear Mom,

I wouldn’t dare write this letter to anyone but you because no one else would believe it. Maybe even you will find it hard but I have got to tell somebody.

First off, I am in a hospital. Now don’t worry, ya hear me, don’t worry. I was wounded but I am okay you understand. Okay. The doctor says that I will be up and around in a month.
But that is not what I want to tell you.

Remember when I joined the Marines last year; remember when I left, how you told me to say a prayer to St. Michael every day. You really didn’t have to tell me that. Ever since I can remember you always told me to pray to St. Michael the Archangel. You even named me after him. Well I always have.

When I got to Korea, I prayed even harder. Remember the prayer that you taught me?

“Michael, Michael of the morning fresh crop of Heaven adorning,” you know the rest of it. Well I said it everyday. Sometimes when I was marching or sometimes resting. But always before I went to sleep. I even got some of the other fellas to say it.

Well, one day I was with an advance detail way up over the front lines. We were scouting for the Commies. I was plodding along in the bitter cold, my breath was like cigar smoke.

I thought I knew every guy in the patrol, when along side of me comes another Marine I never met before. He was bigger than any other Marine I’d ever seen. He must have been 6′ 4″ and built in proportion. It gave me a feeling of security to have such a body near.

Anyway, there we were trudging along. The rest of the patrol spread out. Just to start a conversation I said, “Cold ain’t it.” And then I laughed. Here I was with a good chance of getting killed any minute and I am talking about the weather.

My companion seemed to understand. I heard him laugh softly.
I looked at him, “I have never seen you before, I thought I knew every man in the outfit.”

“I just joined at the last minute”, he replied. “The name is Michael.”

“Is that so,” I said surprised. “That is my name too.”

“I know,” he said and then went on, “Michael, Michael of the morning . . .”

I was too amazed to say anything for a minute. How did he know my name, and a prayer that you had taught me? Then I smiled to myself, every guy in the outfit knew about me. Hadn’t I taught the prayer to anybody who would listen. Why now and then, they even referred to me as St. Michael.

Neither of us spoke for a time and then he broke the silence. “We are going to have some trouble up ahead.”

He must have been in fine physical shape or he was breathing so lightly I couldn’t see his breath. Mine poured out in great clouds. There was no smile on his face now. Trouble ahead, I thought to myself, well with the Commies all around us, that is no great revelation.

Snow began to fall in great thick globs. In a brief moment the whole countryside was blotted out. And I was marching in a white fog of wet sticky particles. My companion disappeared.

“Michael, ” I shouted in sudden alarm.

I felt his hand on my arm, his voice was rich and strong, “This will stop shortly.”

His prophecy proved to be correct. In a few minutes the snow stopped as abruptly as it had begun. The sun was a hard shining disc.

I looked back for the rest of the patrol, there was no one in sight. We lost them in that heavy fall of snow. I looked ahead as we came over a little rise.

Mom, my heart stopped. There were seven of them. Seven Commies in their padded pants and jackets and their funny hats. Only there wasn’t anything funny about them now. Seven rifles were aimed at us.

“Down Michael, ” I screamed and hit the frozen earth.

I heard those rifles fire almost as one. I heard the bullets. There was Michael still standing.

Mom, those guys couldn’t have missed, not at that range. I expected to see him literally blown to bits.

But there he stood, making no effort to fire himself. He was paralyzed with fear. It happens sometimes, Mom, even to the bravest. He was like a bird fascinated by a snake.

At least, that was what I thought then. I jumped up to pull him down and that was when I got mine. I felt a sudden flame in my chest. I often wondered what it felt like to be hit, now I know.
I remember feeling strong arms about me, arms that laid me ever so gently on a pillow of snow. I opened my eyes, for one last look. I was dying. Maybe I was even dead, I remember thinking well, this is not so bad.

Maybe I was looking into the sun. Maybe I was in shock. But it seemed I saw Michael standing erect again only this time his face was shining with a terrible splendor.

As I say, maybe it was the sun in my eyes, but he seemed to change as I watched him. He grew bigger, his arms stretched out wide, maybe it was the snow falling again, but there was a brightness around him like the wings of an Angel. In his hand was a sword. A sword that flashed with a million lights.

Well, that is the last thing I remember until the rest of the fellas came up and found me. I do not know how much time had passed. Now and then I had but a moment’s rest from the pain and fever. I remember telling them of the enemy just ahead.

“Where is Michael,” I asked.

I saw them look at one another. “Where’s who?” asked one. “Michael, Michael that big Marine I was walking with just before the snow squall hit us.”

“Kid,” said the sergeant, “You weren’t walking with anyone. I had my eyes on you the whole time. You were getting too far out. I was just going to call you in when you disappeared in the snow.”

 He looked at me, curiously. “How did you do it kid?”

“How’d I do what?” I asked half angry despite my wound. “This marine named Michael and I were just . . .”

“Son, ” said the sergeant kindly, “I picked this outfit myself and there just ain’t another Michael in it. You are the only Mike in it.”

He paused for a minute, “Just how did you do it kid? We heard shots. There hasn’t been a shot fired from your rifle. And there isn’t a bit of lead in them seven bodies over the hill there.”

I didn’t say anything, what could I say. I could only look open-mouthed with amazement. It was then the sergeant spoke again, “Kid,” he said gently, “everyone of those seven Commies was killed by a sword stroke.”

That is all I can tell you Mom. As I say, it may have been the sun in my eyes, it may have been the cold or the pain. But that is what happened.

Love, Michael”

The prayer:

“Michael, Michael of the morning, fresh corps of Heaven adorning, keep me safe today, and in time of temptation drive the devil away. Amen.”

Pope Leo XIII, who reigned as pope from 1878-1903.  

Exactly 33 years to the day prior to the great Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, that is, on October 13, 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a terrifying vision, in which is recorded that Jesus and the Devil were speaking. The devil wanted 100 years of power. In response to this Pope Leo XIII immediately wrote the prayer to St Michael. We generally say the shorter version, but there is a much longer, more detailed version. He also put into effect the Leonine prayers, which were to be said at the end of every Mass. This included the St Michael’s prayer. Sadly, these prayers were dismissed with the after-effects of Vatican II.

Now in these times, the same spiritual battles are playing out.  We have missed out on over 50 years of Masses where the Leonine prayers have not been said. Prayer is powerful ! I wonder how many billions/ trillions  (???) of prayers the Church has missed out on? Why does mankind have a habit of dismissing what God has given to us to protect us? Why did all the popes since Fatima think they knew better than our Blessed Mother – deciding not to release the “Third Secret” in 1960 ?  

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defence against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.

The Mass  readings  for 29th September included the following excerpts:

Introit: “Bless the Lord, all ye His angels: you that are mighty in strength, and execute His word, harkening to the voice of His orders. (Ps. 102: 1)

OFFERTORY Apocalypse 8: 3-4 “An angel stood near the altar of the temple, having a golden censer in his hand: and there was given to him much incense: and the smoke of the perfumes ascended before God, Alleluia:

EPISTLE Apocalypse 1: 1-5 “In those days: God signified the things which must shortly come to pass, sending by His angel to His servant John, who hath given testimony to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever he hath seen. Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy, and keepeth those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you and peace from Him that is, and that was, and that is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before His throne;  and from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth Who hath loved us,and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

Daniel 3: 5  “Lord: sing a hymn, and exalt Him above all forever, alleluia”

In Roman Catholic teachings, Saint Michael has four main roles:

• The first is as the leader of the Army of God and the leader of celestial forces in triumphing over the powers of Hell. He is the angelic model for the virtues of the “spiritual warrior.”
• His second role is as the angel of death, carrying Christian souls to Heaven.
• His third role is to weigh souls on his perfectly balanced scales, a common object he holds in art.
• The fourth role of Saint Michael is as the special patron saint of the Chosen People in the Old Testament and as the Guardian of the Catholic Church.++++++++++++++++++++++++

Excerpt from Book of Truth:

• The execution of a wicked plan to destroy the Catholic Church…from within.