The Return of the Prayer to St. Michael

Modern philosophy is full of all sorts of absurd theories about the illusory nature of existence and the unreliability of everything we know to be true. But the boots on the ground, living, breathing, day to day philosophy of even the most angst-ridden German nihilist or the most wild-eyed French existentialist has to be common sense realism. Even German and French philosophers must eat, sleep and conduct themselves in civil society.

There’s great consolation in the reliability of the law of gravity and the fact that it means something specific to me or anyone else when you say dog, cat, house, person, good, true and beautiful. But the last three of those words; good, true and beautiful, and maybe even person, do enjoin some philosophical reflection. They are the basis for making sense of right and wrong, obligation, prohibition and so on. Philosophy isn’t just a waste of time.

Catholicism is deeply philosophical and also deeply mystical and of late the mysticism of the Catholic world view has been confronting me with great force, and confronting the minimalist common sense realism I had more or less taken for granted.

Our parish and a number of Catholic churches I’ve been to recently have begun saying the St. Michael prayer after Mass. It is a breathtaking departure from the modern psychological deconstruction through which I have made sense of my own mental states and those of others. Pride, envy, sloth, greed, lust, gluttony and wrath are not merely maladjustments, but rather they are the snares of a spiritual being who seeks the ruin of souls. They are our weaknesses within our wounded souls, but they are also passions from outside of us, which act upon us, against which we must not be passive, or we will be swept away.

The idea that there is a spirit of pride, envy, sloth or any of the other deadly sins which can emanate from people, entertainments or places—or from the devil—is an enchanted, mystical, ancient Catholic view. Since the 1200’s the Tridentine Mass invoked St. Michael in the Confiteor as a protection against evil. Ours is a faith shot through with struggles between powers and principalities, angels and demons.

The resurgence in the St. Michael Prayer reclaims much of the domain seized by Freud, Jung, Adler and their redactors in outlining the landscape of the soul. And it rings true. We are not merely struggling to harness internal engines of the soul like the desires for sex, meaning and power. We are not merely hot-house orchids, isolated, hermetically sealed, gazing upon the tempests which rage within our spiritual navels. We are also the objects of a cosmic struggle between the forces of God and the Devil.

Scott Hahn explained the sign of the beast, 666, the mark of the devil referred to in Revelations, as the spiteful declaration of spiritual war by Satan. It was rooted in Satan’s offended pride and envy. According to St Thomas Aquinas, angels have perfect knowledge of that which they know, and at the instant of creation, saw all that would unfold throughout history, including the fall of man and the incarnation of God in the Person of Jesus Christ. According to Hahn, that God would become a lowly man was such an affront to the vastly superior angels that Satan rebelled in disgust, and 6, the day upon which man was created, was repeated as a cuss three times, as a mock of the Trinity and a declaration of rebellion. The fall of the angels was directly linked to their envy of man because God took on lowly humanity in the Person of Jesus Christ. So from the beginning, the principle objective of the fallen angels has been the seduction and ruin of human souls. According to Catholic theology we are hunted by the devil and his minions but also protected by hosts of angels, including angels specifically assigned to the protection of each one of us.

Now there is good reason to have pause. Most sane Catholics stiffen up at some point in the discussion of devil sand angels. We live in an age of progress and practical solutions and the idea of an intractable struggle between invisible forces of good and evil seems pre-modern and nutty. And this is so among good Catholics who have closely adhered to the Church. In fact Vatican II officially suppressed the then widespread practice of praying the St. Michael prayer after Mass in the Instructio Prima. And the denuding of the churches of frescoes, statuary and all but the most abstract stained glass windows signaled a strong de-emphasis on the theology of powers and principalities. This has been the moment in the Church in which we have grown up. If one were to propose a spectrum extending from dismissal of the devil as a pre-scientific mythological representation of the psychologically and physically unexplained all the way over to a constant awareness of external forces both attacking and defending us, most of us would locate far closer to the former.

But in the past few years things have changed both among Church hierarchy and in the pews. In 1994 Pope John Paul II urged Catholics to recite the prayer again. And it has become increasingly evident to a growing number that abortion, pornography, same-sex “marriage” and no-fault divorce are not just isolated evils but part of a broad, concerted effort. Anthropologists accept it as axiomatic that we are religious by nature, always seeking to make sense of the meaning and purpose of our lives and creation. As these things have become more and more prevalent in our culture, their soul-transforming effects have given them a somewhat symbolic quality. It looks more and more like these evils are sacraments of darkness, rites aggressively promoted in a massive spiritual struggle for souls. Witness revelations of abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s practice of keep hundreds of tiny feet from the babies he killed in plastic bags in his freezer. More and more, ordinary Catholics think in terms of the ancient Catholic understanding of a cosmic struggle between good and evil, God and the devil.

At the April convocation of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in Barry’s Bay, Thomas Cardinal Collins gave the keynote address. He began with Chesterton’s observation that we love The Iliad because life is a struggle, we love The Odyssey because life is a journey, we love the Book of Job because so much of what befalls us is incomprehensible. To this he added a fourth; we love the Book of Revelations because we want to know how it all ends. He then said that we do know how it all ends—and these were the truest words he spoke that day.

If all the madness we face were merely phantasms in our tortured souls we could have no confidence in the triumph of God. From all the times we have made earnest resolutions and then fallen again, each of us knows that we can’t trust ourselves and so we know that we could not be certain that we would choose good over evil in the end if it were only up to us. The struggle between good and evil would be too much to bear if it were left up to us. We could have no confidence in how it all ends. But mercifully it is not only up to us.

After the cardinal had spoken, after the final blessing at the end of the convocation mass at St Hedwig’s church, several hundred voices and the cardinal recited the prayer to St. Michael. He then said that he had already printed up thousands of copies of the prayer and he planned to promulgate it in the archdiocese of Toronto as soon as opportunity allowed. As the storm gathers and the division between good and evil becomes more stark, the unfolding of history is providing that opportunity.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the archangel defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do though o prince of the heavenly host
By the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl the world
seeking the ruin of souls.

Granted that the scripture does not say "pray to angels!" anywhere, it is logical for me to ask: Can you demonstrate anywhere in Scripture that prayers must be mentioned in the Holy Scripture in order for us to pray them? Yet to this simple question neither of you has an answer.

Why would you think it was "logical" to ask about the need for prayers to be mentioned in Scripture in order for us to pray them when the question wasn't about specific prayers but to whom we direct our prayers? Nobody answered your dodge ball question because you hadn't answered the initial one. At least you finally conceded that we are not told to pray to angels in Scripture. See, no obfuscation needed at all!

As for your "simple" question about prayers having to be mentioned in Scripture in order for us to pray them, I'd say that's not anything someone would argue for. There are hundreds of examples of prayers various people prayed within Scripture. Jesus even gave us an example of HOW to pray, though I do not believe He meant for us to say the "Our Father" verbatim which would make it no different than rote and, possibly, vain, repetitions we are cautioned against. So, no, we don't have to only pray the prayers mentioned in Scripture. Our prayers should be from our hearts directed TO God and always sincere, else, why say them at all?

Nowhere in Scripture are we told to pray to angels. I believe that is a guideline for us rather than thinking whatever isn't prohibited is okay fine. If we are NOT told to pray to created beings, but to direct our prayers to God only, then we should do what God says. Prayer TO someone is a form of worship, I think. It presumes they have the power to hear us and everyone else who may be doing the same thing. It presumes they have an "in" with God that we do not have by beseeching Him directly. Most of the time, it misdirects praise and glory to the one being prayed TO rather than the ONE who actually answers our prayers and has the omnipotence to do all things according to His perfect will - to HIS glory and praise.

>>Why would you think it was "logical" to ask about the need for prayers to be mentioned in Scripture in order for us to pray them when the question wasn't about specific prayers but to whom we direct our prayers<<

Because that is the usual Protestant method: to ask for the good works we do to be explicitly mentioned in the scripture and consider the matter closed.

Do you think it is wrong to expect that things presented as part of the Christian faith should have a basis in the rule of faith - sacred Scriptures? Nobody would assert - even you RCs - that EVERYTHING that has anything to do with how one leads their life as a follower of Christ has to be specifically spelled out in the Bible. But, for those things that are part of our faith, there are guidelines even when there isn't specificity. For example, there is no mention in the Bible about whether or not it is wrong for a woman to wear slacks. But, we are told men shouldn't wear women's clothing. Does that mean a woman shouldn't wear pants or a man can't wear a robe? No, just that it prohibits "cross-dressing" and pertains to homosexual activity. Does the Bible say we aren't supposed to go to movies? No, movies, of course, didn't exist back then but we are told that whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things (Phil. 4:8). That is our guideline. That plays out in every area of our lives and shows us that God is part of all things in our lives and we should strive to obey Him and honor Him.

>>I do not believe He meant for us to say the "Our Father" verbatim which would make it no different than rote and, possibly, vain<<

LOL. So when you ARE told how to pray, you don't obey, but when we do pray the way we like you are telling us to find a scripture quote where our prayer is in the scripture?

Why don't you reread what I said instead of putting down words I didn't say? When Jesus answered His disciples question about how to pray, he answered, "Pray in this manner..." or "This, then, is how you should pray..." (Matt. 6:9). I don't believe He meant for them to pray that exact prayer. If you do, then go ahead repeat as often as you deem necessary. The point was that we should avoid reciting rote "prayers" (called "vain repetitions" in Scripture) and whatever we pray, we do so TO God from our hearts. Just as there isn't a need for a "prayer" to be spelled out in Scripture in order for it to be "valid" - and NOBODY has ever said that - there IS a guideline about to WHOM we address our prayers. It was always prayer said TO God, and no one else. Y'all may rationalize your prayer to created beings as nothing more than "asking" them to pray with you, but presuming someone who has died has the power of God to hear prayers simultaneously from thousands of people IS attributing glory to them that ONLY God possesses.

>>Our prayers should be from our hearts directed TO God<<

Absolutely. Agree 100%.

Good, then why pray TO angels or "saints" or people who are not in this present life when God nowhere gives you permission to do so? What else did He mean when He commanded us to not contact the dead on behalf of the living? Almighty God through the prophet Isaiah warned:

When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. (Isa. 8:19-22)

I think that pretty much spells it out. We should pray TO God and not anyone else.

>>Prayer TO someone is a form of worship, I think<<

It is a form of worshiping God Who gave us the companionship of saints and angels and Whom alone we worship.

Not if we expect these created beings to possess attributes ONLY God has and imagine they will help us "get to" God instead of going to Him directly for all our needs. That IS a form of worshiping them though I don't expect you to see it that way. Involving others in praying with us for our needs and our ministries is God's way of getting us caring about each other and sharing in the blessings of serving Him. It makes us aware of the body of Christ - His bride - of which we are all part of through Christ. It's different from praying TO a passed-on believer asking their intercession FOR us. Most often, the glory and praise goes to THAT person rather than to God, who alone deserves the glory.

As is the usual FRoman Catholic method, you will have to defend whatever your leaders have devised and developed over the centuries. I don't expect my words or anyone else's to make you see differently. But, since this was an OPEN Religion Forum thread, I have as much right as you to say what I think on the topic. I back up what I believe with the sure word of God. What do you have?

The Church is the rule of faith, -- not the Holy Scripture. I repeat the question: Where does the Scripture proclaim itself the rule of faith?

No, it's not. The Rule of Faith is revealed by God TO man. He does this through His sacred word, preserved BY Him for us so that we have an objective and authoritative basis for what we believe. The "church" is supposed to be the supporter (buttress and pillar) of that truth NOT the origin of truth. Once you finally grasp that essential fact, you will begin to understand that NO man-made organization has authority over God's sacred word and, instead, is subject to it as were the Jewish people before. The Scriptures, because it ALONE is Divinely-inspired (that means "God-breathed"), proclaims repeatedly that we are to be obedient to what He tells us. You've been given references countless times so you should already know of which ones I speak.

Of course we repeat prayers. Christ did. Repeated prayers are in the scripture. The superstitious fear of repeated verbatim prayers in you is ironic because you just asked how prayer to Archangel Michael is biblical, but when something clearly is biblical -- you refuse to do it. So I laughed. I still do.

"Vain repetitions" are also called "empty phrases", "babbling", "meaningless repetitions", "saying meaningless things" like pagans and idolaters do. It was Jesus who said:

But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (Matt. 6:6-8)

If you can avoid doing what Jesus said we shouldn't do, you don't have anything to worry about, do you? There isn't any "superstitious" fear, just a willingness to obey Christ. Do you have any examples where Jesus, in teaching His followers about prayer, says they should, or could, pray to anyone BUT God? No, you don't. But, as we already know, RCs don't think they need bother with backing up their beliefs with God's word because if they say it's okay, it just IS. I prefer to obey God. Praying to angels is not Biblical, clearly or not. That's why I disagree with doing it. Everyone will answer to God for what they do. My conscience is clear.

God gives us examples of conversation with saints and angels (and prayers to saints). For sure conversing with an angel is biblical (need examples?). So the idea that saints and angels are "not in this present life" or "mediums and spiritists" is atheist garbage and contrary to the Holy Scripture.

LOL! Now, I can have a laugh. How in any sense does having a conversation with a being standing right in front of you translate into an okay to pray TO them? You going to try to pass on the idiotic rationalization that "pray" simply means "ask"? Sorry, praying to someone is presuming they can hear us. Angels aren't omnipresent, only God is. Saints that have died aren't either. Worship God, that's what they would tell anyone who tried to worship them OR pray TO them. And you have NO examples of approval or commands to anyone from God to do so. What it appears is that the Roman Catholic "communion of saints project" descends into a watered down faith so full of empty babblings, gullibleness and false angel/saint worship that any attempts to show a better way are ignored and shouted down. Y'all like to boast you have the fuller faith? If it's full of that kind of stuff it is bloated and worthless. Worship God. He alone is worthy of it.

The Rule of Faith is revealed by God TO man. He does this through His sacred word...

Surely the Sacred Scripture says so someplace?

"empty phrases", "babbling", "meaningless repetitions", "saying meaningless things"

Very well; so where are any of these things in the Prayer to St. Michael?

Do you have any examples where Jesus, in teaching His followers about prayer, says they should, or could, pray to anyone BUT God? No, you don't.

Here it is again:

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

How in any sense does having a conversation with a being standing right in front of you translate into an okay to pray TO them? You going to try to pass on the idiotic rationalization that "pray" simply means "ask"? Sorry, praying to someone is presuming they can hear us.

Archangel Gabriel could hear Mary. The saints have abilities above human abilities (1 Cor. 13:12). Stop this atheistic garbage.

The "garbage" is all yours!

Surely the Sacred Scripture says so someplace?

In many, many places we are told the Scriptures are our rule of faith, our standard for truth. Look up all the times Scripture refers to "it is written" - Jesus did so dozens of times - to affirm the authority of God's word. Here, Elsie did it for us. Look up all the times God directed his prophets to WRITE what he told them to write and to see that the people obeyed it all, to write His statutes upon their hearts, to meditate on them, to let them lead their paths, light their way. Look up the many times the Apostles in their epistles taught believers to obey the instructions given to them and to hold to the doctrines they taught. Scripture says that the rule of faith IS what Scripture says it is and was why the early leaders of the Christian communities relied upon the Scriptures to back up their arguments for what was truth.

Very well; so where are any of these things in the Prayer to St. Michael?

I'm sure the "prayers" the pagans recited had words, too. It isn't the words Jesus is speaking about but the repetition of them to a point that the words lost meaning and turned into empty vain babblings. I used to be a Roman Catholic, I've said the rosary many times. There are 153 "Hail Mary" prayers in a fifteen decade rosary - many pagan religions also use prayer beads to keep track. Though I don't presume you have EVER fallen into it, no doubt many RCs say these repetitive prayers by rote and they can become nothing more than vain repetitions, too.

But the prayer in question while addressing Archangel Michael calls to the powers of God twice. It is a prayer about something God would do through St,. Michael. It is a prayer to God as well as to St. Michael. Archangel Gabriel could hear Mary. The saints have abilities above human abilities (1 Cor. 13:12). Stop this atheistic garbage.

How tedious you are being! If you are asking God to use the archangel Michael to do something for you, shouldn't you be praying TO God and not the angel??? God's the one who sends out His angels, you aren't. And the reason Mary could speak to Gabriel was because he was RIGHT THERE WITH HER! She could SEE him. We don't have ANYTHING from God that directs us to pray to angels or dead saints. Like I've repeated many times here already if you want to go ahead and do that, then do, just don't expect your name calling and bullying is going to change anyone's mind.

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