[Lady In Blue]

St.Michael by Crivelli

St. Michael to the Rescue

What follows is a copy of a letter written by a young Marine to his mother while recovering from a wound suffered on a Korean battlefield in 1950.The Navy Chaplain Father W.Muldy, who had talked to the boy,his mother, and to the Sergeant in charge of the patrol, vouched for the veracity of the story.

Dear Mom,

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

First off,I'm in a hospital. Now don't worry,you hear me? Don't worry! I was wounded, but I am okay. The doctor says that I will be up and around in a month. But that's not what I want to tell you.

Remember when I joined the Marines last year? When I left, 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! But when I got to Korea I prayed even harder.

Remember the prayer that you taught me?..."Michael,Michael of the morning,Fresh corps of Heaven adorning..."You know the rest of it. Well, I said it every day...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 on 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 alongside of me comes another Marine I never met bfore. 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 nearby.

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'm 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's 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,for he was breathing so lightly that 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 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 trhe 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 just stopped! THere were seven of them! Seven Commies in their padded pants and jackets and atheir 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 hit. 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 around me, arms that laid me ever so gently on a pillow of snow. I hoped 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!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 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 don't 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's Michael?" I asked. I saw them 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 sargent, "You weren't walking with anyone. I had my eyes on you the whole tlme. 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 Michael in it!"

He paused for a minute. "Just how did you do it,kid? We heard shots, but there hasn't been a shot fired from YOURrifle..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..."Every one of sthose seven Commies was killed 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!

Taken from the fall,2002 Circular Letter of OPUS SANCTORUM ANGELORUM

I first heard about this story from Father William Wagner some years ago.I thought it was fantastic then and still do.

St Michael,St Gabriel and St Raphael please pray for us.

[Lady In Blue]

ping

[Irisshlass]

I love this story..thank-you :)

[Siobhan]

Thank you for posting that story and this thread.

[Salvation]

PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of 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, cast into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen

[NYer]

What a wonderful story!! Thank you for sharing it. On the Spirit Daily web site was the following story. Thought you might find it interesting.

ARCHANGEL MICHAEL'S PRESENCE IS STILL FELT AT MYSTERIOUS, POTENT CAVE IN ITALY

By Michael H. Brown

This week of the archangels, celebrating the feast day of St. Michael,  I'd like to say that I have been to a number of holy places -- spots where there is an especially powerful presence, the actual feeling of something supernatural. Highest on this list would be the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem; the Cathedral of the Holy Shroud in Turin; the chapel of the apparitions at Fatima; the Lourdes grotto; and where I am right now -- apparition hill just outside the village of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovina.

These are all powerful places and in their midst I would also rank the Cave of the Archangel Michael -- in fact, it is right there at the top. This is a grotto in eastern Italy, and believe me, there is a presence here! There is the real feeling of St. Michael. When I visited the cave in 1990, a disheveled man who had simply walked in and was sitting before the statue of Michael suddenly went through a spontaneous deliverance as a demon that obviously inhabited him screeched and yelled as the Holy Spirit sought to cast it out.

That's power. I urge you all to visit it. Perhaps one day we'll run a pilgrimage. I have a stone from the cave that I treasure as one of my most powerful relics.

And I also have a rare picture of the archangel that I bought at the cave (yes, a cave, not a church). We feel the picture is so potent that we have adopted it, along with the Shroud, as the official devotion for this website (see below).

I have heard from others who have told me about encountering angels on the way to St. Michael's cave or of simply experiencing the kind of feeling that is rare outside of the most famous sites of apparition. But that's what happens at Monte Gargano (where the cave is located): there is a feeling that can only be compared to spots like Mount Krizevac or the Church of the Nativity in Jerusalem, and it only makes sense when we take a look at the history -- the long history -- of this place.

Located in stony hillsides not far from San Giovanni Rotundo (where St. Pio lived), the cave is reached by walking 86 steps subdivided into five flights and interrupted by four landings. It is a mysterious place, the galleries supported by big Gothic arches and ogival vaults, the side walls are illuminated by small windows.

But most mysterious is the history: in 404 A.D. a wealthy man, frustrated when one of his cattle refused to move from the entrance of the cave, took up his bow and sent an arrow toward the animal -- an arrow that then whirled like a boomerang and came back to wound the archer!

So frightened was the man that he went to see the bishop of Siponto, who in praying for an answer experienced the apparition of Michael. The archangel identified himself as the angel "who ever stands before the Lord" and was "keeping this place under my special protection."

Although there is a basilica in the cave, it has never been consecrated by the Church because the Church considers it the only basilica consecrated by an actual angel!

In another instance when Neopolitans decided to wage war on Siponto, Michael appeared again to the bishop assuring him of victory. As soon as the attack began, all of Monte Gargano was enveloped by a dark cloud that shot forth lightning of such strength as to chase away the enemy.

No wonder the power is still felt. Let us take a lesson from it on the archangel's tremendous intervention. Michael! He is the angelic prince of Israel, guardian of Jacob, known in Islamic writing as Mika'il. 

In our current day, he figures often into mysticism. Although most don't realize it, it was only after invocation of St. Michael that a child was freed from possession in the real-life case of The Exorcist (this never made it into the movie). I once spoke to a level-headed woman who claimed to have seen Michael as a gigantic being at a time when she and her husband were going through a crisis. She claims she saw him with her eyes open. He was so huge, she says, that she could only see to his knees. He wore strapped sandals, and his feet looked like they had trekked across the earth. She could see the tip of a sword. I also remember the Ukrainian mystic Josyp Terelya seeing Michael as a wise old man who instructed him in a dream.

Michael! A wise man. A warrior. The warrior. Some say the great archangel is the author of Psalm 85. 

In Jewish lore it's even believed that the fire Moses saw in the burning bush had Michael's appearance. 

Christians invoke him as the angel of deliverance. 

This is a mighty intercessor who can help you in many distressing situations. Invoke him. Do his novena. Ask for his help. He is stronger than anything bad. "Who is like unto God?" was Michael's cry against the fallen angels who tried to usurp the throne of God.

[Siobhan]

Mother Angelica and St. Michael have a long history together. In Alabama Mother had a vision of St. Michael where he told her to put the new broadcast satellite dish. Everyone told Mother it wouldn't work, but she had it done because of St. Michael's guidance and direction. Not only did the location work, it worked better than they could have hoped. Even the BBC has been to Alabama to try to figure out how Mother Angelica's dish set up works. So far none can figure it out, and Mother and the nuns credit St. Michael the Archangel for all of it.

[IGNATIUS]

A Moleben to the Holy Archangel Michael is always sung on Wednesday eves at my parish St. Michael's Orthodox Church in Pueblo,CO.

O dread captain of the hosts of heaven,intercessor for all at the throne of Christ the Master,steadfast protector of all men and wise warrior,mighty general of the heavenly King,have mercy on me a sinner who am in need of thine assistance;protect me from all enemies visible and invisible,and still more,fortify me against the fear of death and the troubling of the devils; and vouschafe me to stand unashamed before our Creator at the hour of His dread and righteous Judgement.

O most holy and great Michael, supreme commander,disdain me not a sinner who entreat thee for help and aid in this world and that which is to come, but vouschafe me there to glorify with thee the Father,and the Son,and the Holy Spirit,unto the ages of ages.Amen.

[Coleus]

September 29, 2004

Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

 

Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.

Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness and the restoration of the family fortune.

The memorials of Gabriel (March 24) and Raphael (October 24) were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts to Michael's.

Comment:

Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.

Quote:

"The question of how many angels could dance on the point of a pin no longer is absurd in molecular physics, with its discovery of how broad that point actually is, and what part invisible electronic 'messengers' play in the dance of life" (Lewis Mumford).

 

Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

Old Calendar: Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel

The liturgy celebrates the feast of these three archangels who are venerated in the tradition of the Church. Michael (Who is like God?) was the archangel who fought against Satan and all his evil angels, defending all the friends of God. He is the protector of all humanity from the snares of the devil. Gabriel (Strength of God) announced to Zachariah the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary, the birth of Jesus. His greeting to the Virgin, "Hail, full of grace," is one of the most familiar and frequent prayers of the Christian people. Raphael (Medicine of God) is the archangel who took care of Tobias on his journey.

Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was only the feast of St. Michael. St. Gabriel was observed on March 24 and St. Raphael on October 24.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that "[T]he existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition." Read the Catechism 328-336 to see the teachings of the Church on angels.

Angels are pure, created spirits. The name angel means servant or messenger of God. They are celestial or heavenly beings, on a higher order than human beings. An angel has no body and does not depend on matter for his existence or activity. They are distinct from saints, which men can become. Angels have intellect and will, and are immortal. They are a vast mulitude, but each is an individual person. Archangels are one of the nine choirs of angels listed in the Bible. In ascending order, the choirs or classes are 1) Angels, 2) Archangels, 3) Principalities, 4) Powers, 5) Virtues, 6) Dominations, 7) Thrones, 8) Cherubim and 9) Seraphim.

 

---

St. Michael
The name of the archangel Michael means, in Hebrew, who is like unto God? and he is also known as "the prince of the heavenly host". He is usually pictured as a strong warrior, dressed in armor and wearing sandals. His name appears in Scripture four times, twice in the Book of Daniel, and once each in the Epistle of St. Jude and the Book of Revelation. From Revelation we learn of the battle in heaven, with St. Michael and his angels combatting Lucifer and the other fallen angels (or devils). We invoke St. Michael to help us in our fight against Satan; to rescue souls from Satan, especially at the hour of death; to be the champion of the Jews in the Old Testament and now Christians; and to bring souls to judgment.

This day is referred to as "Michaelmas" in many countries and is also one of the harvest feast days. In England this is one of the "quarter days", which was marked by hiring servants, electing magistrates, and beginning of legal and university terms. This day also marks the opening of the deer and other large game hunting season. In some parts of Europe, especially Germany, Denmark, and Austria, a special wine called "Saint Michael's Love" (Michelsminne) is drunk on this day. The foods for this day vary depending on nationality. In the British Isles, for example, goose was the traditional meal for Michaelmas, eaten for prosperity, France has waffles or Gaufres and the traditional fare in Scotland used to be St. Michael's Bannock (Struan Micheil) — a large, scone-like cake. In Italy, gnocchi is the traditional fare.

Patron: Against temptations; against powers of evil; artists; bakers; bankers; battle; boatmen; cemeteries; coopers; endangered children; dying; Emergency Medical Technicians; fencing; grocers; hatmakers; holy death; knights; mariners; mountaineers; paramedics; paratroopers; police officers; radiologists; sailors; the sick; security forces; soldiers; against storms at sea; swordsmiths; those in need of protection; Brussels, Belgium; Caltanissett, Sicily; Cornwall, England; Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Florida; England; Germany; Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama; Papua, New Guinea; Puebla, Mexico; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Sibenik, Croatia; Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington; Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts.

Symbols: Angel with wings; dressed in armour; lance and shield; scales; shown weighing souls; millstone; piercing dragon or devil; banner charged with a dove.

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St. Gabriel
St. Gabriel's name means "God is my strength". Biblically he appears three times as a messenger. He had been sent to Daniel to explain a vision concerning the Messiah. He appeared to Zachary when he was offering incense in the Temple, to foretell the birth of his son, St. John the Baptist. St. Gabriel is most known as the angel chosen by God to be the messenger of the Annunciation, to announce to mankind the mystery of the Incarnation.

The angel's salutation to our Lady, so simple and yet so full of meaning, Hail Mary, full of grace, has become the constant and familiar prayer of all Christian people.

Patron: Ambassadors; broadcasting; childbirth; clergy; communications; diplomats; messengers; philatelists; postal workers; public relations; radio workers; secular clergy; stamp collectors; telecommunications; Portugal; Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington.

Symbols: Archangel; sceptre and lily; MR or AM shield; lantern; mirror; olive branch; scroll with words Ave Maria Gratia Plena; Ressurection trumpet; shield; spear; lily.

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St. Raphael
Our knowledge of the Archangel Raphael comes to us from the book of Tobit. His mission as wonderful healer and fellow traveller with the youthful Tobias has caused him to be invoked for journeys and at critical moments in life. Tradition also holds that Raphael is the angel that stirred the waters at the healing sheep pool in Bethesda. His name means "God has healed".

Patron: Blind; bodily ills; counselors; druggists; eye problems; guardian angels; happy meetings; healers; health inspectors; health technicians; love; lovers; mental illness; nurses; pharmacists; physicians; shepherds; against sickness; therapists; travellers; young people; young people leaving home for the first time; Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa; Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington.

Symbols: Staff; wallet and fish; staff and gourd; archangel; young man carrying a staff; young man carrying a fish; walking with Tobias; holding a bottle or flask.

Things to Do:

• This is a good feast to learn more about the angels. Children especially are fascinated by these spirits.
• Memorize the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Although no longer formerly recited after Mass, our Holy Father John Paul II has encouraged us to recite this prayer daily. Read about this prayer. If you can read Italian, here is the Regina Coeli message during which the pope encouraged this prayer.
• Learn the Angelus and recite it daily. Traditionally, the prayer is prayed at the 6:00 and 12:00 hours (am and pm). There is a partial indulgence attached to those who pray this prayer.
• Read the Book of Tobit.
• Make some recipes related to Michaelmas.
• Research other customs for this feast day.

[amdgmary]

Thank you for posting this. I especially love St. Michael!

[kstewskis]

awesome post! Bookmarked ;)

[Salvation]

BTTT on the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels, September 29, 2005!

[Salvation]

BTTT on the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, September 29, 2006!

[Salvation]

Feast of the Archangels

Feast of the Archangels

November 8th
Synaxis of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael & all the Bodiless Powers
Troparion (Tone 1)
Let us praise Cherubim, Seraphim, Thrones, Powers, Authorities and Principalities, Dominions, Archangels and Angels for they are the Bodiless ministers of the Unoriginate Trinity and revealers of incomprehensible mysteries. Glory to Him Who has given you being; glory to Him Who has given you light; glory to Him Who is praised by you in thrice-holy hymns.

Archangels comprise only one of the ranks of angels. We believe there are Seven Archangels. "Michael, Gabriel and Raphael" are descriptive titles as their names are too terrible for men to know. Here, these three give honor to Jesus Christ and reveal Him to mankind.

This Icon is by the hand of Arlene Tilghman.