Apologies to St. Michael

It has come to my attention that we, the Catholic Church, owe St. Michael the Archangel a huge apology. You see, St. Michael is the old archenemy of the Devil. In Revelation 12, we read:

"And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war..." (Rev. 12:7) Thus it is to and for St. Michael that our prayers for the protection of the Church ought to be directed. He's the General of the King's Army, and our first line of defense against the attacks of the Evil One. And so it was, that on October 13, 1884, after celebrating Mass, Pope Leo XII had a vision, during which he heard the following conversation:

"75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service."

Here we have the great Serpent, explicitly threatening to attack the Church and destroy it, within 75-100 years, and permission granted by Our Lord for him to use the necessary tools ("greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service.") We know that the Church is indefectible, and ultimately will not be destroyed. But that doesn't mean Satan won't give it his best kamikaze try, and it doesn't mean that the Church won't be stricken, bruised, and severely wounded in the process. In response to this great threat, Pope Leo XIII composed a prayer to St. Michael, a shortened version of which he commanded be prayed after every Low Mass. The longer version of the prayer is rather enlightening:

O Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Notice how Pope Leo XIII recognizes who it is that is being targeted, who it is that needs the prayers: "man." The Church will be attacked, but the Church is made up of individual persons, and on a practical level, it is these who will be so severely ambushed. The prayer continues: Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in heaven. This refers to the citation from Revelation, given above. Satan has already been confronted and defeated by St. Michael's army once, on the Heavenly battlefield. Now, however, the battlefield is on the Earth, and once more Satan must be defeated. In Heaven, he was defeated and cast down to the next level: Earth. This time, when he is defeated, he will be cast down to the next level: Hell. This is what we plead for in the prayer to St. Michael. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity. These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered. Here, then, is the most sobering moment of the prayer. Satan makes his attacks upon the humans who make up the Church, but he does so as an "angel of light." In other words, don't expect to recognize him right away, or even at all (if you're not paying close attention), because he will look like any other pious soul. Perhaps a gentle bishop, who cares nothing for himself, but only for peace and justice in the world. Perhaps a pious cardinal, who speaks every chance he gets on the need for greater respect of human dignity, human worth, human life. Perhaps even a pope, who constantly promotes brotherly love, equality among men, and liberty for all. Jeremiah 6:11-15 speaks of a time when even priests will commit abominable acts, all the while speaking "peace, peace," offering a superficial healing of mankind's brokenness. Perhaps that time is upon is. The prayer says that in the place "where has been set up the See of... Peter... they have raised the throne of... impiety... that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered." Does this not strongly suggest a direct Satanic attack on Peter himself? Upon the pope? Does the prayer not speak in the past tense, "when the Pastor has been struck?" Remember the time frame: 75-100 years. In that time, it seems, a great Demonic attack will be launched against the members of the Church, and particularly against the Holy Father himself.

Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen. Here again we have another clear proclamation that St. Michael is the defense of "holy Church," particularly "against the malicious power of hell," against the Serpent who wishes to "hold men in captivity and harm the Church." These are extremely high stakes! Satan wishes to launch an all-out offensive strike, and it seems that from the direction of this prayer, he will be largely successful, though not entirely. But let's examine the details again: he said he would attack in 75-100 years, and that was in 1884. In 75 years, in the year 1959, Pope John XXIII summoned the Second Vatican Council. The objective facts of what has taken place since then are undeniable (though many, unbelievably, continue to deny them all the same). Churches were bulldozed and reconstructed without statues, crucifixes, altars, or tabernacles. In many nations, Mass attendance dropped 50%-70%. Seminaries closed their doors by the hundreds, as did convents and monasteries. The world and Modern Man responded with a revolution that shook the earth to its very core, birthing into existence the agonies of legalized abortion, sexual liberty, riots, open homosexuality, war, AIDS, wide-spread contraception, protest, decline in morals, decline in modesty, and loss of faith.

Meanwhile, liberalism and modernism have spread rapidly through the Church up to the highest levels, the faithful have lost all sense of spiritual balance, and many are no longer able to tell what the Church still believes in, and what it has thrown out. The red candle which signifies the Eucharistic Presence of the Lord in His Tabernacle has vanished from the sanctuary, just as Pope Pius XII had warned. Moral theology has been replaced by a social gospel of fraternity, equality, and liberty (in essence, the dogmas of Freemasonry). The Church has ceased to teach al nations with authority, and now seeks to form a joint partnership with all denominations and religions, in a common search for the truth about man.

Well, we all have our theories. We all think we can narrow it down to that "one thing" that brought about the revolution, that "one thing" that, if only it could be recovered, would bring an end to our crisis. But here's my own theory:

What happened in that 25-year window, from 1959 to 1974 (the 75-100 years that Satan requested)? The prayer to St. Michael the Archangel was thrown out. A new rite of Mass was drawn up, and this prayer for protection was not included. Now, it was never an official part of the liturgy to begin with, not even in the Traditional Mass, but it was an understood custom for Low Mass prayers. Pick up any pre-1968 missal, and no doubt you'll find a page titled "Prayers After Low Mass," with the prayer to St. Michael right in the middle, after the "Hail Holy Queen." But not so now.

In the post-conciliar Church, the prayer to St. Michael has been replaced with nothing, and when "nothing" is prescribed, "anything" goes. Hence, in many, many, many parishes, after Mass has ended, what ensues in the Santuary is the dull drone of social "prayers," that is, man-to-man conversations (often including loud laughter and profane speech), instead of man-to-God conversations (including silent reverence). St. Michael is out, my neighbor is in.

What this means, in effect, is that our first line of defense has been successfully cut down. We no longer erect this angelic barrier against the Dark One one a weekly, world-wide basis. Perhaps a few hundred, maybe even a few thousand (but I doubt it) parishes have retained this post-Mass devotion all over the world. But that's nothing compared to the thousands upon thousands upon thousands of parishes - every single Latin Rite parish in the world, in fact - all raising up this prayer to St. Michael, without fail, week after week after week after week after week after week... you get the idea.

Is it any real wonder that the Dragon has succeeded in making the Faith a minority position in the world? That he has succeeded in turning the Church into an "all bark, no bite" institution? The great Protestant author, John Bunyan, in his classic work, Pilgrim's Progress, penned a line regarding the pope which is more true now than it was when Bunyan originally penned it:

"I espied a little before me a Cave, where two giants, Pope and Pagan, dwelt in old Time... I have learnt since that Pagan has been dead many a day; and as for the other, though he be yet alive, he is, by reason of age... grown so crazy and stiff in his joints, that he can now do little more than sit in his Cave's mouth, grinning at Pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails, because he cannot come at them." How true it is, and how sad is this truth. Many things need to be addressed and corrected before the crisis in the Church is ended, and Satan is once and for all defeated, but unfortunately, many of these things which must be restored are beyond our power and ability as laypeople. This one item, however, is not: the prayer to St. Michael. This, we can restore, at a grass-roots level.

First, commit yourself to praying this prayer every single day, without exception, for the healing and true "renewal" of the Church. Second, if you are attending a Novus Ordo Mass on a weekly basis (if you are attending an SSPX or Indult Mass, you're hopefully already praying this prayer after Low Mass), get together as many like-minded parishioners as you can, and form a group that prays this prayer - and all the Low Mass prayers - after every Mass, no matter who's gabbing and socializing around you.

The Church in America is at stake. The Church in Canada is at stake. The Church in several nations is at stake, and just because the Church Universal is indefectible, there is no guarantee that it will be preserved in our particular nation. America may lose the Church altogether. Canada may lose it. France and England, by all accounts, have already reached the final hours. St. Michael must be invoked, must be enlisted to fight on our behalf again.

Please do whatever you can to see that this devotion is restored in your parish, in your diocese, in your nation.

Prayer to St. Michael 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, cast into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Attention!

Our troops give so much of themselves, and we all benefit from their efforts. The next time you look at your bank balance, why not find some way to take some money and put it towards supporting the members of our armed services in some way? Maybe find a family who has someone serving, and buy them dinner, or some groceries, or a gift for their children? Maybe find a way to contribute to a fund for the memory of any of those who have fallen? Our armed forces deserve our support in tangible ways.

Attention!

Our troops give so much of themselves, and we all benefit from their efforts.

The next time you look at your bank balance, why not find some way to take some money and put it towards supporting the members of our armed services in some way? Maybe find a family who has someone serving, and buy them dinner, or some groceries, or a gift for their children? Maybe find a way to contribute to a fund for the memory of any of those who have fallen? Our armed forces deserve our support in tangible ways.

Wonderful article. I suggested years ago to my parish council that this prayer be said after Mass. You should have seen the look on their faces (I swear they didn't have a clue as to who I was talking about). How sad that after Mass the back of the Church becomes a social area where Sister so-so hands out white ribbons for "Domestic Violence Awareness Week."

Please everyone say this prayer often!

Catholic Apologetics Interantional are the same idiots who have been pushing geocentrism, claiming the Copernican model of the universe is heresy. If you don't believe me, check this out: http://www.catholicintl.com/.

This whole "Catholic Apologists" cottage industry that's sprung up sickens me. Any idiot with a internet access can set up a webpage, call himself a "Catholic Apologist," and presume to speak in the name of the Church without any oversight. It is a turly dangerous situation. Now I understand why the old Code of Canon Law forbade laymen from engaging in formal apologetics without Ecclesiastical permission.

That particular article doesn't. In fact, the article is good. Forgive me; I was just venting my frustration about this "Apologetics" cottage industry that I find so distasteful.

But FYI, CAI is pushing geocentrism. And no, neither the Wanderer nor TCRNews have Ecclesiasitcal permission, but they should be forced to get it.

I think any layman who wishes to publish or promote anything claiming it is Catholic should have Ecclesiastical permission, and that applies to the Wanderer as much as to CAI.

"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, cast into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."

Now, see? This is the second translation of this I have seen in the last couple of days, and there is a major difference.

The other translation rendered "Imperit illi Deus, suplices deprecamur" as "Command him, Lord, we humbly beseech thee," which seemed to me a prayer that God command the Archangel Michael to protect us in battle. This version seems to ask God to rebuke Satan. Which is correct?

And does "Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos" mean "all" the other evil spirits, or just "Satan and other malign spirits"?

A couple of weeks ago, somebody rendered "defende nos in proelio" as "defend us in the day of battle" instead of just "defend us in battle". Important, as the battle rages every minute of every day.

Without Latin to anchor us, we are just so many frogs in so many blenders. Which, of course, is the motivation of those who suppress Latin.

Without Latin to anchor us, we are just so many frogs in so many blenders. Which, of course, is the motivation of those who suppress Latin.

You got that right, my friend. But there are few who have the vision to see the truth.

Dominus vobiscum.

That is nonesense,the Saint that you pray to depends on the situation. If you've lost something, you pray to Saint Anthony; if you are going into battle, you pray to Saint Michael the Archangel. Although he is the leader against the battles with Satan, you will receive just as much protection as if you prayed to Holy Mary.

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, cast into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen

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