Posted on 09/29/2013 6:34:45 PM PDT by ebb tide
“O Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan.
“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. That cruel, 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 the See of Holy Peter and the Chair of Truth has been set up as 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.
“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 find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing 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. V. Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers. R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered the root of David. V. Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord. R. As we have hoped in Thee. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Let us pray. O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as supplicants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious St. Michael the Archangel, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all the other unclean spirits who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.”
I'm down with St. Michael and appreciate the prayer being posted as I am quite certain a lot of service members are as well. I think a few on this thread forget there is a fight against evil going on and I for one don't really want the "end times" occurring during my brief stay here (and I kind of question those that are all down with dying early and NOT enjoying the blessing of life in this universe).
“I for one don’t really want the “end times” occurring during my brief stay here”
It’s coming sooner than you think!
Michael is in the Bible, in several places. Especially in Revelation 12:
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
This from the Baptist Bulletin 2011 sums it up nicely . . . see below:
Should We Pray to Angels?
Q&A September/October 2011
Norm Olson September 2, 2011
Q. Recently I was introduced to some literature by a group that says believers should petition angels. The group says that angels are our best friends and want to help us but that they cannot or do not because we don’t ask them. In other words, we’re not receiving all kinds of good things from them because we’re not asking. Please comment.
A. Why settle for angels, when the Bible says that God Himself, the very creator and sustainer of the universe and of each of us, longs for us to pray to Him (Matthew 6:9; 7:7–11; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)? Further, the Lord Jesus, our Savior, is sitting at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for us (Hebrews 4:14–16; 7:25).
Interest in angels has been very high in recent decades, but unfortunately, false notions and beliefs about them have accompanied this fascination. Many people exalt angels while seemingly having little use for God Almighty (except in profanity) and for Jesus Christ and His salvation, which they need to be saved. We must understand the true Biblical doctrine of angels to not be carried away into false thinking and practices. The meaning of “angel” (mal’ak, Hebrew; aggelos, Greek) is basically “messenger.” God has used angels to communicate His words and His will, and to carry out various assignments. The idea of praying to angels reverses this divine chain of command, because it would make the angels the deciders, the authorities of what should be and what shouldn’t be. Angels are God’s messengers, doing His bidding; in contrast, angels are not our messengers, or go-betweens, to God. Nowhere does Scripture teach that we should pray to, or worship, angels.
We must always consider that angels are created beings and don’t have the divine attributes of God. I want to pray to God because only He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present. Only He can answer prayer. Angels do not have these attributes. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God is able “to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Philippians 4:19 says, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (italics added).
I do want to emphasize that we affirm and thank God for the existence of angels and their work, practically all of it unseen. Why? Again, the Bible tells us to. Psalm 91:11 is as true today as when the psalmist wrote it: “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 34:7 assures believers, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”
Here’s a question: Why pray to the Archangel, when you can you go directly to Christ-if you believe and receive Him/.
I think you’re confused, he didn’t say that angels don’t exist, or that they don’t work in God’s name, just pointed out that we ~shouldn’t~ pray to them, especially when we can go to Christ directly (you know..the one who made the Angels, the world, you and I..)?!
For the same reason that we ask other people to pray for us.
We are commanded to.
Why? Because the angels and saints are parts of the Body of Christ. Our relationship with God is "vertical" and "horizontal."
We do read the Bible.
Are you aware that three archangels are mentioned in the Bible?
Michael, Gabriel, Raphael — Oh I forget, you might not have that book in your Bible (Tobit)
I am not confused.
I believe you missed my original post (15). Post 24 should elevate any confusion anyone has.
Did you by chance mean alleviate instead of elevate?
Thanks, Maudeen.
We are commanded to.
Why? Because the angels and saints are parts of the Body of Christ. Our relationship with God is “vertical” and “horizontal.”
..........
We are not commanded to pray to angels.
Angels are not part of the Body of Christ.
“We are not commanded to pray to angels.
Angels are not part of the Body of Christ.”
EPHESIANS 4:4
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem;
Creatorem caeli et terrae.
Et in Jesum Christum,
Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum;
qui conceptus est
de Spiritu Sancto,
natus ex Maria virgine;
passus sub Pontio Pilato,
crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus;
descendit ad inferos;
tertia die resurrexit a mortuis;
ascendit ad caelos;
sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis;
inde venturus est
iudicare vivos et mortuos.
Credo in Spiritum Sanctum;
sanctam ecclesiam catholicam;
sanctorum communionem;
remissionem peccatorum;
carnis resurrectionem;
vitam aeternam. Amen.
In English:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary,
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
he will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
I guess this one reason I left the Catholic Church. I’ve never been comfortable praying to Angels or other men.
Anything that takes our eyes from the Lord Himself is not good.
I think I’ll stick with the Lord since He’s the only one that can save me, will continue to save me.
He’s the far superior Priest, King, Father and CiC (of His angelic armies), so we don’t need to, in fact it would be a waste of time to pray to angels, etc..
Secondly: Have you any examples in scripture where God directed his O.T or N.T. saints to pray to Angels, or their ancestors who were O.T. believers..? (And I don’t mean honoring Angels that came into their presence like in Abraham’s case, etc..I mean praying to them). If not then I rest my case.
Ephesians does not command us to pray to angels.
Ephesians does not teach angels are part of the Body of Christ.
Angels are not part of the body of Christ...Where do you guys come up with this stuff???
Seems they are willing and happy to pray to anyone, other than God...
“Ephesians does not command us to pray to angels.
Ephesians does not teach angels are part of the Body of Christ.”
I am the most misunderstood poster of this evening. I posted the Scripture in agreement with your post. My position on praying to angels is post 15.
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