Episode Transcript  

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. But today I want to focus on St. Michael because the prayer to St. Michael is so important. But where did it come from?

One

Prayer to St. Michael

In 1884, Pope Leo XIII celebrated morning Mass, then went to a meeting with the Cardinals. Suddenly, he collapsed on the floor in unconsciousness. The doctors who came to his aid found no cause for the collapse, although his pulse almost ceased. Suddenly, he awoke and was fresh as ever. He reported that he had seen a terrible vision in which the Devil and his demons would gain great power and seem to rule in the latter half of the 20th and first part of the 21st century. The goal of Satan’s domination was the complete destruction of humanity.

In his vision, Pope Leo XIII saw St. Michael the Archangel appear and cast Satan with all his demons back into Hell. Seeing that we needed the help of the Angelic Army and especially its leader, St. Michael, Pope Leo XIII composed the Prayer to St. Michael and then commanded it be prayed at the end of every Mass throughout the world perpetually. “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, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”

The entire Church prayed the prayer of St. Michael after every Mass until the mid-1960s. Then we stopped, and all hell broke loose. I think we need the help of St. Michael.

Two

The epic battle between the Woman and Michael against the Dragon.

The Book of Revelation chapter 12 describes a great battle in which Mary and St. Michael and his angels fight against Satan and his demons.

Verse 7 tells us, “And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had deceived all the world, was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him.”

Following Scripture, Christian tradition gives St. Michael three responsibilities:

To fight against Satan.

To rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death.

St. Thomas taught that St. Michael has a special role of leading each soul at the moment of death to the Judgment seat of God.

Since he will be by your side at your particular judgment before God, it would be a good idea to make friends with him now, I think.

Three

The Ruler of this World

At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “The ruler of this world is coming” (John 14:30). He meant Satan. God reigns in the hearts of those who do His will. Satan reigns in the hearts of those who reject God and live in sin.

The more we turn away from God, the more power we give to the devil. And what follows? Lies and murder. Jesus said it plainly: Satan is a liar and a murderer. Look around, lies fill the news, and murder fills the world, especially in abortion and euthanasia.

When people turn from God, fear grows into hate, and hate explodes into war. Satan gains power through our personal sin. If we stopped sinning, he would have no power.

The problem is not “out there.” The problem is sin, my sin and yours. And the only solution is this: our personal conversion.

Four

Letter to Pope John Paul II

On December 2nd, 1983, the visionaries of Medjugorje sent a letter to Pope John Paul II summarizing the Blessed Virgin’s call to conversion. In addition to this basic message, Mirjana related an apparition she had in 1982 in which Satan appeared disguised as the Blessed Virgin and asked her to renounce the Madonna and follow him. Then Our Lady appeared and said, “Excuse me for this, but you must realize that Satan exists. One day he appeared before the throne of God and asked permission to submit the Church to a period of trial. God gave him permission to try the Church for one century. These 100 years are under the power of the Devil, but when the secrets confided to you come to pass, his power will be destroyed. Even now he is beginning to lose his power and has become aggressive. He is destroying marriages, creating divisions among priests and is responsible for obsessions and murder. You must protect yourselves against these things by fasting and prayer, especially community prayer.”

Five

Fasting, Prayer, and Community Prayer

In 1872, St. Bernadette Soubirous, the visionary of Lourdes, France, gave an interview to a journalist. At that time, many people were afraid of a war between France and Germany, so the journalist asked her if she was afraid. St. Bernadette replied that she feared one thing only, “bad Catholics.”

Personal sin is the problem, Conversion is the answer, mine and yours. So, here are some practical resolutions to pick from:

Commit to Daily Meditation on the Word of God in the Rosary. This is what Our Lady asked us to do because daily meditation with a resolution is a powerful way to overcome sin and grow in virtue.

Fast – fast from everything that distracts you from God. Fast, especially from the distraction that comes from your screens. Fast because Our Lady asked us to.

Take a few minutes every day to do an examination of conscience. Tie it to your routine before bed or to your morning prayer. Then do what Our Lady asked and go to Confession at least once a month.

We need prayer in families and among friends. So invite family and friends to get together for meals or to do some good thing together. And if everyone is open to it, invite them to pray the Rosary with you. Pray the Rosary together because this is what Our Lady asked us to do.

Finally, since it is Our Lady and St. Michael who lead the war against Satan, pray the prayer of St. Michael daily and become friends with him. Then, when he leads you to the judgment seat of God at the moment of your death, you will have a good friend at your side!

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