Prayer to Saint Michael (short version, written by Pope Leo - TopicsExpress

Prayer to Saint Michael (short version, written by Pope Leo XIII) Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in our day of battle; protect us against the deceit and wickedness of the devil, today and always. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God banish into hell Satan and all of the evil spirits who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The story of the Prayer to the Archangel Michael (and also to Saint Joseph) written by Pope Leo XIII (1810 – 1903) following a terrible vision. On the 13th October 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a remarkable vision. When the aged Pontiff had finished celebrating Mass in his private Vatican chapel, attended by a few Cardinals and members of the Vatican staff, he suddenly stopped at the foot of the altar, and stared motionlessly at something in the air, towards the tabernacle, without batting an eye. The Holy Father stood there for about 10 minutes, as if in a trance, his face ashen white, with an unusual expression of awe and a terrible look of horror and fear on his face, after which he collapsed to the floor and fell shrieking, after which he fainted. Those present feared the worst, and thought that the old Pope had a sudden stroke, or fell into a coma, or worse died suddenly. But the Pope had fallen into a mystical ecstasy during which he had a terrible vision. Finally the elderly Pontiff came back to his senses, he lightly but firmly tapped his hand and rose to his feet, although still visibly shaken. He was then helped by those around him to another room. When asked what had happened, the Holy Father refused to give an explanation, and headed for his private office. About half an hour later, the Pope called for the Secretary of the Congregation of Rites and, handing him a sheet of paper, requested that it be printed and sent to all the ordinaries around the world. What was that paper? It contained the two prayers below, which the Pope himself had just composed, to plea the protection of the Prince of Archangels Michael and that of Saint Joseph, who had been declared by his predecessor, Blessed Pius IX, as Protector of the Universal Church. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prayer of Pope Leo XIII to Saint Michael (short version): Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in our day of battle; protect us against the deceit and wickedness of the devil, today and always. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God banish into hell Satan and all of the evil spirits who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. Prayer of Pope Leo XIII to Saint Joseph: (https://youtube/watch?v=tMLf4Tr6dAI) To thee, O Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and while imploring the aid of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. By that love which united thee to the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with which thou didst embrace the Infant Jesus, we humbly beseech thee graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ Himself purchased with His Own Precious Blood and with thy power and strength, to help us in our necessities, by thy powerful intercession. Protect, O most provident Guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; ward off from us, O most loving Father, all taint of error and corruption; graciously assist us from Heaven, O our most mighty protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness; and as thou didst once rescue the Child Jesus from imminent deadly peril to His life, so now defend each and every one of us, as well as God’s Holy Church, from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield each and every one of us with thy unceasing patronage and constant protection, so that, imitating thy example and supported by thy aid, we may be enabled to live piously, die a holy death, and secure everlasting eternal happiness in Heaven. Amen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Holy Father then explained to the Secretary of the Congregation of rites what had exactly happened in the papal private chapel. As the Pope was about to leave the foot of the altar, he suddenly heard two different voices - one kind and gentle from the tabernacle, which he identified as that of Jesus Christ, the other guttural and harsh, from near the tabernacle, full of pride, which was the voice of Satan. The Pope heard the following conversation between the two: Satan: I can destroy Your Church. Our Lord: You think you can? Then go ahead and try to do so. Satan: To do so, I need more time and more power. Our Lord: How much time? How much power? Satan: 75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service. Our Lord: You will have the time, you will have the power. Do with my followers what you will. But you still will not succeed. For I will sustain and support them in the fight against evil. As the Lord Jesus was still speaking, the Pope saw the Archangel Michael appear, leading a group of angels, who attacked Satan and his legions of devils, who had all been released from hell, roaming around the world seeking the eternal perdition of souls. Although Satan and his devils fought back, they were defeated and cast back into hell. The Holy Father also saw in his vision the Blessed Virgin Mary and her husband Saint Joseph, standing next to the Tabernacle from where he had previously heard the voice of Jesus Christ. Through this terrible vision Leo XIII was made well aware (quoting his own words) “what the coming times would bring, misleading powers and raving devils in all countries fighting against the Church,” for Satan and his forces of evil spirits would surely intensify their aggressive attack against the Church, in an attempt to harm it badly and destroy it, but also intensify their campaign of leading many souls to eternal damnation. The Pope entrusted the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and the Archangel Michael (as he had seen all three in his vision) to defend the Church in its battle against Satan, as well as to protect all believers in Christ from their attacks to damage their souls. When he retreated to his private office after this terrible vision, the Holy Father immediately wrote two separate prayers invoking the powerful intercession and protection of the Archangel Michael and of Saint Joseph. Together with the Holy Rosary, Leo XIII wanted that these prayers that he himself wrote following his terrible vision would be the secure arms that the Church as well as all Catholics would use to defend itself against Satan’s evil forces, and encouraged Catholics to say every day the Holy Rosary as well as the two prayers written by him. Regarding the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel. Pope Leo XIII recommended that this prayer is recited with devotion daily immediately at the end of Mass by both clergy and lay alike, and if one does not attend Mass that day, one can still recite it at the end of the Rosary together with the same Pope’s prayer to Saint Joseph. A few months later he rewrote the prayer Saint Michael the Archangel but with longer text, now known as the long version (the prayer in the attached clip), which is particularly recommended in times of great troubles for the Catholic Church when its members and leaders or any of its Teachings are attacked, as well as during exorcism. I invite all to not forget this beautiful prayer to the Archangel Michael, but to recite it regularly, if possible daily, in order to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and the spirit of this world. ~ Pope Saint John Paul II during his Angelus Message on Sunday 24th April 1994. The name Michael means: Who is like God?, and reminds us of the primacy of God before anyone or anything else, and therefore God should have the first place in our lives, before anyone else (even our family members and those we love) and anything else (comfort, pleasure, success etc.). If we do not abide by Gods Commandments, then we are relegating the same God, who should be in the first place, out of our lives. This is why in order to keep God in the first place we must eliminate from our life whoever and whatever keep us distant from God and His Grace. ~ The Servant of God (soon Blessed) Pope Paul VI. The recent and rapid decrease in the devotion towards Saint Michael is of great concern, for the less people believe in the danger of hell and eternal damnation for all those who die in mortal sin, the less is the devotion towards Michael the Prince of Angels - ~ Saint Padre Pio of Pietralcina.