At a time erstwhile humanity completely turns distant from God, calling on the top demon slayer, St. Michael the Archangel, seems to be an effective weapon against powerful attacks of the power of darkness. This intuition is confirmed by the words of St. Thomas of Aquinas: "Michael is the breath of the soul of the Redeemer, who at the end of the planet will fight and destruct the Antichrist, as he did with Lucifer at the very beginning." What should everyone know about the large “Prince of the Heavenly Army” in order to submit to his protection at the last attempt?
Paul's letter to the Thessalonians states: "For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven for the password and for the voice of the archangel, and for the sound of the trumpet of God, and the dead shall emergence first in Christ" (Tes 4:16). In his letter, St. Jude calls the archangel by name: "When Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil over Moses' body, he did not dare to cast a blasphemous sentence, but said, The Lord will discipline you." (Jud 1:9). The choir of archangels, in addition to St. Michael, includes St. Gabriel and St. Rafał, as well as 4 another spirits known from the conversation between St. Rafal and Tobias.
The “Prince of the Blue Army” was the first to be commemorated with a celebration. From 530 on 29 September there is simply a liturgical memory of St. Michael the Archangel. Later the feast was linked to the memory of the Guardian Angels. Celebrations for St. Gabriel (24 March) and Raphael (24 October) were established separately. In time, however, they were suspended due to the introduction of the combined feast of the 3 Archangels into the fresh liturgical calendar (1970).
1.Mikha’el, meaning “Who is like God?”
According to Tradition, erstwhile Lucifer with the slogan Non serviam (I will not serve) opposed God, he was the first to appear against him lower in the hierarchy of heavenly beings an angel with the cry of Quis ut Deus! “Who is like God?” This call was raised during the conflict in heaven, in which Michael, a large warrior, faced rebellious angels under the leadership of Satan and his supporters—the devils. For this reason, God placed St. Michael in the place of fallen Lucifer, who ceased to be an angelic prince from that minute on.
2.The Archangel
An angel appears frequently on the pages of the Scriptures. Their number is said to be huge. The Lord Jesus himself speaks of angelic hosts (cf. Mt 26:53), while the prophet Daniel speaks of thousands standing before God (Dn 7:10). And each 1 reflects God’s perfection in a different way, for there are no 2 angels equal. The tradition of the Church tells us about 9 angelic choirs, which in turn divide into 3 hierarchy. The 3 choirs closest to God are Seraphim, Cherubini and Thrones. They stand before God’s majesty, constantly contemplating his face. The second hierarchy – the Rulership, the Powers and the Authorities – is liable for the harmonious functioning of the universe, that is, the implementation of the Plan of Divine Providence. The 3rd – Authority, Archangels and Angels – takes care of kingdoms, states, nations and individuals. St. Michael, although he is the most prominent of angels, takes a lower place in the angelic hierarchy.
3. Leader of all angels
According to St. Basil the large and another Greek Fathers called in Daniel’s Books “the large prince” of St. Michael is the leader of all angels, including the Seraphim Choir closest to God. His advanced position is indicated by the words of Archangel Gabriel spoken during the conversation with the prophet Daniel, and referring to St. Michael "one of the first princes." As we read, “No 1 can aid me effectively against them but your Prince Michael” (Dn 10:22). This rank confirms the leadership function of this archangel mention from Revelation“ And there was a conflict in heaven, and Michael and his angels were to fight the Dragon. And the Dragon and his Angels went into battle" (Ap 12:7). The motif of St. Michael the Archangel as the 1 who will stand up for the people during the reign of Antichrist we find in Daniel’s Books“ In those days Michael, the large prince who is the guardian of the children of your nation, will appear. Then there will be a time of problem specified as has not occurred since the nations arose until now. At that time your people will be saved: all those who are written in the book" (Dn 12:1).
Although he was usually presented as an angel warrior, taking on a victorious pose, in full armor, in a helmet, with a sword and a shield on which the Latin inscription appears: Quis ut Deus?, he was not seen as a Christian defender from the beginning. For unknown reasons, he was more viewed as a healer. The healing sources in Phrygia, Chairotropia, and Colossae, in which many people were to experience healings, were considered to be the work of this Archangel, as he was seen at the origin at a time erstwhile a group of Gentiles attempted to destruct the place of worship by directing the stream of water in the other direction. Then St. Michael was to prevent it.
4. Defender of the Church, the top enemy of the devil
Concerning the strength and military triumph of St. Michael the Archangel in his fight with Satan and his followers, we read in Revelation John: “And there was a conflict in heaven: Michael and his angels were to fight the Dragon and to fight the Dragon and his angels, but he did not prevail and no longer found a place in heaven. And the large Dragon, the ancient serpent, called the devil and Satan, was thrown down, deceiving the full inhabited earth, and his angels were cast down with him" (Ap 12:7-9). From this imagination was born the image of Archangel Michael as the protector of the Church and the devil's top enemy. Pope Leon XIII, after having experienced the terrible threats of Satan in a mystical way, was to arrange a prayer, the words of which, in accordance with the will of the Head of the Church, sounded throughout the world, and especially were heard in the temples of the full planet after all Holy Mass.
Although his name is not mentioned in the Bible, many doctors of the Church see St. Michael in the Angel of the Guardian of Israel from Exodus“ Look! I am sending an angel to you to defender you in the time of your way and to bring you to the place I have appointed you. respect him and pay attention to his words. Do not argue him in anything, for he will not forgive your transgressions, for my name is in him" (Exodus 23:20-21). Similarly, “The Leader of the Blue hosts” is considered an angel replacing the way of Balaam, which we read in Numbers Books (cf. Lb 22:22). Through all these accomplishments, Christian tradition assigned St. Michael 4 tasks: 1) to fight Satan; 2) to save faithful souls from Satan's power, especially in the hr of death; 3) get the dying and lead them before judgment; 4) be a advocate of God's people—Israeli in the Old, Christians in New Testament, and service as the patron of the Church, as it served the troops of knights during the mediate Ages.
5. It has its office on earth
The beginnings of 1 of the most celebrated sanctuaries in the Catholic Church in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, located in the hills of the Gargano Peninsula, are found in the letters of Pope Gelazi I addressed to bishops at the turn of 493 and 494 and in Liber de apparitione Sancti Michaelis in Monte Gargano from the 8th century, or in a book describing the apparitions of St. Michael the Archangel there. The appearance of the Angel of St. Lawrence, Bishop of Siponto in 490, preceded this event:
“There was a rich man who escaped. The owner saw it at the top of the mountain, kneeling at the entrance to the cave – in the place of future revelations. The slave couldn't get there, so in anger he bent a bow and released an arrow to punish a disobedient animal with death. But here's the unusual thing. The arrow... turned around and hit him in the leg. Scared, he ran to tell the local bishop about this amazing event. He immediately ordered 3 days of public prayer and penance. erstwhile he bowed to the evening the last penance day, and it was May 8, St. Michael appeared to the bishop and said:I am the Archangel Michael, standing before God. The cave is dedicated to me; I am its guardian... Where the stone opens, human sins will be forgiven... The prayers you will bring here to God will be answered. Go to the mountains and prepare this cave for Christian worshipIt’s okay. ”
By the time the cave of St. Michael the Archangel was yet built on Monte Gargano, besides called the Heavenly Basilica, there was a second revelation of this heavenly spirit, which, in the face of any defeat of Christians in the German clash under Odoakra, instructed them to immediately join the counterattack, which contributed to their victory, dated 29 September 492. A year later, the bishop of the Archangel Michael, who was preparing to sacrifice the designated place, appeared, saying: “Let your thoughts be about the sacrifice of the cave, I have chosen it for my seat and have already sacrificed it with my angels. In it you will find signs on the stone and my image, altar, palius and cross. You will only enter the cave and refuse to pray with me. next day you will give the Most Holy Sacrifice to the people and you will see how I am sacrificing this temple.” On September 29, 493 the people gathered together with their shepherds were witnesses of the only inhuman hand in the past of the temple dedication.
6. Exorcism to Saint Michael the Archangel
On October 13, 1884, Pope Leon XIII experienced a mystical conversation between God and Satan. “At the time of thanksgiving after the Holy Mass, the pope heard Satan’s talk with Christ close the Tabernacle: With a full anger the devil shouted: I can destruct your church! The Lord Jesus kindly answered: Can you? So try. Satan: But for that, I request more time and power! Jesus: How much time and power do you need? Satan: 75 to 100 years and more power over those who service me. Jesus: You will have that time and power. What century do you choose? Satan: This is the coming century (i.e., the 20th century – cars).’ After this event, in the heart of the Holy Father there was a desire to do something that would aid the faithful to meet the upcoming events. From this intention arose a prayer which Leon XIII ordered to deny bishops and priests all over after all Holy Mass. To the tradition of the Church she passed as an Exorcism to Saint Michael the Archangel. For all refusal, we may receive partial indulgence, while the practice of regular prayer allows us to receive full indulgence under average conditions.
The existence of angels, or spirit beings, uncarpenters, is the fact of faith. In all their essence, they are servants and messengers of God, the noblest and most perfect creatures--personal and immortal, who have reason and will.
Anna Novgorodka-Patrayrcha
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
