"Quis ut Deus"
“Who is like God?”
history
Priestly Fraternity Saint Michael The Archangel
Who is Saint Michael the Archangel?
What does the figure of Saint Michael the Archangel conjure up in our minds when we see him, sword upraised and the Devil prostrate at his feet? Surely it is of the conflict between good and evil. Saint Michael, whose name comes from the Hebrew signifying “Who is like God?” must be therefore the defender of good, or perhaps one should say, of sanctity; because since God is the Holy One, is pure holiness or sanctity, what we can say of Saint Michael is, inevitably, in created and angelic terms, a defender of this. This is what his name implies. So, in a few words, Saint Michael is the defender of the holiness of God
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We live in a world where mass media abounds and is abused by the spreading of lies and half-truths, which are frequently the best lies. For example, if a person were to confess that he had stolen a wallet, but omitted to mention that it contained a hundred dollar bill, he would be telling the truth, but not the whole truth —which is why in a court of law a witness is required to tell not only the truth, but the whole truth—. For us, God is the ultimate and absolute truth, though postmodern philosophy would have us believe that there is no absolute truth. If there is no ultimate and absolute truth, then it follows quickly that anything goes. Truth is replaced by caprice, by convenience, and so forth. But for the Christian, God is Truth, and since Saint Michael is “Who is like God?” he must be a defender of truth, and whoever adopts Saint Michael as his patron will inevitably have to do the same.
The defense of truth requires, understanding, justice and mercy. Saint Michael cannot be invoked as a kind of inquisitional figure weighing in with an unsheathed sword to meet out death and destruction. Rather, the sword is the sword of truth, and also of understanding —cutting away all that is false—, of justice and of forgiveness. The result of his action is that there is clarity, so that truth, understanding, justice and forgiveness may prevail. If we understand this we can see that the Fraternity of Saint Michael the Archangel must bear witness to the truth in such a way that it is really evident. For truth to be seen in all its splendor, it must be like a jewel set with other precious stones, such as mercy and compassion. All too often, the defenders of a position that they consider to be the truth resort quickly to insults and shouting. The truth requires neither of these, but rational argument calmly presented. Saint Michael may lead an army and be armed with a sword, but it is not an army of ignorant beings armed with violence, but a saintly host armed with reason.
the prayer
Priestly Fraternity Saint Michael The Archangel
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In 1886 Pope Leo XIII instituted what would later be known as the “Leonine Prayers” after Mass (something familiar to those who have attended a Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form). These prayers include the well-known Prayer to St. Michael. Not much is known for certain about the origin of this prayer, but it is believed by many historians that Pope Leo had a profound vision that sparked its creation.
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According to Kevin Symonds, author of Pope Leo XIII and the Prayer to St. Michael, the vision likely occurred between 1884 and 1886 and took place during the celebration of Mass. Several different reports relate that Pope Leo had a visible change come over his face during the vision and one claims that his face was “pale and fearful.”
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A cardinal at the time who knew the pope’s private secretary explains that “Pope Leo XIII truly had a vision of demonic spirits, who were gathering on the Eternal City (Rome). From that experience … comes the prayer which he wanted the whole Church to recite.”
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Ever since Pope Leo XIII composed it, the St. Michael Prayer has continued to be a staple of Catholic prayer and is a prayer many exorcists recommend to anyone who needs to combat the presence of evil in their lives.
Saint Michael the Archangel
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him,
we humbly pray, and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
amen
the Chapelt
Priestly Fraternity Saint Michael The Archangel
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The history of this Chaplet goes back to a devout Servant of God, Antonia d'Astonac, who had a vision of St. Michael. He told Antonia to honor him by nine salutations to the nine Choirs of Angels. St. Michael promised that whoever would practice this devotion in his honor would have when approaching Holy Communion, an escort of nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for those who would recite the Chaplet daily, he promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy angels during life and after death deliverance form purgatory for themselves and their relations.
Way to pray the chaplet:
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V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.. Glory to the Father ...
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[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]
I SALUTATION: BY THE SERAFINES
An Our Father and three Hail Marys to the first angelic choir.
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By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity.
Ii SALUTATION: FOR THE CHERUBS
An Our Father and three Hail Marys to the second angelic choir.
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By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the path of Christian perfection.Amen
Iii SALUTATION: FOR THE SACRED THRONES
An Our Father and three Hail Marys to the third angelic choir.
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By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of thrones may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.
IV SALUTATION: FOR THE DOMINATIONS
An Our Father and three Hail Marys to the fourth angelic choir.
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By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions.Amen.
v SALUTATION: BY THE POWERS
An Our Father and three Hail Marys to the fifth angelic choir.
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By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.
VI SALUTATION: BY THE VIRTUES
An Our Father and three Hail Marys to the sixth angelic choir.
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By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation.Amen.
VI SALUTATION: BY THE PRINCIPALS
An Our Father and three Hail Marys to the seventh angelic choir.
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By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. AMEN
viii SALUTATION: FOR THE ARCHANGELS
An Our Father and three Hail Marys to the eighth angelic choir.
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By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in order that we may attain the glory of Heaven. Amen.
ix SALUTATION: FOR LOS ANGELES
An Our Father and three Hail Marys to the ninth angelic choir
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By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted in the life to come to Heaven.Amen.
Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels:
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The first to San Miguel,
the second to Saint Gabriel,
the third to Saint Raphael,
and the fourth to our Guardian Angel.
This exercise is concluded with the following antiphon and final prayer:
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O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
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V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ
A. That we may be made worthy of His promises
Prayer:
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Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
