St. Michael is the archangel who drove Lucifer and his minions out of Heaven. In Luke 10:18, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from Heaven.”
Michael is our defensive commander in the ongoing Spiritual Warfare that St. Paul speaks of in Ephesians 6:11-12, “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but with the Principalities and Powers (fallen angels) with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God that you may be able to resist on the evil day, having done everything to hold your ground.”
Pope Leo XIII is said to have had a vision of Satan trying to destroy, the Catholic Church. He was so shaken by this terrifying vision that he wrote a Prayer to St. Michael. Starting in 1886, this prayer was said at the end of every Mass until Vatican II. This is the prayer invokes the protection of St. Michael:
“Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the 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, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”
The reference to “prowl throughout the world…” comes from 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The DEVIL is real! And so is SAINT MICHAEL†††
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