On October 13, 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a remarkable vision. After he had finished celebrating Mass in his private Vatican Chapel, which had been attended by a few Cardinals and members of the Vatican staff, he suddenly stopped at the foot of the altar. He stood there at the altar as if in a trance for about 10 minutes before returning to his office. From this experience, he wrote the prayer to St. Michael. This prayer was prayed after Mass in Latin throughout the world. When asked what had happened, the Pope explained that as he was about to leave the foot of the altar, he suddenly heard two voices. One voice was kind and gentle, while another voice was unkind and harsh. The voices seemed to come from near the tabernacle. As he listened, he heard the voice of Satan tell God that he could destroy the Church.
After the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, this prayer of St Michael the Archangel no longer was prayed at the end of Mass. However, in recent years, especially after the tragic attacks of 9/11, some priests and Bishops in the United States are praying the prayer of the St Michael at the end of Mass. Beside our parish of St Jude, there are other parishes in our Diocese and the Diocese of Biloxi who pray this prayer at the end of the weekend Masses. I had first installed this prayer at St James parish in Tupelo after some parishioners brought this suggestion to the liturgy committee. We have prayed the prayer of St Michael the Archangel at the end of the weekend Masses since my arrival here at St Jude in the summer of 2017.
We are going to celebrate the Mass of the Archangels this evening, September 29. We had the tradition of having a Blue Mass in honor of our first responders on this feast day, but due to the pandemic, we will not invite them in person for this Mass, but rather will have pizza delivered to the police department in Pearl in honor of this feast day. St Michael is the patron saint of first responders and soldiers.
St Michael the Archangel is a spiritual warrior in the battle of good versus evil. He is considered a champion of justice, a healer of the sick, and the guardian of the Church. In art Saint Michael is depicted with a sword, a banner, or scales, and is often shown vanquishing Satan in the form of a dragon.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do you O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
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