September 29
St. Michael, Archangel
Preparation. - St. Michael, as chief of he angelic host, has claims to our homages. We shall therefore consider, first, how greatly he deserves our veneration, and secondly, with what confidence we ought to invoke him. We shall adopt especially the practice of frequently reciting the Glory be to the Father to thank God for the favors He conferred on St. Michael, and daily place ourselves under his powerful patronage, beseeching him to remember and protect us. “Most glorious Prince, Michael, the archangel, be thou mindful of us, and pray to the Son of God for us” (Div. Off. of the Church).
I. St. Michael, Deserves Our Veneration
The holy Archangel’s exploits against the proud Lucifer, recommend him to our respect and admiration. “Who is like unto God,” he cried out, repelling the pretensions of his adversary. Who is great, who is holy, who is wise and perfect like Jehovah? This cry of faith and humility rallied the faithful angels and avenged the glory of the Almighty. It was like a stroke of lightning, for it precipitated into hell the rebellious angels, the devils. O noble zeal, sublime courage, glorious fidelity of the holy Archangel, how worthy do you render him of our best homages!
God rewarded his bravery by placing him at the head of the heavenly host. He gave him the name of Michael, the meaning of which recalls his victorious cry - “Who is like unto God?” If we respect the angels on account of their nature, superior to ours, and of their intimate relations with God, how much more should we honor St. Michael, who is the chief and surpasses them all in power and authority! As pacifier of heaven, he deserves and receives testimonies of gratitude from all the choirs of the blessed spirits. Hence the angels, archangels, and virtues obey him; the powers, principalities and dominations are submissive to him; and there is no throne, cherub or seraph that does not bow before him and hold himself ready to fly at the least sign of his will.
What powerful motives are these for us to revere him in our turn and to honor him daily, and to be ever willing to obey his inspirations! And since his name of Michael recalls to us his exploits and grandeur, let us use it against the princes of darkness. Let us invoke him, whilst bearing in mind that humility and obedience exalt us with St. Michael, whilst pride and insubordination debase us with the demons down to hell.
O holy Archangel, thou canst powerfully help me in practicing these two virtues, which will enable me to participate in thy favors. Show me the infinite distance which separates my lowliness from the divine Majesty; incline my heart to obey Him in all things, even in the minutest details of my life, promptly and generously, as the blessed spirits obey thee, depending on thee, their chief, and are so full of respect for thy authority.
II. Motives Of Confidence In St. Michael
The exploits and grandeurs we have just admired in the prince of the angelic host, are unquestionable proofs of his power, the first foundation of our confidence. But is this Archangel, so formidable to the spirit of darkness, willing to succor us? The holy Church assures us of this by calling him “her guardian and patron,” as he was anciently of the Synagogue. Wherefore if this glorious Archangel is the guardian and patron of our holy Mother the Church, he is also the guardian and patron of her children, that is, of all the faithful, and especially of those who invoke him.
As chief of the heavenly hierarchies , he received, according to St. Alphonsus, the mission of appointing for each of us the guardian angel who is to accompany us until death. with what solicitude does he recommend to these angels his devout servants! How he flies to the assistance of those under his protection, when their angels call for his help! Often does he inspire the guardian angels and the other blessed spirits to assist in a special manner the souls that pray to him, and even to perform prodigies in their favor, as many facts prove.
Under his direction the archangels help us in extraordinary cases; the virtues aid us in doing good; the powers, in our struggles with hell; the principalities, in our resistance to the allurements of the world; the dominations facilitate our submission to God’s sovereign dominion over us. And when there is question of practicing patience or of preserving peace in difficult circumstances, he sends the thrones to our aid. And when, at times, we pray to him with greater fervor than usual, he inspires the cherubim to enlighten us with bright lights, and the seraphim to inflame us with holy ardor in the service of God. What a happiness for us to have such a friend who, as he will and for our benefit, disposes of the whole heavenly host! And how great his goodness thus to place all heaven at our disposal!
O glorious Archangel, I believe in thy power and thy devotedness, and put my trust in thee. Thou helpest all who implore thee; obtain for me the grace of a tender devotion to thee, a devotion that will induce me often to invoke thee, and hope from thee victory over temptations during life, a special succor at the hour of death, a particular protection at the divine tribunal and great relief in the flames of purgatory. “Most glorious prince, archangel Michael, be mindful of us, pray here and everywhere always for us to the Son of God.”
