Showing posts with label Warfare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Warfare. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Prayer to Saint Michael

Here is the original version of the prayer to St. Michael, written by Pope Leo XIII in 1884. The shorter version follows, which is the version said after low Masses.


Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in “our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places” (Ephes., VI, 12). Come to the assistance of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; take hold of the dragon, “the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan,” bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit “so that he may no longer seduce the nations” (Apoc. XX.2).

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints, we confidently undertake to repulse the attacks and deceits of the devil. "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish at the presence of God. " (Ps. 67)

V. Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee bands of enemies.
R. He has conquered, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the offspring of David.
V. May Thy mercy, Lord, descend upon us.
R. As great as our hope in Thee. (at the "+" make the sign of the Cross)

We drive you from us, whoever you may be, every unclean spirit, all satanic powers, all infernal invaders, all wicked legions, assemblies and sects; in the Name and by the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ, + may you be snatched away and driven from the Church of God and from the souls made to the image and likeness of God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of the Divine Lamb. + Most cunning serpent, you shall no more dare to deceive the human race, persecute the Church, torment God’s elect and sift them as wheat. + The Most High God commands you. + He with whom, in your great insolence, you still claim to be equal, “He who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim., 11.4). God the Father commands you. + God the Son commands you. + God the Holy Ghost commands you. + Christ, God’s Word made flesh, commands you. + He who to save our race outdone through your envy, humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death” (Phil, 11,8); He who has built His Church on the firm rock and declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Her, because He will dwell with Her “all days even to the end of the world” (St. Mat., XXVIII,20). The sacred Sign of the Cross commands you, + as does also the power of the mysteries of the Christian Faith. + The glorious Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, commands you. + She who by her humility and from the first moment of her immaculate Conception, crushed your proud head. The faith of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and of the other Apostles commands you. + The blood of the Martyrs and the pious intercession of all the Saints command you. +

Thus, cursed dragon, and you, diabolical legions, we adjure you by the living God, + by the true God, + by the holy God, + by the God “who so loved the world that He gave up His only Son, that every soul believing in Him might not perish but have life everlasting” (St. John, III); stop deceiving human creatures and pouring out to them the poison of eternal damnation; stop harming the Church and hindering her liberty. Begone, Satan, inventor and master of all deceit, enemy of man’s salvation. Give place to Christ in whom you have found none of your works; give place to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church acquired by Christ at the price of His Blood. Stoop beneath the all-powerful Hand of God; tremble and flee when we invoke the Holy and terrible Name of Jesus, this Name which causes hell to tremble, this Name to which the Virtues, Powers and Dominations of Heaven are humbly submissive, this Name which the Cherubim and Seraphim praise unceasingly repeating: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, the God of Armies.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. May the Lord be with thee.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

God of Heaven, God of earth, God of Angels, God of Archangels, God of Patriarchs, God of Prophets, God of Apostles, God of Martyrs, God of Confessors, God of Virgins, God who has power to give life after death and rest after work, because there is no other God than Thee and there can be no other, for Thou art the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, of whose reign there shall be no end, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy glorious Majesty and we beseech Thee to deliver us by Thy power from all the tyranny of the infernal spirits, from their snares, their lies and their furious wickedness; deign, O Lord, to grant us Thy powerful protection and to keep us safe and sound. We beseech Thee through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord.
That Thy Church may serve Thee in peace and liberty, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou may crush down all enemies of Thy Church, we beseech Thee to hear us. (Holy water is sprinkled in the place where we may be.)


The Shorter Version (Said after Low Mass)
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 thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

2 Deaths Per Second

According to http://www.worldometers.info/ and http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html there are about 2 deaths per second, that is, about 120 deaths per minute, 600 deaths every 5 minutes, about 7200 deaths per hour and about 172,800 deaths per day.  Every person who dies will be judged and either taken to heaven, hell or purgatory.

We were commissioned to go out into the world to bring souls to Jesus.  While many of us can't be full-time missionaries, we are still called to do what we can to save souls.  

It takes 5 minutes to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet all the way through. Christ tells us to pray unceasingly for those dying. Jesus said to Sister Faustina:

"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you.  Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death.  Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope.  Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy.  I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...."

"....When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person not as the just judge but as the Merciful Savior".

While we are waiting in line, waiting for our browser to load, waiting for anything, we can do beautiful acts of mercy for souls in need of salvation.  It only takes 5 minutes to pray this chaplet.  It may be the most productive and blessed five minutes of your life!  Please pray the chaplet often.

See this link to learn how to pray:  http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm  or go to my favorite links and sing along with EWTN.  


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Conference on Spiritual Warfare




My daughter, I want to teach you about spiritual warfare.  Never trust in yourself, but abandon yourself totally to My will. In desolation, darkness and various doubts, have recourse to Me and to your spiritual director.  He will always answer you in My name.  Do not bargain with any temptation; lock yourself immediately in My Heart and, at the first opportunity, reveal the temptation to the confessor.  Put your self-love in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds.  Bear with yourself with great patience.  Do not neglect interior mortifications.  Always justify to yourself the opinions of your superiors and of your confessor.  Shun murmurers like a plague.  Let all act as they like; you are to act as I want you to.

Observe the rule as faithfully as you can.  If someone causes you trouble, think what good you can do for the person who caused you to suffer.  Do not pour out your feelings.  Be silent when you are rebuked.  Do not ask everyone's opinion, but only the opinion of your confessor; be as frank and simple as a child with him.  Do not become discouraged by ingratitude.  Do not examine with curiosity the roads down which I lead you.  When boredom and discouragement beat against your heart, run away from yourself and hide in My heart.  Do not fear struggle; courage itself often intimidates temptations, and they dare not attack us.

Always fight with the deep conviction that I am with you.  Do not be guided by feeling, because it is not always under your control; but all merit lies in the will.  Always depend upon your superiors, even in the smallest things.  I will not delude you with prospects of peace and consolations; on the contrary, prepare for great battles.  Know that you are now on a great stage where all heaven and earth are watching you.  Fight like a knight, so that I can reward you.  Do not be unduly fearful, because you are not alone. 


-- St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul #1760