Confused on Michael the Archangel prayer

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I’ve been reading up on the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel and I am a little confused on something. There is one line that says, “St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits.” This is were I’m getting confused a little. The Principalities and Powers are two different ranks of angels within Lords army. So is it taking about the fallen angels of principalities and powers?
 
I am not familiar with the prayer you post
This is what I am familiar with which does not have what your question is about

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 Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
 
It might be related to this passage of sacred scripture taken from Chapter 6: 11-13, of Ephesians:

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.

For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, 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 and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

Here are the footnotes that went along with it [taken from NAB at http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/ephesians/ephesians6.htm”]this link,]

*[10-20] A general exhortation to courage and prayer. Drawing upon the imagery and ideas of Isaiah 11:5; 59:16-17; and Wisdom 5:17-23, Paul describes the Christian in terms of the dress and equipment of Roman soldiers. He observes, however, that the Christian’s readiness for combat is not directed against human beings but against the spiritual powers of evil (Eph 6:10-17; cf Eph 1:21; 2:2; 3:10). Unique importance is placed upon prayer (Eph 6:18-20). *
 
So the OP Prayer is referrence to the Long Version of the Prayer to St Michael written by Pope Leo XIII after he had a vision during Mass in the Vatican in 1884. He wrote the prayer to St Michael, 13 encyclicals to the Blessed Mother and gave the next Century to the Holy Spirit. Pope Leo was obviously profoundly affected by the Vision Then Pope Leo made this statement and was quoted; “The Rosary is the weapon which will defeat satan”

That period was given to satan by Christ as a time of testing. Benedict just spoke on this last May at Fatima in his homily, which is rare especially for him being a Theologian and not a Mystic. And he just spoke on it again in “Light of the World” which was released a few months ago.

So the OP question is…

So is it talking about the fallen angels of principalities and powers?

Yes, that is what Pope Leo was referring to. I believe that as the Lord has a chain of command, so would Lucifer. It would just make sense to me that he would in some way mimick what he would know.

At the fall Lucifer tried to drag Michael down with him. God saved St Michael. I say that to say this, Lucifer then knew that he would need a powerful force to wage war with God.
 
ThunderCrack said:
I’ve been reading up on the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel and I am a little confused on something. There is one line that says, “St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits.” This is were I’m getting confused a little. The Principalities and Powers are two different ranks of angels within Lords army. So is it taking about the fallen angels of principalities and powers?
Click to expand...
The so called Roman Question (the elimination of the papal state) started in 1961 and lasted until 1929. The Italian revolution unilaterally (and between 1861 and 1870 against the occupying France) abolished the Papal state. The Church was shocked. Leo XIII original prayer as above represents this shock, the principalities and powers are the Italian rulers and every European and Word ruler accepting their intrusion into the papal state.

Pius XI accepted the reality and in the Lateran Treaty established the independence of the Vatican, but even in the fifties there were priests defending the necessity of the original Papal state.

The recent form of the prayer skipped the reference of the worldly powers:
Holy Michael Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. – May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust down to hell Satan and all wicked spirits, who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.
Click to expand...
 
I was just reading a thread (from search results, dated 2009, nothing recent) where traditionalists and Orthodox were trashing the Catholic Charismatic movement.

They fail to realize that the “pentecostal” movement even outside the Catholic Church only happened because the Pope and the whole church were praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit! :eek: Pope Leo XIII started it all, and the charisms started appearing in Kansas and Azusa Street in the early 20th century–because people of faith asked. Pope John XXIII also asked for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then Catholics stepping out in faith asked in 1967. But Pope Leo XIII set the stage! Even this modern history proves the power of binding and loosing and key-holding of the Pope!

I have a Chaplet of the Holy Spirit - “was created in 1892 by a Franciscan Capuchin missionary to provide an easy way for the faithful to honor the Holy Spirit” - and was approved by Pope Leo XIII. 👍

OK back to the question at hand:
Angels
newadvent.org/cathen/01476d.htm
The “hierarchical organization” section is most relevant to the OP question.

More details about the St. Michael prayers can be found at
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Michael_%28Roman_Catholic%29
 
laszlo said:
The so called Roman Question (the elimination of the papal state) started in 1961 and lasted until 1929. The Italian revolution unilaterally (and between 1861 and 1870 against the occupying France) abolished the Papal state. The Church was shocked. Leo XIII original prayer as above represents this shock, the principalities and powers are the Italian rulers and every European and Word ruler accepting their intrusion into the papal state.

Pius XI accepted the reality and in the Lateran Treaty established the independence of the Vatican, but even in the fifties there were priests defending the necessity of the original Papal state.

The recent form of the prayer skipped the reference of the worldly powers:
Click to expand...
This is an interesting piece of the puzzle also.

Leo XIII added the prayer in the “short version” to the Low Mass of the CC world wide. It remained part of the Low Mass till different periods of the 1960’s. I remember it being Prayed in church at the end of the Mass. I attend St Michaels so the prayer was used till very late in the 60’s. It varied in different churchs.

Honestly. I’m surprized its not still used considering the evil in the world today. The suppression is really a result of making the CC more acceptable to others who don’t believe in recitation to the Saints. Yet in the CC exorcism rite, the Prayer to St Michael is an major intercession as is Mary. In other words their siginficance in the on-going war against evil cannot be understated.
 
kentuckyliz said:
I was just reading a thread (from search results, dated 2009, nothing recent) where traditionalists and Orthodox were trashing the Catholic Charismatic movement.

They fail to realize that the “pentecostal” movement even outside the Catholic Church only happened because the Pope and the whole church were praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit! :eek: Pope Leo XIII started it all, and the charisms started appearing in Kansas and Azusa Street in the early 20th century–because people of faith asked. Pope John XXIII also asked for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then Catholics stepping out in faith asked in 1967. But Pope Leo XIII set the stage! Even this modern history proves the power of binding and loosing and key-holding of the Pope!

I have a Chaplet of the Holy Spirit - “was created in 1892 by a Franciscan Capuchin missionary to provide an easy way for the faithful to honor the Holy Spirit” - and was approved by Pope Leo XIII. 👍

OK back to the question at hand:
Angels
newadvent.org/cathen/01476d.htm
The “hierarchical organization” section is most relevant to the OP question.

More details about the St. Michael prayers can be found at
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Michael_%28Roman_Catholic%29
Click to expand...
What? It sounds like you think praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit has something to do with the Cathoic Charismatic stuff.

I pray to the Holy Spirit, love Him, adore Him as God. But I do not mumble or laugh in sacred places, and I strongly believe that traditional, sacred music (chant and polyphony), sober postures (sitting, standing and kneeling as appropriate), etc. are to be used for worshiping God, especially in Church. “Charismatic” styles of worship (praise and worship songs, “holy laughter”, speaking in “tongues” that no one else understands) should be abandoned, but if they must be done by someone, let them be done in private groups.

The true outpouring of the Holy Spirit, I cannot presume to define. But it would make more sense to me to see it in increasing reverence for Our Lord in the Mass as is happening where there is a return to tradition.
 
You don’t get it. You can tell a pentecostal that Kansas and Azusa Street only happened because the Pope and worldwide Catholics prayed for it… 👍
 
Now I have a clearer view on it Thanks for the helping me understand this prayer better.
 
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