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Coustana
Guest
I would like to know who authored the Prayer to St. Michael, and when?
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pablope
Guest
Pope Leo XIII from a vision he saw:
The Vision Of Pope Leo XIII
October 13, 1884
Exactly 33 years to the day prior to the great Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, that is, on October 13, 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a remarkable vision. When the aged Pontiff had finished celebrating Mass in his private Vatican Chapel, attended by a few Cardinals and members of the Vatican staff, he suddenly stopped at the foot of the altar. He stood there for about 10 minutes, as if in a trance, his face ashen white. Then, going immediately from the Chapel to his office, he composed the prayer to St. Michael, with instructions it be said after all Low Masses everywhere. When asked what had happened, he explained that, as he was about to leave the foot of the altar, he suddenly heard voices - two voices, one kind and gentle, the other guttural and harsh. They seemed to come from near the tabernacle. As he listened, he heard the following conversation:
The guttural voice, the voice of Satan in his pride, boasted to Our Lord:
“I can destroy your Church.”
The gentle voice of Our Lord:
“You can? Then go ahead and do so.”
Satan:
“To do so, I need more time and more power.”
Our Lord:
"How much time? How much power?
Satan:
“75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those
who will give themselves over to my service.”
Our Lord:
“You have the time, you will have the power.
Do with them what you will.”
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Coustana
Guest
I have been a Catholic since 1981 and I have never ever heard the Prayer of St. Michael said in church, except a few times when a certain woman at one parish would lead the rosary prior to Mass. I always wondered if it was appropriate for her to add it at the end. We were told the book used in our conversion, Christ Among Us, was thrown out. Were we mislead? All this has my mind swirling, which brings me to this:
75-100 years adds up to 1959 to 1984. We know things have changed drastically since Vatican II. I heard disheartening statistics today on the local Catholic radio station stating that only 16% of current Catholics abide by the moral teachings of the Church. Also I have heard/read other sad statistics elsewhere. I am seriously wondering if Satan is having his way. Many people seem lost to me no matter what their Christian background.
I also read, though do not know if it is true, that Pope Benedict early on stated he detected the “smoke of Satan” within the Vatican (verify if true) I know in the Old Testament Job (I think…also verify please) was told as long as there is one good person God would not destroy the world. What do you (others reading this) think/know??
I’m sorry my thread is going off-topic. I now feel afraid. I am going to make myself a Chaplet of St. Michael & begin saying it.
75-100 years adds up to 1959 to 1984. We know things have changed drastically since Vatican II. I heard disheartening statistics today on the local Catholic radio station stating that only 16% of current Catholics abide by the moral teachings of the Church. Also I have heard/read other sad statistics elsewhere. I am seriously wondering if Satan is having his way. Many people seem lost to me no matter what their Christian background.
I also read, though do not know if it is true, that Pope Benedict early on stated he detected the “smoke of Satan” within the Vatican (verify if true) I know in the Old Testament Job (I think…also verify please) was told as long as there is one good person God would not destroy the world. What do you (others reading this) think/know??
I’m sorry my thread is going off-topic. I now feel afraid. I am going to make myself a Chaplet of St. Michael & begin saying it.
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COLOS
Guest
Oh boy…
That’s a can of worms right there.
Perhaps the elephant in the room.
Do some digging, but be careful. People have lost their faith over this issue that you’re just starting to look at.
Much prayer for you,
Andrew
p.s. I don’t know whether or not the Holy Father, B16, has said anything about the “smoke of satan”, but Pope Paul VI said that the “smoke of satan” had entered the temple of God. Also, he made mention of the “auto-demolition” of the Church (I’m not sure exactly what he was referring to there…liturgical abuses? An early and evident loss of vocations? I don’t know). Pope John Paul II is also credited with saying some fearful things about the state of the Church.
Please bear in mind that the state of the world has changed considerably compared to previous centuries…even millenia. We now have insane opportunities for sin that the world has never known before. A 24/7 television society where no program acknowledges absolute truth, and many of those programs mock God to His own face. An internet where every wicked thing is just a click away. Every previously Catholic nation is no longer officially Catholic…or even generically “Christian” in identity. Christian influence is seemingly ineffective on our leaders. etc. etc.
No, I don’t think it’s right at all to lay the destruction of the Church at her own feet.
That’s a can of worms right there.
Perhaps the elephant in the room.
Do some digging, but be careful. People have lost their faith over this issue that you’re just starting to look at.
Much prayer for you,
Andrew
p.s. I don’t know whether or not the Holy Father, B16, has said anything about the “smoke of satan”, but Pope Paul VI said that the “smoke of satan” had entered the temple of God. Also, he made mention of the “auto-demolition” of the Church (I’m not sure exactly what he was referring to there…liturgical abuses? An early and evident loss of vocations? I don’t know). Pope John Paul II is also credited with saying some fearful things about the state of the Church.
Please bear in mind that the state of the world has changed considerably compared to previous centuries…even millenia. We now have insane opportunities for sin that the world has never known before. A 24/7 television society where no program acknowledges absolute truth, and many of those programs mock God to His own face. An internet where every wicked thing is just a click away. Every previously Catholic nation is no longer officially Catholic…or even generically “Christian” in identity. Christian influence is seemingly ineffective on our leaders. etc. etc.
No, I don’t think it’s right at all to lay the destruction of the Church at her own feet.
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Coustana
Guest
I’m hesitant to say this, but I have found myself in “the valley of the shadow of death” many times, and always end up looking back to see only the two sets of footprints. He loves us! I trust that my belief will never be stolen from me no matter how deeply I burrow into the “can of worms”…or maybe “up through” the can of worms? 
I had a deep friendship with a now-gone priest who used to slow me down with: “That’s God’s problem.” Maybe he was right, but I believe God’s gift to me was a set of question marks, which is why I converted. I would like to have a discussion with someone on these topics. :coffeeread:
I had a deep friendship with a now-gone priest who used to slow me down with: “That’s God’s problem.” Maybe he was right, but I believe God’s gift to me was a set of question marks, which is why I converted. I would like to have a discussion with someone on these topics. :coffeeread:
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COLOS
Guest
Whoops! Didn’t mean to say “the destruction of the Church”. I was trying to type while eating my dinner and didn’t get that thought written down clearly. I was thinking about the “auto-demolition” comment by Pope Paul VI while I was typing and apparently typed “destruction” by accident.
It would perhaps be more accurate to say, “the damaging of the Church”, being that she is of Divine Origin and cannot be destroyed.
My own error. Sorry about that.
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COLOS
Guest
Heh, sounds like you’ve got a handle on it, then.I’m hesitant to say this, but I have found myself in “the valley of the shadow of death” many times, and always end up looking back to see only the two sets of footprints. He loves us! I trust that my belief will never be stolen from me no matter how deeply I burrow into the “can of worms”…or maybe “up through” the can of worms?
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COLOS
Guest
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patrick457
Guest
An article in the Roman journal Ephemerides Liturgicae (V. LXIX, pages 54–60) in 1955 gave an account in Latin and Italian of how the prayer developed. Footnote nine of this account quotes an article in another Italian journal called La Settimana del Clero in 1947 by Fr. Domenico Pechenino who worked at the Vatican during the time of Leo XIII:
Non ricordo l’anno preciso. Un mattino il grande Pontefice Leone XIII aveva celebrato la S. Messa e stava assistendone un’altra, di ringraziamento, come al solito. Ad un tratto lo si vide drizzare energicamente il capo, poi fissare qualche cosa al di sopra del capo del celebrante. Guardava fisso, senza batter palpebra, ma con un senso di terrore. e di meraviglia, cambiando colore e lineamenti. Qualcosa di strano, di grande avveniva in lui.
Finalmente, come rivenendo in sé, dando un leggero ma energico tocco di mano, si alza. Lo si vede avviarsi verso il suo studio privato. I familiari lo seguono con premura e ansiosi. Gli dicono sommessamente: Santo Padre, non si sente bene? Ha bisogno di qualcosa? Risponde: Niente, niente. Dopo una mezz’ora fa chiamare il Segretario della Congregazione dei Riti e, porgendogli un foglio, gli ingiunge di farlo stampare e di farlo pervenire a tutti gli Ordinari del mondo.
Che cosa conteneva? La preghiera che recitiamo al termine della Messa insieme al popolo, con la supplica a Maria e l’infocata invocazione al Principe delle milizie celesti, implorando Dio che ricacci Satana nell’inferno.
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I do not remember the exact year. One morning the great Pope Leo XIII had celebrated a Mass and, as usual, was attending a Mass of thanksgiving. Suddenly, we saw him raise his head and stare at something above the celebrant’s head. He was staring motionlessly, without batting an eye. His expression was one of horror and awe; the colour and look on his face changing rapidly. Something unusual and grave was happening in him.
Finally, as though coming to his senses, he lightly but firmly tapped his hand and rose to his feet. He headed for his private office. His retinue followed anxiously and solicitously, whispering: ‘Holy Father, are you not feeling well? Do you need anything?’ He answered: ‘Nothing, nothing.’ About half an hour later, he called for the Secretary of the Congregation of Rites and, handing him a sheet of paper, requested that it be printed and sent to all the ordinaries around the world.
What was that paper? It was the prayer that we recite with the people at the end of every Mass. It is the plea to Mary and the passionate request to the Prince of the heavenly host, beseeching God to send Satan back to hell.
According to the same article, Cardinal Giovanni Nasalli Rocca di Corneliano wrote in his Litteris Pastoralibus pro Quadragesima (Pastoral Letters for Lent) that:
…the sentence ‘The evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls’ has a historical explanation that was many times repeated by his private secretary, Monsignor Rinaldo Angeli. Leo XIII truly saw, in a vision, demonic spirits who were congregating on the Eternal City. The prayer that he asked all the Church to recite was the fruit of that experience. He would recite that prayer with strong, powerful voice: we heard it many a time in the Vatican Basilica. Leo XIII also personally wrote an exorcism that is included in the Roman Ritual. He recommended that bishops and priests read these exorcisms often in their dioceses and parishes. He himself would recite them often throughout the day.
Aside from these, we don’t really know what Leo XIII exactly saw. More vivid stories (such as the one you posted) began to circulate since the late 20th century. Problem is, these stories never agree on the exact details and are at some variance with one another (say, the date in which Leo XIII had his purported vision).
The first variant of the story to appear in print was that in a 1933 German Sunday newspaper article, which stated that, as a result of the vision, Leo XIII, shortly after 1880, ordered the prayer to Saint Michael to be recited. In reality, it was only in 1884 that the Pope instituted the Leonine Prayers, still at that time without the prayer to Saint Michael. Hence, in a later version the vision is said to have occurred on 13 October 1884, the year in which the Leonine Prayers were instituted (albeit without the prayer). Yet another date, 25 September 1888, two years after Pope Leo XIII had added the prayer to the Leonine Prayers, was also given in another version.
In 1934, a year after the appearance of the earliest printed version of the story, a German writer, Father Bers, tried to trace the origin of the story and declared that, though the story was widespread, nowhere could he find a trace of proof. Sources close to the institution of the prayer in 1886, including an account of a conversation with Pope Leo XIII about his decision, say nothing of the alleged vision. Father Bers then concluded that the story was a later (pious?) invention that was spreading like a virus.
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patrick457
Guest
Here is the full version.
Referring to the situation of the Church today, the Holy Father affirms that he has a sense that “from some fissure the smoke of Satan has entered the temple of God.” There is doubt, incertitude, problematic, disquiet, dissatisfaction, confrontation. There is no longer trust of the Church; they trust the first profane prophet who speaks in some journal or some social movement, and they run after him and ask him if he has the formula of true life. And we are not alert to the fact that we are already the owners and masters of the formula of true life. Doubt has entered our consciences, and it entered by windows that should have been open to the light. Science exists to give us truths that do not separate from God, but make us seek him all the more and celebrate him with greater intensity; instead, science gives us criticism and doubt. Scientists are those who more thoughtfully and more painfully exert their minds. But they end up teaching us: “I don’t know, we don’t know, we cannot know.” The school becomes the gymnasium of confusion and sometimes of absurd contradictions. Progress is celebrated, only so that it can then be demolished with revolutions that are more radical and more strange, so as to negate everything that has been achieved, and to come away as primitives after having so exalted the advances of the modern world.
This state of uncertainty even holds sway in the Church. There was the belief that after the Council there would be a day of sunshine for the history of the Church. Instead, it is the arrival of a day of clouds, of tempest, of darkness, of research, of uncertainty. We preach ecumenism but we constantly separate ourselves from others. We seek to dig abysses instead of filling them in.
How has this come about? The Pope entrusts one of his thoughts to those who are present: that there has been an intervention of an adverse power. Its name is the devil, this mysterious being that the Letter of St. Peter also alludes to. So many times, furthermore, in the Gospel, on the lips of Christ himself, the mention of this enemy of men returns. The Holy Father observes, “We believe in something that is preternatural that has come into the world precisely to disturb, to suffocate the fruits of the Ecumenical Council, and to impede the Church from breaking into the hymn of joy at having renewed in fullness its awareness of itself. Precisely for this reason, we should wish to be able, in this moment more than ever, to exercise the function God assigned to Peter, to strengthen the Faith of the brothers. We should wish to communicate to you this charism of certitude that the Lord gives to him who represents him though unworthily on this earth.” Faith gives us certitude, security, when it is based upon the Word of God accepted and consented to with our very own reason and with our very own human spirit. Whoever believes with simplicity, with humility, sense that he is on the good road, that he has an interior testimony that strengthens him in the difficult conquest of the truth.
The Pope concludes: The Lord shows himself to be light and truth for him who accepts him in his Word, and his Word becomes no longer an obstacle to the truth and the path to well-being, but rather a stair-step upon which we can climb and truly be conquerors in the Lord who reveals himself through the path of faith— this faith that is the anticipation and guarantee of the definitive vision.
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pablope
Guest
The devil will not succeed, try as he might. You do not need to worry. We have Christ on our side. Just keep steadfast in your trust in Him.
On the other hand, I can see a strengthening of the Church. I just read an article that there is an upward trend in vocations to the priesthood.
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Shin
Guest
“Francis, Go and rebuild my Church, which you can see has fallen into ruin.”
The question to ask is how destroyed can the Church be and still exist. I have a feeling it’s far more than some people think and put forth… We’re given an idea of this in the holy scriptures, and the writings of the saints…
"A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, “Where have they taken him?”
Pope Pius XII
“For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“The Church will be punished because the majority of her members, high and low, will become so perverted. The Church will sink deeper and deeper until she will at last seem to be extinguished, and the succession of Peter and the other Apostles to have expired. But, after this, she will be victoriously exalted in the sight of all doubters.”
St. Nicholas of Flue
**St. Michael the Archangel
**
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against 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,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
The question to ask is how destroyed can the Church be and still exist. I have a feeling it’s far more than some people think and put forth… We’re given an idea of this in the holy scriptures, and the writings of the saints…
"A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, “Where have they taken him?”
Pope Pius XII
“For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“The Church will be punished because the majority of her members, high and low, will become so perverted. The Church will sink deeper and deeper until she will at last seem to be extinguished, and the succession of Peter and the other Apostles to have expired. But, after this, she will be victoriously exalted in the sight of all doubters.”
St. Nicholas of Flue
**St. Michael the Archangel
**
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against 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,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
C
Church_Militant
Guest
I pray that prayer many times a day and always at Mass.
It’s one of my favorites and I know it is powerful. I find it very powerful against temptations; its very aspiration turning my mind from sin and toward God.
This and The Chaplet of St. Michael are very rich blessings that we need to cultivate in our daily lives.
It’s one of my favorites and I know it is powerful. I find it very powerful against temptations; its very aspiration turning my mind from sin and toward God.
This and The Chaplet of St. Michael are very rich blessings that we need to cultivate in our daily lives.
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Coustana
Guest
Muito obrigada!! The enthusiastic responses I have received here have given me much to research, think and pray about. My intent reading of references to angels in my Bible this morning (St. Joseph/New American) has made me realize my allergy has been due to the “recent” deluge of New Age woo-woo books found everywhere. I would like to share here I received the “In Conversation With God” set this Lent and it is causing much stirring. I highly recommend it.
Onward and upward, never alone…:coffeeread:
Onward and upward, never alone…:coffeeread:
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Shin
Guest
'I saw the Church inspired by the Holy Spirit , introducing various changes in her discipline when devotion and veneration towards the blessed sacrament had grown weak. . . Incalculable graces were thereby bestowed upon the whole Church.
This cardinal will proclaim himself Anti-Pope, and two thirds of the Christians will go with him. He, also well as Antichrist, are descendants of Dan.
I saw again a new and odd-looking Church which they were trying to build. There was nothing holy about it.
I heard that Lucifer (if I don’t mistake) will be freed again for awhile fifty or sixty years before the year 2000 A.D. I have forgotten many of the other dates that were told me.
I saw during the last few days marvelous things connected with the Church. St. Peter’s was almost entirely destroyed by the sect, but their labors were, in turn, rendered fruitless and all that belonged to them, their aprons and tools, burned by the executioners on the public place of infamy.’
Bl. Hildegard of Bingen
'Eugene, Servant of servants, sends greetings and his blessing to his daughter, the virgin Hildegard. ‘We are amazed, daughter, at your message and the more I ponder over your words, the more I wonder. . . But I also rejoice that God even in our times works such marvels and reveals Himself to you, making known dark secrets of the future. . . It is my will that you do what God has commanded you to do. Write and speak as He wills . . . But in all things be humble and prudent. I shall approve of your works by a Papal Bull.’
Pope Eugenius
The chaplet of St. Michael is a great devotion, I heartily recommend it too. It makes the angels happy, and so, in turn will bring us happiness.
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COLOS
Guest
Outstanding! Thank you Patrick.
[edit: Hmm, something isn’t quite right here. Either the original quote and source is incorrect or this quote by Jimmy Akin from a homily is incorrect. Something seems off.]
[edit #2: Ah, the original statement by Paul VI doesn’t originate from this homily, but the homily appears to be some sort of “damage control” based on the Holy Father’s quote. That’s what seemed off to me, then. Well, it’s nice of Jimmy to do some apologetics on this topic anyway.]
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COLOS
Guest
After giving it a few moments of thought I’ve got to be honest, I have no interest at all in arguing for or against this. Regardless of how interesting it is, I’m not sure how important it is. I don’t know precisely what is contained in “Insegnamenti, Ed. Vaticana, Vol. X, 1972, p. 707” or what’s in the source of Jimmy Akin’s apology. I’m not one of those guys who bases faith in an argument or position on a single quote. My position is that I’m a Roman Catholic, and this quote from Paul VI, while interesting, doesn’t change that which is unchangable in its essence.
It’s just an interesting quote.
Peace,
Andrew
It’s just an interesting quote.
Peace,
Andrew
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