Feast of the
Dedication of Saint Michael the Archangel
St. Michael – Feast of Michaelmas
This is the original feast of the leader
of the Heavenly armies, Saint Michael. The captain of the heavenly armies, the
angel named in the Canon of the Mass, held from early times the first place in
the Liturgy among the other angels; wherefore many churches dedicated to St.
Michael in the Middle Ages were simply known as churches “of the holy angel.”
St. Michael, whose name signifies “who is like unto God” cast the evil spirit
out of Heaven, and overcame Satan in the struggle for possession of the body of
Moses. God has entrusted our defense, in the combat with the devil, to the
angels. The reason of this is easily understood. The devil is a spirit who has
lost none of the powers inherent to his nature. In order, therefore, that the
struggle should not be unequal, God has placed at our side defenders of the
same nature as Lucifer, that is to say pure spirits, who are, however, greater
and more powerful than he is.
There are several feasts of St. Michael
in the Liturgy. Very ancient is the commemoration of the dedication of the
celebrated Lombard sanctuary on Sant’ Angelo on Monte Gargano in Apulia, near
the ancient Sipontum. There is a tradition that St. Michael appeared on this
mountain and requested that a church be erected to him and all the angels. In the
Old and the New Testament St. Michael, in the struggle against the Evil One, is
always depicted as the invincible champion of God. The mystery of iniquity
which, according to St. Paul, shall be boldly revealed in the last ages of the
world and which has already begun its work of perversion, meets at present with
an obstacle which hinders its full development. This obstacle is usually said
to be the protection of St. Michael. St. Michael is appointed by God Himself to
be the protector and defender of the Church.
After the protective duty conferred on
St. Joseph, there is no work on earth of such great importance and sublimity as
that entrusted to St. Michael.
The Epistle treats the charge to St.
John by an Angel to write to the seven Churches in Asia. In the Gospel Christ
teaches humility, to beware of scandal, and to flee the occasions of sin, for
our Guardian Angels see the face of God.
Feast of the Dedication of Saint Michael
the Archangel – Tuesday in the Eighteenth Week after Pentecost
Double / First Class
/ White
Missa “Benedicite Dominum” – MICHAELMAS DAY
INTROIT: Psalm 102: 20
Bless the Lord, all
ye His angels: you that are mighty in strength, and execute His word, harkening
to the voice of His orders.
Ps. 102:
Bless the Lord, O my
soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy name. Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and
ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Bless the Lord…
Benedícite Dóminum,
omnes Angeli ejus: poténtes virtúte, qui fácitis verbum ejus, ad audiéndam
vocem sermónem ejus.
Ps.102: 1
Bénedic, ánima mea,
Dómino: et ómnia, quæ intra me sunt, nómini sancto ejus. v. Gloria Patri et
Filio et Spiritui Sancti sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et saecula
saeculorum. Amen.
Benedicite Dominum…
COLLECT
O God, Who dost in
wonderful order dispose the ministries of angels and men, mercifully grant that
our lives be fortified by those who continually stand in Thy presence and
minister before Thee in heaven. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God…
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Glorious
St. Michael, Defend us in battle…
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EPISTLE: Apocalypse 1: 1-15
Lesson from the Book
of the Apocalypse of blessed John the Apostle
In those days: God
signified the things which must shortly come to pass, sending by His angel to
His servant John, who hath given testimony to the word of God, and the
testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever he hath seen. Blessed is he that
readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy, and keepeth those things which
are written in it; for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which
are in Asia: Grace be unto you and peace from Him that is, and that was, and
that is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before His throne; and
from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead,
and the prince of the kings of the earth Who hath loved us, and washed us from
our sins in His own blood.
GRADUAL: Psalm 102: 20, 1
Bless the Lord all
ye His angels: you that are mighty in strength, that do His will.
O my soul, bless
thou the Lord: and all that is within me praise His holy name.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia.
Holy archangel Michael, defend us in battle, that we perish not in the dreadful
judgment. Alleluia. The sea was shaken, and the earth trembled, when the
archangel Michael descended from Heaven. Alleluia.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 18: 1-10
At that time the
disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who, thinkest Thou, is the greater in
the kingdom of Heaven? And Jesus calling unto Him a little child, set him in
the midst of them, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you be converted, and
become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child he is the greater
in the kingdom of Heaven: and he that shall receive one such little child in My
name, receiveth Me; but he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that
believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about
his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the
world because of scandals: for it must needs be that scandals come; but
nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. And if thy hand, or
thy foot, scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for
thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be
cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and
cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life,
than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. See that you despise not one of
these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in Heaven always see the
face of My Father Who is in Heaven.”
OFFERTORY: Apocalypse 8: 3-4
An angel stood near
the altar of the temple, having a golden censer in his hand: and there was
given to him much incense: and the smoke of the perfumes ascended before God,
alleluia.
SECRET
We offer Thee
sacrifices of praise, O Lord, humbly praying that Thou be pleased to receive
them, through the angelic intercession in our behalf, and grant that they may
avail for, our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.
PREFACE
Common Preface
It is truly meet and
just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all
places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God:
through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the
Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly
hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to
celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our
voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
SANCTUS, SANCTUS,
SANCTUS Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria Tua. Hosanna in
excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
COMMUNION: Daniel 3: 58
All ye angels of the
Lord, bless the Lord: sing a hymn, and exalt Him above all forever, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Relying upon the
intercession of blessed Michael, Thine archangel, O Lord, we Thy suppliants pray
that what we perform with our lips we may attain with our hearts. Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God.
Complete Prayer to
Saint Michael
The following is the longer version of
the vital prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 after his startling vision
as to the future of the Church. This prayer was dedicated for the Feast of St.
Michael 1448 years from the date of the election of the first Leo – Pope Saint
Leo the Great. Everyone is familiar with the first prayer below which was
mandated by His Holiness as part of the Leonine Prayers after Low Mass. After
Vatican II, in legion with the devil Giovanni Montini outlawed this necessary
prayer and then one wonders how “the smoke of satan” got into the sanctuary?
COMPLETE PRAYER
Saint 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 heavenly
hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who
prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
O glorious Archangel
Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible
warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers
of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God
created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great
price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of our Lord,
together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the
proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist
thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, that
ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world,
was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold this primeval enemy and slayer
of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about
with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot
out the Name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay, and cast into
eternal perdition, souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. That wicked
dragon pours out. as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of
depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy,
and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity. These
most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the
Church, the spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on Her
most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See
of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they
have raised the throne of their abominable impiety with the iniquitous design
that when the Pastor has been struck the sheep may be scattered. Arise then, O
invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the
people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector
and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious
powers of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in
heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under
our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in
captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High,
so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down
the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make
him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.
V. Behold the Cross of
the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers.
R. The Lion of the
Tribe of Juda has conquered the root of David.
V. Let Thy mercies be
upon us, O Lord.
R. As we have hoped in
Thee.
V. O Lord hear my
prayer.
R. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
V. Let us pray. O God,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as
suppliants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever
Virgin, immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel Saint Michael,
Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who
wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of our
souls. Amen.
THE CHAPLET OF ST. MICHAEL
* I do not usually endorse or recommend EWTN, however I highly recommend
the following Chaplet prayed by Mother Angelica.
The Chaplet of St.
Michael is a wonderful way to honor this great Archangel along with the other
nine Choirs of Angels. What do we mean by Choirs? It seems that God has created
various orders of Angels. Sacred Scripture distinguishes nine such groupings:
Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Powers, Virtues, Principalities,
Archangels and Angels (Isa. 6:2; Gen. 3:24; Col. 1:16; Eph. 1:21; Rom. 8:38).
There may be more groupings but these are the only ones that have been revealed
to us. The Seraphim is believed to be the highest Choir, the most intimately
united to God, while the Angelic Choir is the lowest.
The history of this
Chaplet goes back to a devout Servant of God, Antonia d’Astonac, who had a
vision of St. Michael. He told Antonia to honor him by nine salutations to the
nine Choirs of Angels.
St. Michael promised that whoever would practice this
devotion in his honor would have, when approaching Holy Communion, an escort of
nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for those who
would recite the Chaplet daily, he promised his continual assistance and that
of all the holy angels during life.
The Chaplet of St. Michael
V. O God, come to my
assistance;
R. O Lord, make haste
to help me.
V. Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following
nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]
By the intercession of St. Michael and the
celestial Choir of Seraphim may the Lord make us
worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.
By the intercession of St. Michael and
the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the Lord grant
us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian
perfection. Amen.
By the intercession of St. Michael and
the celestial Choir of Thrones may the Lord infuse
into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.
By the intercession of St. Michael and
the celestial Choir of Dominations may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any
unruly passions. Amen.
By the intercession
of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from
evil and falling into temptation. Amen.
By the intercession of St. Michael and
the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect
our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.
By the intercession of St. Michael and
the celestial Choir of Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen
By the intercession of St. Michael and
the celestial Choir of Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in
order that we may attain the glory of Heaven. Amen.
By the intercession of St. Michael and
the celestial Choir of Angels may the Lord grant
us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted in the life to
come to Heaven. Amen.
Say one Our Father
in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St.
Raphael and our Guardian Angel.
Concluding prayers:
O glorious prince
St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls,
vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our
admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue
deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your
gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael,
Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His
promises.
Almighty and
Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the
salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael
Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our
enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may
be conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits of Jesus
Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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