Do you pray the St. Michael prayer after Mass?

This comes as a great news!

We need to remember that we are a member of the Church Militant and we need to continue our fight against the forces of Satan here on earth, to work out diligently our salvation.

Honestly, I am thankful the CBCP did this.  I am not sure the great Fr. Geny Diwa supports this.  I know for a fact that not a few people at the CBCP Office in Intramuros are grumbling against this prayer...save for a few poor souls who are constantly mocked for being too "Benedict".  No, not Benedictine.  Ha!


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MANILA, Sept. 26, 2013— The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has authorized for use of the old St. Michael the Archangel Prayer for recitation after Mass in all churches nationwide. [Hoorah!!!]

In a circular to all the archdioceses and dioceses, the CBCP highly recommends [why not command?  Oh well.  We live in the Vatican II era no, where strong, precise language is a rarity.  Anywho. Better highly recommend it than never, no?]  the recitation of the prayer composed by Leo XIII in 1896 amid the “many situation of trouble and conflict” in the country.

Archbishop Jose Palma, CBCP president, said the prayer is also “very timely” because of recent calamities that brought havoc in various areas and the “escalating” corruption in the government.

“Through this prayer, we invoke St. Michael to defend us and our country against the wickedness and snares of the evil one,” Palma said.

“Michael – which means, “Who is like God” – will win over all the evil attempts to disfigure the face of mankind because God Who is stronger acts in him,” he added.

The Prayer to 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, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl upon the earth for the ruin of souls. Amen”. (CBCPNews)

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I can hear a lot of groaning among liberals.

"Why would the bishops even bother issuing this kind of directive???"

Oh. yeah..  I heard them said in rectories, chanceries and seminaries over at lunch, dinner...

You hear them talk about the need to address the issue of corruption, destruction of nature, employment issues., migration, etc.  What bothers me the most among these men of God is that they try to analyze these issues with the eyes of men.  They try to look at problems only on the material plane.  I am not saying it is bad.  But what we forget is that there are things in this world that are of moral and spiritual in nature.

We are a Christian country, one of the biggest countries in terms of Catholic population in terms of over all population of a country.  Yet, sadly, we are a country with the highest number of  corruption cases.  I think we can all agree that we have lost the sense of sin, of damnation and of the sacred.  I see this as the reason why we lie, cheat and steal because we have been so engrossed with what is important for ourselves, we forget that this life is nothing but a stage to another life, a preparation to eternity.

We have lost a sense of sin.  Priests forget to tell us about sin, about the social and spiritual dimension of sin.

That is the reason even why some priests don't believe in such things because priests do not see themselves working for a supernatural purpose.  They see themselves just as how Che Guevarra saw himself.

They see Christ as a political hero, a social liberator.

I have posted here time and again how the seminary failed to educate our priests.  Philosophies taught at our seminaries right now are not Thomistic!  They came from atheists who do not think in the realms of the supernatural.  How can you even talk about religion when you have seminarians getting heavily influenced by Marx and Nietzsche!

How can even expect them to talk about religion when they think against religion?!

This is where it all started and this is the reason why there are oppositions in the parish level to pray this prayer.

Question to Chupungcan liturgists out there!

Did Sacrosanctum Concilium order Catholics to stop praying this prayer after Mass?

Why so mad of this prayer huh?

Pro-abortion rallyists heckle pro-lifer with shouts of...

I cannot even type it.

Just go and watch out for what you hear in the background.  :(




Then in this next clip, you'll hear it again in 3:35. By 5:15, they are all shouting it at the same time.




Now you know...

Now start praying this.

PRAYER TO SAINT 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.

Papal consecration of the Vatican to St. Michael

...Hmmm...

Says a lot.

The two popes are seen again.  :)

From the Vatican Insider.

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It was supposed to be just an unveiling of a statue in the Vatican gardens:  the bronze sculpture of the Archangel St Michael, an artistic work by Antonio Lomuscio, situated near the Governors palace.  But with Pope Francesco nothing is ever what it seems, the same ordinary Vatican routine – Santa Marta docet – becomes  distorted and surprises are sprung on a daily basis.  [like the announcement about John XXIII!]

The first surprise:  this morning, just before nine o’clock, in front of a small crowd of a few hundred people, , there was someone else taking part in the inaugural event.  Together with the Bishop of Rome there was also his predecessor, Benedict XVI.  Joseph Ratzinger was invited personally by Pope Francesco, and accepted willingly.  The Pope emeritus was greeted warmly by those present – who even applauded him – dispensing smiles to all.  [Considering that he wanted to be hidden from the world, spending a life of prayer.] On the same day that the Encyclical written by "quattro mani" [four "papal" hands] Lumen Fidei, is being presented to the world penned by Francesco but with a predominant Ratzinger influence, Pope Bergoglio asked his predecessor to appear at a “run of the mill” public event and so nonchalantly dispersed all the hype about the "two Popes" manifested by hoards of frowning analysts.  If it was not for them, the people  "would not have understood" and "would have been confused."

In reality , the people of God seem to understand instantly what is going on in Christ’s Church.  Even in the friendship between Francesco and Benedict the sensus fidei captures a reflection of the light of grace that feeds and keeps the Church alive.  Having Benedict present in the Vatican created no embarrassment for Francesco.  He was happy for Benedict to receive the people as he does not want him to live an isolated life. For Pope Bergoglio, Ratzinger is like the “grandfather” of the Vatican.  [great imagery!  :)]

You just have to listen to the Bishop of Rome’s sermons - with memories of "Abuela Rosa," often cited as the one who taught the little Jorge Mario his first Christian prayers - to work out the full connection between the two. And so the reigning Pope scuppered the ruminations of those who would like eradicate the Pope emeritus, locked away in his golden circle. [Like that no-good Archbishop Piero Marini!!!!]  In the eyes of Bergoglio, the intention expressed by his predecessor to live the last years of his life in silence and prayer, remaining "on St. Peter’s doorstep," ipso facto places Ratzinger at the heart of Church life. For Francesco -  as he said at the Angelus on Sunday - Ratzinger gave "a wonderful example of what it really means to consciously follow the will of Jesus." "The example of our Father - he repeated - is good for us, good for all of us to follow ." This is also why he wanted him close today and why he asked to share this symbolic and eloquent gesture with him.

The unveiling of the bronze statue in the Vatican gardens turned into a consecration of the whole Vatican State to St Joseph and St Michael, the patron saints already chosen by the Governor. [Uhm...where is dear St. Joseph's statue?] And so Francesco and Benedict have once again entrusted the capable care of the State to the foster father of Jesus and the Archangel, constantly fighting the devil along the way through poverty and generosity, devotion and opportunism, evangelical enthusiasm and corruption that live beyond the Leonine Walls. Including the skull -duggery of those random trains of thought where resistance and nervousness can grow. These so-called "operations" are formed in the shadows and then brought out by way of "loyal" channels and agents according to the typical cliché of clerical power struggles that have recently plagued the Church: "Complaining and ranting is their forte. They grumble, moan and criticise . They are in a bad mood and, what is worse, they bear grudges "(Charles Peguy).

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Here is the address of Pope Francis before the blessing of the statue.

In the Vatican Gardens there are several works of art. But this, which has now been added, takes on particular importance, in its location as well as the meaning it expresses. In fact it is not just celebratory work but an invitation to reflection and prayer, that fits well into the Year of Faith. Michael—which means “Who is like God?”—is the champion of the primacy of God, of His transcendence and power. Michael struggles to restore divine justice and defends the People of God from his enemies, above all by the enemy par excellence, the devil. And St. Michael wins because in him, there is He God who acts. This sculpture reminds us then that evil is overcome, the accuser is unmasked, his head crushed, because salvation was accomplished once and for all in the blood of Christ. Though the devil always tries to disfigure the face of the Archangel and that of humanity, God is stronger, it is His victory and His salvation that is offered to all men. We are not alone on the journey or in the trials of life, we are accompanied and supported by the Angels of God, who offer, so to speak, their wings to help us overcome so many dangers, in order to fly high compared to those realities that can weigh down our lives or drag us down. In consecrating Vatican City State to St. Michael the Archangel, I ask him to defend us from the evil one and banish him.

We also consecrate Vatican City State in St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus, the guardian of the Holy Family. May his presence make us stronger and more courageous in making space for God in our lives to always defeat evil with good. We ask Him to protect, take care of us, so that a life of grace grows stronger in each of us every day.

The consecration is symbolical as these two powerful saints are invoked against the forces of Satan.

It is symbolical considering the buzz about the real reason why Benedict resigned and considering the news popping out of the "filth in the Church" which Benedict himself once said and which obviously Francis is cleaning out today.

Very symbolical and very opportune.

We are at battle dear brothers and sisters...

From the forces of evil outside the Church and even those within, camouflaged in sheep's clothing.

Christ Himself warned us against them.

Be on guard!

PS:  Why not restore the Leonine Prayer to St. Michael after Mass.  Uhm...credit the liturgical revolution for taking out that prayer.  Yup.  Bugnini et al.  Include that Fr. Chupungco.