Saint Michael wields his flaming sword to cut through the sin of lies and corruption in the Church. No-one can escape his avenging power, if he does not cut us off from our sins in this world, he will cut us off from eternal bliss in the next. No-one can escape, not pope, bishop, priest, king, knight, monk, dame, nor any other man nor woman.
Today members of the Grand Priory are at All Saint Chapel at Wardour for a day of recollection, no doubt privately and publicly many prayers will be offered for Holy Mother Church in this age of trial. Remember She is always our Mother, given to us for all time by the Son; even mothers can appear to err, and it is, in such sad cases, the duty of their children to pray for them. In the case of the Church, of course, She only seems to err in the person of her human members, in her divine Nature She is free from error, but the tangle of sin may obscure this from view, as with our own souls. She needs our prayers. May this be a time of glorious renewal in the Church and conversion of those countless souls yet outside the Church who inwardly and unknowing long for Her maternal embrace.
Sin is like a garden, the flowers bloom most abundantly on the branches which have been most rigorously pruned. Pray to Saint Michael to prune violently the sin from our souls and from the Church, that we may be seen as we really are, as God's Creation.
Holy Michael, the 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, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast down into hell Satan and all the wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Our Lady of Philermo, pray for us.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Our Lady of Philermo, pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
All Holy Saint, pray for us.
UPDATE! For those interested in the historical and liturigcal background of this feast, NLM has a very interesting arctle HERE.
Fr Rupert Allen has agreed to send the texts of his wonderful papers delivered yesterday on St Michael, Sin and the Church, which we shall publish here is due course. We are deeply indebted to him for his kindness and erudition, as to all those who worked so hard to make yesterday's Recollection a great success.
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