I must confess that I have never celebrated my feast day before today; it is like a second birthday minus the cake. I am referring to my patron of course, St. Michael the Archangel, after whom I am named. Below is listed the popular prayer to St. Michael that many Catholics know, or at least have heard at one point or another. The story goes that one day in 1886 Pope Leo XIII was celebrating Mass when suddenly he had a vision of sorts in which he saw Satan and his many companions. Leo was so horrified after this vision that he shortly after composed a longer version of the famous St. Michael prayer that we know today. This prayer was recited at the end of Mass to call upon the heavenly intercessor for protection of the Church and its members.
I believe now more then ever it is of the utmost importance to be vigilant against the evils that so often bombard the Church. One not need look far to notice the opposition on all sides against the Church. The attacks that come from outside directed at the Church, and those which often attack Her from the inside out by Her own members. One only has to look at how the media attacks Her on a day in, day out basis.
When once asked what the greatest threat to Christianity was, G.K. Chesterton simply replied, "Christians." We are called to be the light and salt of the world and that sets the bar rather high; when we do not measure up to that, others are all too quick to point out our shortcomings. Of course no Christian is perfect (or ever will be here) but it is the goal of this earthly pigrilmage to aim for this perfection as a goal brought to completion through the grace of God. Anything else is a lack of integrity in the vocation that every Christian is called to. Mother Teresa says, "Holiness the not the priviledge of a few, but the simple duty for me and you."
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