Extraordinary Facts About Saint Michael

Oftentimes, all it takes is for me to read one sentence, or hear one phrase, and I sense a blog post coming on. I pray Matins in the morning with Lauds and later pull out my Roman Rite Breviary with the english translations of the readings, to ponder them more in depth, outside of the Carmelite Rite. Saint Michael is an intimate favorite of mine and I simply could not get past the first nocturn’s responsorial, following the Prophet Daniel of:

“There was silence in heaven while the dragon fought with Saint Michael.”

I think if one were to take that simple sentence to mental prayer, and focus on those words alone for the hour, true fruit would be produced. Silence took place during the battle; we can also apply this to our own battles with Satan… and the battle against self? Power and silence are connected. Speaking of power, nocturn II entailed of an excellent homily given by Pope Saint Gregory, with these words:

“Whenever something is to be done needing great power, Michael is sent forth so that from his action and his name we may understand that no one can do what God can do.”

I also was particularily enlightened when I read the Pope’s words on the “office of Angels”:

“It must be realized that “Angel” is the name of their office, not of their nature. For the holy Spirits of the heavenly homeland are always Spirits, but they cannot always be called Angels; they are Angels only when they are announcing something.”

Let us also remember, that at every High Mass, Saint Michael is invoked and found “standing at the right side of the altar of incense”.

The Prophet Daniel’s description of Saint Michael is CHILLING:

“As I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face shone like lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and feet looked like burnished bronze, and his voice sounded like the voice of a multitude.”

Lastly, in the book Saints to Remember by the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I could not hold back the tears when I read this of the glorious “Prince” of the Seraphim:

“Saint Michael was the one who escorted the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven on the day of Her Assumption”.