GREATNESS OF S. MICHELE IN LOVE TOWARDS ANGELS

I. Consider how St. Michael the Archangel, defending all the Angels, brought them the good of faithfulness to God and eternal happiness. Oh how powerful were those words addressed to the Angels: - Quis ut Deus? - Who is like God? Let us imagine that heavenly war: Lucifer, full of pride for wanting to be like God, seduces and draws behind him a third part of the angelic hosts, who, raised the flag of the revolt, cry war against God, we want to overthrow his throne. How many others would have been seduced by Lucifer and blinded by the smoke of his pride, if the Archangel St. Michael had not arisen in their defense! Placing himself at the head of the Angels, he shouted aloud: - Quis ut Deus? - as if to say: Be careful, do not let yourself be seduced by the wicked dragon; it is impossible for the creature to become like God, his Creator. - Quis ut Deus? - He alone is the immense sea of ​​divine perfections and the inexhaustible source of happiness: we are all nothing before God.

II. Consider how formidable this war was. On the one hand, St. Michael with all the faithful Angels, on the other Lucifer with the rebels. St. John calls it great war: and it was truly great for the place where it happened, that is, in heaven; great, for the quality of the fighters, that is, Angels who are very strong by nature; great for the number of fighters that were millions - as the prophet Daniel says; - great, finally for the reason. It had not been raised for a pinch, like human wars, but to throw God himself out of his throne, to miss the Divine Word in the future Incarnation - as some Fathers say. - O truly terrible war! It comes to conflict. St. Michael the Archangel, leader of the faithful Angels, attacks Lucifer, knocks him down, wins him. Lucifer and his followers, thrown from those blessed seats, fall like lightning in the abysses. The angels of St. Michael feel safe and give homage and blessing to God.

III. Consider how such a war started by Lucifer in heaven has not ended: he continues to fight against the honor of God here on earth. In heaven he seduced many Angels; how many men seduces and draws in perdition every day on earth? The good Christian draws salutary fear from it and reflects that Lucifer is an enemy who knows all the arts of harming, always around like a hungry lion to prey on souls! We must always be vigilant, as St. Peter urges, and courageously reject his temptations. Who knows how many times you've been wrapped in his net too! how many times have you been seduced! how many times, taking pleasure in the heart of temptation, have you rebelled against God! Maybe even now you are among the snares of the devil and you don't know how to free yourself from them! But remembering that the Angels of heaven led by St. Michael the Archangel were not seduced by Lucifer, put yourself under his patronage - as St. Pantaleon says - and you will be the winner of the devil, because He will give you enough strength to overcome all the aggressions of the enemy .

APPARITION OF S. MICHELE IN ALVERNIA
Monte della Verna has remained famous for the apparitions of S. Michele. There St. Francis of Assisi withdrew to attend better to contemplation in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ who only went to the mountains to pray. And since St. Francis wondered if those immense cracks that were seen had actually occurred in the death of the Redeemer, appearing to him St. Michael of whom he was most devoted, he was assured that what was traditionally said was true. And as St. Francis with this belief frequently went to venerate that holy place, it happened that while there in honor of St. Michael he was devoutly making his Lent, on the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross the same St. Archangel appeared to him in form of Seraphic winged Crucifix, and after having imprinted a seraphic Love in his heart, he marked it with the sacred stigmata. That that Seraphim had been St. Michael the Archangel, indicates it as a very probable thing St. Bonaventure.

PRAYER
O most powerful defender of the Angels, glorious St. Michael, I appeal to you, whom I always see besieged by the snares of the infernal enemy. The war he wages on my soul is terrible, difficult and continuous: but the stronger your arm, the more powerful your protection: under the shield of your patronage, I take refuge, or amiable protector, with the most lively hope of winning . Oh dearest Archangel, defend me now and always, and I will be saved. (??)

Salutation
I greet you; o St. Michael: You who with your Angels do not cease fighting against the devil night and day, defend me.

FOIL
You will pay a visit to the Church of S. Michele, asking him to welcome you under his protection.

Let us pray to the Guardian Angel: Angel of God, who you are my guardian, illuminate, guard, rule and govern me, who was entrusted to you by heavenly piety. Amen.