Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

The following Archangel Prayers are posted on the website of the Saint Michael Center

The Feast of the Archangels is celebrated on September 29

Saint Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the hour of battle, be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God restrain him we humbly pray, and do thou oh Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell satan and all the evil spirits that roam through the world , seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel, please protect us from the evil one and help us to obtain the grace to do the Will of God.

Saint Gabriel the Archangel

Please announce the Holy Word of God to us, write it in our hearts, help us to remember it and to put it into practice.

Saint Raphael the Archangel

Fill me with the Love of God, with the ardent flame of Love of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, with the Love of all the angels and saints.

My Holy Guardian Angel

Protect me and guide me, open the way for me to do the Will of God in every action, remind me to praise God and to reject temptations

Angels and Archangels (in general)

O God, who in Thine ineffable Providence, hast sent Thy Holy Angels to watch over us: grant, we humbly pray, that we may always be defended by their protection and may rejoice in their fellowship forever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God our Father, in a wonderful way You guide the work of angels and men. May those who serve You constantly in heaven keep our lives safe from all harm here on earth. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

Supported by the intercession of blessed Michael, Thine Archangel, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord, that the service we pay with our lips, we may lay hold of with our minds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon your Holy Name, and as supplicants we implore your clemency, that by the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel St Michael, You would deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who roam about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.

St Gabriel the Archangel

O God, who from among all the Angels did choose the Archangel Gabriel to announce the Mystery of Thine Incarnation: mercifully grant that we who keep his feast on earth may feel the effect of his patronage in heaven. Who lives and reigns, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen

O Blessed Archangel Gabriel, we beseech you, intercede for us at the throne of divine Mercy in our present necessities, that as you did announce to Mary the mystery of the Incarnation, so through your prayers and patronage in heaven we may obtain the benefits of the same, and sing the praise of God forever in the land of the living. Amen.

Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel

O glorious Archangel, St Raphael, great Prince of the heavenly court, illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace, guide of those who journey by land or sea, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners: I beg you to assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you did help the young Tobias on his travels. And because you are the 'Medicine of God,' I humbly ask you to heal the many infirmities of my soul, and the ills which afflict my body, if it be for my greater good. I especially ask of you an angelic purity, which may fit me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Be pleased, O Lord God, to send to our aid St Raphael the Archangel: and may he, who, we believe, stands forever before the throne of Your Majesty, offer unto You our humble petitions to be blessed by You. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady of Medjugorje's Monthly Message to Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

 The Medjugorje Web - Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

Our Lady's September 25, 2012 Message to Marija:

"Dear children! When in nature you look at the richness of the colors which the Most High gives to you, open your heart and pray with gratitude for all the good that you have and say: ‘I am here created for eternity’ – and yearn for heavenly things because God loves you with immeasurable love. This is why He also gave me to you to tell you: ‘Only in God is your peace and hope, dear children’. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Pope in Beirut: Those who wish to build peace must cease to see in the other an evil to be eliminated

The video and following excerpt is from RomeReports.com:

Continuing his call for peace, the Pope led Sunday's Angelus by calling for the violence to stop in the Middle East, especially in Syria where thousands have been killed.  

“Why so much horror? Why so many dead? I appeal to the international community!," said the Pope in Beirut.   

Benedict XVI

“Why so much horror? Why so many dead? I appeal to the international community! I appeal to the Arab countries that, as brothers, they might propose workable solutions respecting the dignity, the rights and the religion of every human person!”

Benedict XVI called on Our Lady of Lebanon, to intercede and bring peace, but part of that process, said the Pope, includes eliminating hatred and enemies. 

Benedict XVI

“Those who wish to build peace must cease to see in the other an evil to be eliminated. It is not easy to see in the other a person to be respected and loved, and yet this is necessary if peace is to be built, if fraternity is desired.”

With roughly 300,000 people from across the Middle East, the Pope also mourned for the thousands of civilians who have lost their lives in violent conflicts in the region. 

Benedict XVI

“Sadly, the din of weapons continues to make itself heard, along with the cry of the widow and the orphan. Violence and hatred invade people’s lives, and the first victims are women and children.”

Toward the end of the Angelus, the Pope also called on local Patriarchs and bishops to do their part in the peace building process, so that all people of all origins and religious convictions are respected. 

‘I am a miracle’: Woman tells story of accident, recovery

The following excerpt is from The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Pamela Avellanosa, who made a personal appearance in a Baton Rouge church Saturday, is officially declared by the Roman Catholic Church to be a miracle.

When she was 14 years old, she suffered a head injury in a bicycle accident on Jan. 2, 1995, and slipped into a coma.

Physicians told her family that even if she survived emergency surgery, she’d spend the rest of her life in a vegetative state.

But her grandmother and her aunt and the “Pink Sisters” of Baguio City, Philippines, never stopped praying for a miraculous recovery. First, she survived the surgery. After two weeks, she regained consciousness and eventually fully recovered.

“I am a miracle,” Avellanosa, now 31, declared to about 200 people gathered in the sanctuary of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church after Saturday morning’s Mass. “If you do not believe in God, then you should not believe I am standing here in front of you.”

“God is good...” she asserted to members of the congregation, who enthusiastically responded, “... all the time!”

“I was riding my bicycle down a steep hill going very fast, and I did a somersault over the handlebars and hit my head,” she said.

Avellanosa related how, after one trip to a hospital where doctors told her aunt she’d be fine, she became violently ill upon returning home and was taken to another hospital where she lapsed into a coma.

“I was brain-dead for two to three hours,” Avellanosa said. “I saw a bright light and looked down to see myself lying on the bed. I went toward the light but an angel told me to go back. I slept for two weeks, a deep, restful sleep.”

The Pink Sisters, so named because they wear pink habits, daily prayed a novena, also called an intercession, to their founder, St. Arnold Janssen (1873-1909), asking God to heal her.

Avellanosa awoke from her coma on Jan. 15, the Feast Day of St. Arnold. Her recovery sparked an effort by the Pink Sisters and other Philippine Catholic Church officials to have Avellanosa’s case declared a miracle.

The full name of the Pink Sisters’ order is the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration. Members of the order take turns praying 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said St. Paul’s pastor, the Rev. Vincent Alexius.

Read More: Pamela Avellanosa

Pope calls for end to sending arms to Syria

The video and following excerpt is from RomeReports.com

In a meeting with journalists during the flight to Lebanon, Benedict XVI called for “an end to the importation of arms to Syria” to help stop the conflict. He suggested that “ideas of peace” be imported rather than weapons and begin an acceptance of differences.

In light of the recent tensions from religious conflict in the Middle East, the Pope explained that religions must display mutual respect for each other and for mankind.

Our Lady of Altagracia

By Stephen B. Whatley

Our Lady of Altagracia by Stephen B Whatley | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

By Stephen B. Whatley

Today, September 8th, is the Feast Day of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. There are numerous devotions to Mary through the ages and throughout the world. Our Lady of Altagracia a devotion originating in the 16th century translates beautifully from the Spanish into Our Lady of High Grace. She is the Patron Saint of the Dominican Republic.

September 5th marked the anniversary of my baptism when just over a month old in 1965 - and on that day this year I turned the pages of the Illustrated Book of Mary (William J Hirten Co. 2010) - a gift from a loved one - and discovered Our Lady of Altagracia; and through prayers of Hail Mary this tribute drawing evolved.

From Mary Day By Day (1987 Catholic Book Publishing Corp., NY) in September 5th entry: "Mary is the echo of God. If we say 'Mary', she will answer 'God'. That is why union with her is always followed by union with God".

Peace & blessings of healing and relief on this special day.

Charcoal on paper,
16.5 x 11.5in

More Christian Artwork: Stephen B. Whatley