St. Michael the Archangel by Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Author:Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration [Adoration, Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TAN Books
Published: 2015-12-07T06:00:00+00:00

Guardian of the

Blessed Sacrament

and of the Pope

When the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity became man, the sublime office of guarding the Saviour during the thirty-three years of His earthly life fell to God’s zealous advocate, St. Michael. This is the pious belief of eminent Doctors and theologians. And since the Ark of the Covenant has been replaced by the Tabernacle, St. Michael guards the Blessed Eucharist and keeps watch over the thousands of tabernacles and altars scattered throughout the world. Even so, he zealously guards and protects Christ’s Vicar upon earth, the reigning Pope.

It has been revealed to various Saints that the great Archangel is the special guardian of the Blessed Sacrament; that he accompanies it everywhere: in the hands of the priest, upon the throne of exposition, in the tabernacle, when borne in procession, on its obscure visits to the sick, or wherever the love of the Divine Victim may cause it to be borne. Day and night, he keeps faithful vigil before the tabernacle in loving adoration.

At the beginning of Holy Mass, his name is mentioned in the confession of faults made by the priest at the foot of the altar, and by the faithful in turn. At the Offertory of a Solemn High Mass the priest implores the blessing of the Almighty upon the oblation, through the intercession of St. Michael. And during the Canon of the Mass, after the Consecration, the priest prays God to command that the oblation be borne by the hands of His holy angel to His altar on high. The Angel here referred to is doubtless the Archangel Michael. With loving solicitude, he watches over all the tiny particles which fall from the consecrated Hosts at the time of Holy Communion, that they may not be lost or desecrated.

The liturgy also presents St. Michael to us as the incense-bearer standing beside the altar as our intercessor and as the bearer of the Church’s prayers before the throne of God. “An angel stood near the altar of the Temple, having a golden censer in his hand, and there was given to him much incense; and the smoke of the perfumes ascended before God.” (Offertory, Mass of St. Michael).

Christ silent and veiled in the Holy Eucharist and Christ visible and speaking to us in the person of the Pope—these are the two objects of Satan’s inveterate hatred and rage. And these are also the two objects of St. Michael’s greatest devotion and solicitude. Let us range ourselves under the banner of St. Michael, and by active zeal in the interests of Jesus, atone for the many outrages against the Blessed Sacrament and Christ’s Vicar.

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