Tuesday of Week 32 in Ordinary Time
Wis 2:23-3:9
Lk 17:7-10
…we have done no more than our duty.
In today’s short gospel, we read, “We are merely servants, we have done no more than our duty.” And therein may lie the foundational reason that we are living in a world of disorder at every turn. We have skirted the line and have done ONLY what we obliged to do.
We have not harmed by our own hand, but we have not stopped another hand from harming.
We have not lied, but we have not told the whole truth.
We have not stolen, but we have not been generous.
We have not fought against good, but we have not fought for good.
We have not killed, but we have not loved.
And in doing only what we were obliged to do, we have, in fact, harmed the perfect will of God for ourselves, our neighbours, and the whole world.
In today’s first reading from Wisdom we read these words, “…it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world.” This reading immediately brought the Prayer of St. Michael to my mind. Years ago, I read that Pope Leo XIII wrote it after seeing a vision of the world in the 21st century. Almost all Catholics (and many non-Catholics) are familiar with the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.
It is said that one day in 1884 having celebrated the Holy Sacrifice, the aged Pontiff Leo XIII was in conference with the Cardinals. Suddenly, he sank to the floor in a deep swoon. Physicians who hastened to his side feared that he had already expired, for they could find no trace of his pulse. However, after a short interval, the Holy Father rallied and opening his eyes exclaimed with great emotion: “Oh what a horrible picture I was permitted to see!” He had been shown in spirit the tremendous activities of the evil spirits and their ravings against the Church. But in the midst of this vision of horror, he had also beheld consoling visions of the glorious Archangel Michael, who had appeared and cast Satan and his legions back into the abyss of hell. Pope Leo then composed this prayer.
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
cast into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Pope Leo XIII had this prayer of protection recited just before the conclusion of all Low Masses until 1964. Today, there are a growing number of Pastors who recite the St. Michael prayer with their congregation immediately after the conclusion of the mass. This is a practice that I wish my church would include – in fact I am praying that Pope Francis will instruct it to be added, again, to all masses. Our world is in need of protection against all the current evils that are attacking the world, our Church, and all that is good. We NEED protection against all the disorder that Satan has been working on day and night (through people in and out of our church and all the Christian faiths). Satan has gradually made the DISORDER in our world appear to be ORDER. And in many of our countries, most certainly America, many large groups of people are demanding that we fall in line and recognize DISORDER as ORDER. Legions of people all over the world are serving as his minions (many ignorantly) to propagate the acceptance and celebration of evil. It began on small issues and has now reached a point where it can seem overwhelming. Add that to the attack on Ukraine and the now all-out war in Israel, and the footprints of Lucifer are evident.
Brothers and sisters, we must never forget that God wins. That St. Michael has legions of God’s angels at his command, and if we decide to join in the fight with prayer and doing more than we are obliged to do, we will be among the victorious.
On the EWTN website I found this prayer:
O glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil,
who turn to you with confidence
and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
Will you join me in doing more than we are obliged to do and add these two St. Michael prayers to your daily prayers?
(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)
Prayer: Father God, your goodness brings us to our knees and we pray that we live daily to be more than we are obliged to be, to do more than we are obliged to do, and to love You fully in all our words and deeds.
Thanksgiving: Father God, thank you for St. Michael, for the protection he and his legions of angels provide for us every minute of our lives. Thank you for allowing our prayers to strengthen and support St. Michael and all the angels in the ultimate battle against the evil of this world.
OXYGEN 
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