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I think we've all strayed quite far from EscAlaMike's OP. For my part, I apologize, Mike.
No problem
On a positive note, I got to attend a beautiful traditional Michaelmas Mass this evening with my family, and the little ones were surprisingly well-behaved for an evening mass
Today, September 29th is "Michaelmas", the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael - the Archangels. St. Michael being my namesake, this day has a special meaning for me personally!
The feast is celebrated on this date because in the 5th Century, a basilica was built near Rome and dedicated in honor of St. Michael the Archangel on September 30th. The celebrations took place on the eve prior, September 29th.
It is Michael who is credited with casting Lucifer (the dragon) out of heaven:
"And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels: And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." - Revelation 12:7-9
All throughout the Middle Ages and up until the 18th century, Michaelmas was observed as a Holy Day of Obligation (a day on which attendance at Holy Mass is required upon pain of mortal sin) throughout much of the Christian world.
"Who, then, are these heavenly Powers, whose mysterious combat heads the first page of history? Their existence is attested by the traditions of all nations as well as by the authority of holy Scripture. If we consult the Church, she teaches us that in the beginning God created simultaneously two natures, the spiritual and the corporal, and afterwards man who is composed of both. The scale of nature descends by gradation from beings made to the likeness of God, to the very confines of nothingness; and by the same degrees the creature mounts upwards to his Creator. God is infinite being, infinite intelligence, infinite love. The creature is forever finite: but man, endowed with a reasoning intellect, and the angel, with an intuitive grasp of truth, are ever, by a continual process of purification, widening the bounds of their imperfect nature, in order to reach, by increase of light, the perfection of greater love...
'Compared with ours,' says one of the most enlightened brethren of the angelic doctor, 'how calm and how luminous is the knowledge of pure spirits! They are not doomed to the intricate discoursings of our reason, which runs after the truth, composes and analyzes, and laboriously draws conclusions from premises. They instantaneously apprehend the whole compass of primary truths. Their intuition is so prompt, so lively, so penetrating, that it is impossible for them to be surprised, as we are, into error. If they deceive themselves, it must be of their own will. The perfection of their will is equal to the perfection of their intellect. They know not what it is to be disturbed by the violence of appetites. Their love is without emotion; and their hatred of evil is as calm and as wisely tempered as their love. A will so free can know no perplexity as to its aims, no inconstancy in its resolutions. Whereas with us long and anxious meditation is necessary before we make a decision, it is the property of the angels to determine by a single act the object of their choice. God proposed to them, as He does to us, infinite beatitude in the vision of His own Essence; and to fit them for so great an end, He endowed them with grace at the same time as He gave them being. In one instant they said Yes or No; in one instant they freely and deliberately decided their own fate.'
Let us not be envious. By nature the angel is superior to us; but, to which of the angels hath He said at any time, 'Thou art My Son'? (Hebrews 1:5, Psalm 2:7) The only-begotten Son of God did not take to Himself the angelic nature. When on earth, He acknowledged the temporary subordination of humanity to those pure spirits, and deigned to receive from them, even as do His brethren in the flesh, and announcements of the divine will, and help and strength (Luke 22:43). But 'God hath not subjected unto angels the world to come,' says the apostle (Hebrews 2:5). How can we understand this attraction of God towards what is feeblest? We can only worship it in humble, loving faith. It was Lucifer’s stumbling-block on the day of the great battle in heaven. But the faithful angels prostrated themselves in joyous adoration at the feet of the Infant-God foreshown to them enthroned on Mary’s knee, and then rose up to sing: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.'
Quotations taken from The Liturgical Year by Dom Prosper Gueranger which is in the public domain.
Let us today honor the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael and humbly ask for their intercession as together we do battle against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
St. Michael the Archangel,
Defend us in battle!
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares
of the devil.
And do, thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,
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.
Michael means a lot to me also Mike, in fact I have accepted the assignment he gave us, and do my best to imitate him. Heading up Jehovah's army, and as you pointed out the chief adversary of satan, we look forward to the day when he sends satan and those who have chosen to side with him to their permanent reward.
On a positive note, I got to attend a beautiful traditional Michaelmas Mass this evening with my family, and the little ones were surprisingly well-behaved for an evening mass
Michael means a lot to me also Mike, in fact I have accepted the assignment he gave us, and do my best to imitate him. Heading up Jehovah's army, and as you pointed out the chief adversary of satan, we look forward to the day when he sends satan and those who have chosen to side with him to their permanent reward.
A religion of fear and damnation serves no purpose.
"The only difference between a rut, and the grave is the depth of one's understanding."
Adversity is a principle that results in active resistance, opposition, or contentiousness within the human nature. And the Hebrew term for Satan merely describes an adversarial role (an adversary). Whereas, an accuser (slanderer, devil) is known for his unrighteous disposition. However, the principalities and powers of unholy (human) messengers, had inculcated the doctrines of demons, devils and Satan in the early views of men; falsely fostering and prospering them. Truth becomes known, when deception falls away (that of self-induced blindness). Christ denounced these doctrines and traditions of men within the Spirit of truth as the ego driven fears and desires are within men, resist them.
Those who live according to the human nature have their mind set on what their nature desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their mind set on what the Spirit wants: Along came the tempter; the lust of the eyes (understanding of the mind), lust of the flesh (a heart of emotion) and the pride of life (the desires of the will). Thus, while the first Adam conceded to all that is in the world (that which extends deep down from the surface - yet, is visible through distinctive traits or characteristics common to all humanity); the second Adam stood his ground against the natural disposition of the soul and the temperament within that of other men.
Lucifer has placed his stamp upon the present age. Open and secret revolt against God and His Church, the spirit of criticism, unbelief, and immorality are rampant. The haughty and insolent boast of Lucifer, "I will be like the Most High!" (Is. 14:14), is reechoed today throughout the world. Puffed up with their discoveries and their progress in material science, men are loudly proclaiming their self-sufficiency and denying the existence of a supreme Being. Governments and secret societies, plotting against God and striving to blot out from homes and schools, from offices and factories, all traces of Christianity, show plainly under whose standard they are assembled.
Never before in the history of the world were the rights of God so blasphemously mocked and denied, or the rights of man so arrogantly asserted, as they are today. As a remedy against these frightful evils, we are urged to invoke the aid of that glorious prince of heaven who rendered all glory to God by conquering Lucifer and casting him into the abyss. "In our times", writes Cardinal Mermillod, "when the very foundation of society is shaken in consequence of having denied the rights of God, it is necessary that we revive the veneration of St. Michael, and, with him, raise the victorious cry: 'Who is like unto God?'"
Three centuries ago, St. Francis de Sales wrote: "Veneration of St. Michael is the great remedy against despising the rights of God, against insubordination, skepticism, and infidelity" -- vices which are perhaps more prevalent now than in any previous period of history. Surely, as St. Paul warned the early Christians, it is now time for us to "rise from sleep" (Rom. 13:11), and to offer vigorous resistance to the enemies of our salvation. The weapons which we must use in this conflict are not the arms of civil warfare, but the spiritual weapons of prayer and penance, increased fidelity to the commandments of God, and frequent reception of the Sacraments. And surely it is meet that we choose for our leader in this conflict the same powerful captain who led the faithful angels to victory. St. Michael is ever ready to champion the cause of righteousness. He is, moreover, a powerful helper in every need.
Let us, then, with confident trust, invoke the aid and the protection of this mighty archangel whose shield bears the inscription: "MI-CHA-EL -- Quis ut Deus -- Who is like unto God?"
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