Saint Michael Prayer — Roger Mahoney, the Cardinal of Hollywood found to have participated in a horrific coverup of pedophilia in his archdiocese, is insisting on attending the conclave to choose a new pope in a remarkable and shameless display of hubris.
Mahoney was removed of all public and administrative duties last month by his successor Jose Gomez after the extent of Mahoney’s deeds were revealed.
In the 1880s, Pope Leo XIII had a vision, which according to Father Domenico Pechenino who worked in the Vatican at the time, left him “staring motionless, without batting an eye.”
Father Domenico said his expression was “one of horror and awe.”
He came to his senses and went to his office. After about a half-hour he called for the Secretary of the Congregation and directed him to have printed his prayer for the intercession of Saint Michael that would be soon be added to the end of the common Mass.
Some say what Pope Leo heard was this conversation between Satan and the Lord:
- The guttural voice, the voice of Satan in his pride, boasted to Our Lord: “I can destroy your Church.”
- The gentle voice of Our Lord: “You can? Then go ahead and do so.”
- Satan: “To do so, I need more time and more power.”
- Our Lord: “How much time? How much power?”
- Satan: “75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service.”
- Our Lord: “You have the time, you will have the power. Do with them what you will.
The practice of reciting the prayer at Mass was suppressed in 1965 after Vatican II. Perhaps it is time to bring it back.
The prayer, in English, is:
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
Saint Michael Prayer
