On April 25, 1631, St. Michael the Archangel appeared in Tlaxcala, Mexico to a 17-year-old named Diego Lázaro de San Francisco who was married to Francisca Castillian Xuchitl.
The apparition occurred as everyone was processing in celebration of a previous apparition of St. Michael to St. Gregory the Great (April 25, 590 A.D) during a great plague which St. Michael ended. The peoples of the new world were themselves battling a plague (a type of smallpox) and St. Michael appeared to Diego Lázaro to tell him about healing waters for the people,
“You are to know that I am Saint Michael the Archangel, and I have come to tell you that it is the will of God and mine that you tell the inhabitants of this place, and everywhere abroad, that near a valley between two mountain ridges you will find a miraculous spring of water that will cure the people of their ills. You will find it beneath a great boulder. Do not doubt what I have told you and do not neglect what I have sent you to do.”
Feeling unworthy and unsure of himself, since no else saw the apparition, Diego hesitated in following through with St. Michael’s instructions and in a few days, on May 8, 1631, (the anniversary of the apparitions of St. Michael at Gargano in 492 A.D. and later of the St. Michael relic stone that would heal everyone from the plague) St. Michael appeared telling Diego,
“Why did you doubt what I have told you? Because you have not done as I requested, you too will be stricken with the plague that is devastating your people.”
Diego became deathly ill. The family called in the local priest to give him the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. As he was passing, St. Michael appeared again in great brilliance, and the family fled in fear. Diego later related the miraculous mystical voyage,
“Saint Michael transported me to the place he had told me about before. With Saint Michael going before me through the night, everything was illuminated as the great prince passed, as if it were midday. Rocks and branches split apart as he passed, clearing a path for us. As we reached a certain spot, I saw Saint Michael holding a golden staff topped with a cross.”
As the angel of the Lord shows John the life-giving waters for the healing of the nations via the throne and the Lamb in Rev. 22:1-2 so also St. Michael shows Diego a place of healing here on earth for the people;
“From the place I touch with this staff you will see flowing the miraculous spring I told you about during the procession. Make it clear to everyone that the illness you have suffered is a fruit of your disobedience.”
Then, knowing of the many thousands of healings, deliverances, and great conversions that were to come from the healing spring, Satan immediately retaliated against Diego filling him with fear and terror as Diego relates,
“Having said this, (I heard) a great whirlwind of deafening screams, wailing and moaning, as if a great crowd were being driven from the place. I shook with fear. It seemed to me that the entire mountain ridge would tumble down on top of me during the turmoil.”
St. Michael immediately came to the rescue of Diego, and reassured him of the great work of evangelization which would take place via these healing and exorcistic waters,
“Do not fear; these are the sounds made by the demons, thine enemies, because they know the great benefits that through my intercession the faithful will receive in this place from Our Lord. Many, seeing the marvels worked here, will convert and do penance for their sins, and all will give thanks to God for His mercies. Those who approach this spring with lively faith and sorrow for their faults will, with the water from this spring, obtain relief in their sufferings and needs, and those at the point of death will find a comfort in these waters.”
Diego described a great beam of light that came down from above penetrating the rock and waters to further sanctify the spring with special graces and virtues:
“Having said this I saw a brilliant light descend from heaven, piercing the ground at the site of the spring.”
Moreover, as the angel of the Lord heals the sick and needy at the Pool of Bethesda in John 5:4 so St. Michael told Diego about the effects of this special light for those who are suffering,
“This light that you have seen descend from heaven is the virtue that God in His Divine Providence gives in this spring for the health and relief of the sick and needy. Make this known at once to everyone. That they may believe your testimony, I promise to work a great prodigy through you.”
St. Michael then healed Diego completely and miraculously returned him back to his home;
“With that, Saint Michael disappeared, and I found myself here in this hut once again, completely cured.”
Franciscan Friar Hernando García Rendón, then sent Diego to the governor which was 20 kilometers away, but the governor did not believe Diego. Diego with his family and friends, proceeded to search for the spring. Upon finding it covered with a large boulder and unable to move it, a young man appeared and moved the boulder for them and then vanished. Immediately, two persons were healed of the plague, but they were afraid to give testimony to the governor.
On November 13,1631, Diego again became very ill for ignoring St. Michael’s instructions. (Note: Angels can be very stern. In Luke 1:20 when Zachariah doubted the Archangel Gabriel, the angel struck him dumb: “And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens because you did not believe my words.”) St Michael appeared again to Diego and chastised him;
“Why do you act cowardly, and are negligent in what two times now I have commanded you? Do you want to be punished once again for your disobedience? Arise, and have diligence in making known what I have commanded to you.”
Diego was again healed and with this final admonishment Diego went to the Bishop of Puebla, Don Gutierre Bernardo Quiroz, and water from the spring healed the sick at the Bishop’s residence and the hospital.
Healing and deliverances from the spring abounded and a year later the local bishop approved the apparitions and celebrated mass on October 29, 1632. A second Church investigation of the apparitions was carried out, and the apparitions were again approved on January 1644. A third and final Church investigation was carried out and again the apparitions were approved in 1675.
Diego became a man of deep prayer, and he consecrated his life to St. Michael by carrying out St. Michael’s words,
“tell the inhabitants of this place, and everywhere abroad… of a miraculous spring of water that will cure the people of their ills.”
Thousands were healed! Diego lived just three more years after the apparitions. When he died light was seen, the Church bells rang on their own, and later his body was found incorruptible.
Today, millions still make pilgrimages to the shrine of St. Michael known as the “Santuario de San Miguel del Milagro” (Sanctuary of St. Michael of the Miracle), where the faithful still receive miraculous healings and are delivered from the attacks of the enemy via the healing spring. St. Michael the Archangel Pray for Us!
(Note: Most of the paintings in this article date back to the time of the apparitions)
40 DAY CONSECRATION PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL (Aug. 15th – Sept. 29th) St. Francis of Assisi did a 40 Lent in honor of St. Michael.
(An indulgence of two-hundred days is granted to everyone who devoutly says this prayer once a day, praying for the needs of the holy Church and the Supreme Pontiff.)
Oh, most noble Prince of the Angelic Hierarchies, valorous warrior of Almighty God, and zealous lover of His glory, terror of the rebellious angels, and love and delight of all the just, my beloved Archangel Saint Michael, desiring to be numbered among your devoted servants, I, today offer and consecrate myself to you, and place myself, my family, and all I possess under your most powerful protection.
I entreat you not to look at how little I, as your servant have to offer, being only a wretched sinner, but to gaze, rather, with favorable eye at the heartfelt affection with which this offering is made, and remember that if from this day onward I am under your patronage, you must during all my life assist me, and procure for me the pardon of my many grievous offenses and sins, the grace to love with all my heart my God, my dear Savior Jesus, and my Sweet Mother Mary, and to obtain for me all the help necessary to arrive to my crown of glory.
Defend me always from my spiritual enemies, particularly in the last moments of my life.
Come then, oh Glorious Prince and succor me in my last struggle, and with your powerful weapon cast far from me into the infernal abysses that prevaricator and proud angel that one day you prostrated in the celestial battle.
Accompany me then to the throne of God to sing with you, Archangel Saint Michael and all the angels, praise, honor and glory to the One who reigns for all eternity. AMEN.
St. Michael’s Lent involves doing something in honor of St. Michael. The traditional and ancient 40 Day Consecration Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel from the Basilica Sanctuary of St. Michael in Gargano, Italy can be prayed daily from Aug. 15 thru Sept. 29 to honor St. Michael and as a type of Lent offering in honor of St. Michael.
Pope Francis consecrated Vatican City to St. Michael the Archangel, and he stated, “In consecrating the Vatican City State to St Michael the Archangel, let us ask him to defend us from the Evil One and cast him out.”
ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CONFERENCE
Sept. 27-28, 2019
VIDEO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL IN MEXICO:
Recommended
Angels & Dragons I http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2015/02/angels-dragons/#.WknYD9-nHIV
Angels & Dragons II http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2015/09/angels-dragons-ii/#.Wrk6MYjwbIW
Angels & Dragons III – St Michael Relic Stone http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2017/09/angels-dragons-iii-st-michael-relic-stone/#.Wrk6UojwbIV
Angels & Dragons IV – St Michael’s Protection http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2017/09/angels-dragons-iv-st-michaels-protection/#.Wrk6dYjwbIV
Angels & Dragons V – Minor Exorcisms http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2017/11/angels-dragons-v-minor-exorcisms/#.Wrk6rIjwbIV
Angels & Dragons VI – “Set the Oppressed Free!” (Luke 4:18) http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/01/angels-dragons-vi-set-oppressed-free-luke-418/#.Wrk6y4jwbIV
Angels & Dragons VII – Transferences http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/01/angels-dragons-vii-transferences/#.Wrk68IjwbIV
Angels & Dragons VIII – St Gemma Galgani Relic http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/01/angels-dragons-viii-st-gemma-galgani-relic/#.Wrk7D4jwbIU
Angels & Dragons IX – 40 Days to Slay the Dragon http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/02/angels-dragons-ix-40-days-slay-dragon/#.Wrk7K4jwbIX
Angels & Dragons X – St. Faustina’s Battles http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/03/angels-dragons-x-st-faustinas-battles/#.XEfE1WZK3IV
Angels & Dragons XI – “Michael the Archangel will Arise.” (Dn.12:1) http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/09/angels-dragons-xi-michael-the-archangel-will-arise-dn-121/#.W5ueQKZKjIV
Angels & Dragons XII – St. Michael’s Flaming Sword! http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/09/angels-dragons-xii-st-michaels-flaming-sword/#.W6gAb2hKjIU
Angels & Dragons XIII – The Glorious Michaelmas! http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/09/angels-dragons-xiii-the-glorious-michaelmas/#.W7L1xWZK3IU
Angels & Dragons XIV – Mont Saint Michel http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/10/angels-dragons-xiv-mont-saint-michel/#.W86m5mZK3IU
Angels & Dragons XV – The St. Michael Statue http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/10/angels-dragons-xv-the-st-michael-statue/#.W9eOGWZK3IU
Angels & Dragons XVI – St. Michael & All Souls http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2018/10/angels-dragons-xvi-st-michael-the-feast-of-all-souls/#.XDN4OGZK3IU
Angels & Dragons XVII – The Power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2019/01/angels-dragons-xvii-the-power-of-the-most-holy-name-of-jesus/#.XEftiWZK3IU
Angels & Dragons XVIII – St. Michael the Angel of Peace! http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2019/01/angels-dragons-xviii-st-michael-the-angel-of-peace/#.XGtJxGZK3IU
Angels & Dragons – XIX The Angel of Peace in America http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2019/02/angels-dragons-xix-the-angel-of-peace-in-america/#.XKuHxGZK3IU
Angels & Dragons – XX “War in Heaven” (Rev. 12:7) http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2019/04/angels-dragons-xx-war-in-heaven-rev-127/#.XRGaOWZK3IU
Angels & Dragons – XXI St. Michael the Archangel in Spain http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2019/07/angels-dragons-xxi-st-michael-the-archangel-in-spain/
St Michael has always been my hero as The Father’s mightiest Angel. So much so that I wrote him into my novel The Last Rogue Soul book 1 of Guardian Watch Series. Book 2 has historical significance from 303 AD called End Of Dragons is near completion. I have been blessed with my best friend to CoAuthor & write my story. Thank you for this article. It was great to read. SE Brower
Amen Susan! St. Michael is God’s hero, too! He is the very first David vs. Goliath story! I am glad you are writing about St. Michael as he is the first Christian. He was the first to believe in the incarnation from a simply vision (Rev. 12:1)! We have much to learn from him. His time has arrived! Blessings +
Where can we get the book?
Shanti Guy, author, http://www.above38.com
Dear Shanti Guy, I can’t wait to read it! Great job in making it into a comic book!
Dear Shanti, I got the comic book, and it is great. My entire family loved it. The artistic drawings are very special, and they create a devotion to St. Michael. Thank you! I highly recommend it …even for adults.
The Last Rogue Soul is book one of Guardianwatchseries.com. It has been out since last year and to my delight, all 5 and a 4 star rating. The reviews have been amazing as well. I am blessed and grateful. Book two should be released this spring, End of Dragons. Book three, Demon Within, is expected this time next year. There is a link to Amazon on our web page or go to Amazon books should you like to purchase, Thank you for the interest and our very best wishes for a wonderful New Year.