{"id":1480361,"date":"2019-01-29T08:00:25","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T14:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/?p=1480361"},"modified":"2019-02-25T17:02:00","modified_gmt":"2019-02-25T23:02:00","slug":"angels-dragons-xviii-st-michael-the-angel-of-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/angels-dragons-xviii-st-michael-the-angel-of-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"Angels & Dragons XVIII: St. Michael the Angel of Peace!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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For\ncenturies St. Michael the Archangel has been known as the Angel of Peace<\/strong>!  In the\npre-Vatican Roman Breviary (Liturgy of the Hours) published in 1482 and in use\nuntil Vatican II, it clearly states, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSt. Michael is the Angel of Peace<\/strong> because he was the leader of the heavenly hosts that fought the rebel angels and by his victory establish PEACE in heaven (Cf. Apoc. 12, 7-9).\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

 For Lauds the Roman Breviary has an ancient\nmorning hymn by Rabanus Maurus (776-856) which states,   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“May Michael, the Angel of Peace,<\/strong> descend from heaven into our homes, that he, the author of sweet peace, may banish dismal war to hell.” <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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A second hymn\noffered at Lauds in the Roman Breviary known as Christe, Sanctorum<\/em> sings about St. Michael, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAngel all peaceful, to our dwelling send us, Michael, from heaven coming to befriend us. Breathing serenest peace may he attend us, Grim war dispelling.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Moreover,\nin the different centuries old Church litanies to St. Michael, we invoke him as\nthe, \u201cAngel of Peace,\u201d<\/strong> \u201cMost Perfect\nAdorer,\u201d and \u201cGuardian Angel of the Eucharist.\u201d Interestingly, St. Michael\nbrought First Holy Communion to St. Gerard Majella (1726 \u2013 1755) and later the\nsaint stated to a priest, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A little child came out of the tabernacle and gave me Holy Communion!”    <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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In\nmodern times the Angel of Peace<\/strong> appeared\nas a teenager at Fatima in 1915 and 1916 to the three shepherd children. In the\nfourth visit he brought them Holy Communion and the Most Precious Blood. But\nfirst they adored Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament as the Angel of Peace<\/strong> suspended the Host and\nChalice in mid-air teaching them in different apparitions, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDo not be afraid. I am the Angel of Peace<\/strong>. Pray with me,\u201d <\/em>later on another day he would say, \u201cOffer sacrifice to God in reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for sinners. In this way you will bring peace to our country, for I am its guardian angel, the Angel of Portugal,\u201d <\/em>and finally on another day he would say, \u201cEat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ terribly outraged by the ingratitude of men. Offer reparation for their sakes and console God.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Devotion\nto the Angel of Peace<\/strong> goes as far\nback as the appearance of Saint Michael the Archangel as the Guardian Angel of\nPortugal in the Battle of Ourique in 1139, where he gave victory to the\nPortuguese forces of Alfonso Henriques over the invading Muslims. Alfonso was\nmade the first King of Portugal, and he along with King Louis XI of France founded\ntwo military orders dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel while St. Theotonius\nconsecrated Portugal to the Archangel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having\na very strong devotion to St. Michael the Archangel as the Guardian Angel of Portugal\namong the people and country for centuries, in 1504 by petition of King Manuel\nI of Portugal to Pope Julius II a special Feast to the Guardian Angel of Portugal\nwas established. Pope Leo X further authorized the feast, and it was celebrated\non the 3rd Sunday of July.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Religious\nfervor to the Guardian Angel of Portugal (Angel\nof Peace)<\/strong> almost vanished after the 17th century, but it was reestablished in\n1952, by being inserted into the Portuguese Liturgical Calendar by Pius XII.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do\nnot think St. Michael is weak because he is called the Angel of Peace<\/strong>. At Fatima on July, 13 1917, the Archangel appeared threatening\nand with a flaming sword ready to do battle.  Today, you still see devotion to St. Michael\nas the Angel of Peace<\/strong> in the ancient\ndeliverance prayers used by Fr. Gabriel Amorth (Vatican\u2019s Exorcist) to free oppressed\/obsessed\nsouls from the claws of the enemy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cO Lord, You Who love man, we beg You to reach out Your powerful hands and Your most high and mighty arms and send the Angel of Peace<\/strong> over us, to protect us, body and soul. May he (Angel of Peace<\/strong>) keep at bay and vanquish every evil power, every poison or malice invoked against us by corrupt and envious people.\u201d <\/em>(An Exorcist Tells His Story)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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