St. Michael of the Apocalypse

St. Michael of the Apocalypse
For the Feast of the Archangels 29 September
***On 20 September the 100th Anniversary of the Stigmata of St. Padre Pio 1918-2018
“St 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
After seeing a terrifying vision Pope Leo XXIII wrote this prayer we used to say at the end of every Mass. You can invoke St Michael every day with this powerful prayer.
St John Bosco also had a vision that in the End Times there would be two things left for the survival of Christians; the Eucharist and the Rosary. St Francis would prepare for his favorite saint’s feastday for 40 days, calling it St Michael’s Lent, from August 15-September 29. It was in the middle of that “Lent” in 1224, on Mt La Verna, that he received a vision of the Seraphic Christ and was the first human being to be wounded with the Stigmata. Since that time St Padre Pio received the Wounds on September 20, 1918. It has been mostly women, in the history of Christianity, who have been given the Wounds and have become “another Christ.”
One of the most beautiful pieces of writing ever written in Italian literature is the anonymous work concerning St Francis:
“The Five Considerations On The Stigmata.”
This is a rendition of a Russian icon of St Michael, afire in red and riding his red horse announcing the end of the world, with a cloud for his stirrup. Now begins the final thrusting into hell of Satan with the iron rod (mentioned in Revelation 2:27) of the Cross. He blows his trumpet, and swings his censor full of incense. He holds the Gospel book and a rainbow arches above, going from hand-to-the-hand holding the Holy Gospel.
The Chris Emmanuel sits before an Altar of Preparation,(preparation for what is to come...)with the Gospel book and a Cross. As in the Apocalypse (Revelation) on the right side, the Moon turns blood red.
When I first saw this icon I was dazzled by the masterful beauty of the original, the movement and fierce confidence of the Heavenly Prince, the absolutely gorgeous colors and....... the long awaited message or teaching of the icon, of God’s promise of the defeat of Satan and the arrival of the Kingdom of God.
I can suggest 5 books if you are looking for commentaries on the Book of Revelation, (my personal favorite first...)
*The Revelation of St John the Divine (meaning Theologian)
By G.B. Caird
*The Nightmare of God
By Daniel Berrigan, SJ
* Beside the Sea of Glass
By Daniel Berrigan, SJ
* Revelation: 22 Studies For Individuals And Groups
By N.T. Wright
* Surprised By Scripture
By N.T. Wright
This icon was commissioned by the Church of St Michael in Socorro, New Mexico.
September 2018