Raccolta #446
O glorious Prince of the heavenly host, Saint Michael the
Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the fearful warfare that
we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the
rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come
thou to the assistance of men, whom Almighty God created
immortal, making them in His own image and likeness and
redeeming them at a great price from the tyranny of Satan. Fight
this day the battle of the Lord with thy legions of holy Angels,
even as of old thou didst fight against Lucifer, the leader of the
proud spirits and all his rebel angels, who were powerless to
stand against thee, neither was their place found any more in
heaven. And that apostate angel, transformed into an angel of
darkness who still creeps about the earth to encompass our ruin,
was cast headlong into the abyss together with his followers. But
behold, that first enemy of mankind, and a murderer from the
beginning, has regained his confidence. Changing himself into an
angel of light, he goes about with the whole multitude of the
wicked spirits to invade the earth and blot out the Name of God
and of his Christ, to plunder, to slay and to consign to eternal
damnation the souls that have been destined for a crown of
everlasting life. This wicked serpent, like an unclean torrent,
pours into men of depraved minds and corrupt hearts the poison
of his malice, the spirit of lying, impiety and blasphemy, and the
deadly breath of impurity and every form of vice and iniquity.
These crafty enemies of mankind have filled to overflowing with
gall and wormwood the Church, which is the Bride of the Lamb
without spot; they have laid profane hands upon her most sacred
treasures. Make haste, therefore, O invincible Prince, to help the
people of God against the inroads of the lost spirits and grant us
the victory. Amen. An indulgence of 500 days.