Anonymous - St. Michael and the Angels (with Supplemental Reading: Catholic Prayers) [Illustrated]

CREATION

Formerly titled The Precious Blood and the Angels .

Published in 1977 by Marian Publications, South Bend, Indiana, under the title The Precious Blood and the Angels .

First published in 1983 by TAN Books, an Imprint of Saint Benedict Press, LLC.

Retypeset in 2008 by TAN Books.

Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 82-62040

ISBN: 978-0-89555-196-2

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

TAN Books
An Imprint of Saint Benedict Press, LLC
Charlotte, North Carolina
2012

Contents

TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS

Introduction

Glory to the Blood of Jesus!

In his book entitled, The Precious Blood, Father Faber presents the story of the Precious Blood in the picture of a Procession which shows us the Blood of Christ going out from the eternal Mind of God, circulating in time and ascending again to Heaven, after having taken on Its way, each one of those creatures of God who owe to It its own beauty and happiness.

The first visibility of the invisible God, writes Father Faber, was but an instantaneous flash, and there lay outspread the broad world of angels, throbbing with light, and teeming with innumerous and yet colossal life. The brightness that silvered them was the reflection of Infinite Beauty. From It and because of It they came. Out of It they drew their marvelous diversity of graces. Their sanctities were but mantles made of Its royal texture. They beautified their natures in Its supernatural streams. It seemed as if here the Procession halted for a moment; or perhaps it was only that the sudden flash of light looked like a momentary halt. The new creatures of God, the first created minds, the primal offspring of the Uncreated Mind, were bidden to fall in, and accompany the great Procession. Oh, it was fearful that first sight outside the immense serenity of God! Then, truly, too truly, there was a halt, as if homage and obedience were refused. There is a gleam as if of intolerable battle, and a coruscation of archangelic weapons, and Michaels warcry echoing, the first created cry, among the everlasting mountains. A third of that creation of purest light, has, it is maintained, refused to adore the Incarnate Word, and is flung speedily into the dread abyss, and the ranks close in, and the unfallen light now beams more resplendently with its thinner array than ever it beamed before the fallen fell; and onward the Procession moves.

In this brilliant expose, the eminent writer on the Precious Blood, with a few masterful strokes sums up the history of the angels. Each angel, he goes on to say, perhaps had thousands of beautiful graces. To many of them, we on earth could give no name if we beheld them. But they were all wonderful, all instinct with supernatural holiness and spiritual magnificence. Yet there was not a single grace in any angel which was not Gods free gift, and which has not also its type and counterpart in the Precious Blood. The Precious Blood would have redeemed them, had they needed to be redeemed or were allowed to be redeemed.

These beautiful lines justify us in seeing an intimate connection between the Precious Blood and the heavenly spirits. As each day of the month of Septemberwhich is especially dedicated to the veneration of the angelswe consider their glorious prerogatives, may the knowledge we gather from the meditation unfold before the eyes of our soul, new visions of clearer light, greater love and deeper joy. The path of the just as a shining light goeth forward and increaseth even to perfect day. ( Psalms 1, 5:18).

First Day

Devotion to the Angels is a Mark of Predestination

St. Alphonsus Liguori is often quoted as saying that devotion to St. Michael and the holy angels is a mark of predestination. This reason alone was certainly sufficient to induce us not to neglect their veneration. On the contrary, we should earnestly strive to cultivate their friendship, in which we shall indeed be blessed, for no earthly friends can compare with them in goodness, in power and in love. St. Denis who wrote most inspiringly of the holy angels, took delight in assuming the title Philangelus, that is Friend of the Angels. Let us take to heart the advice of Pope St. Leo the Great, Make friends with the holy angels and we shall find in them most loving companions in our earthly exile, our champions against the malice and rage of the devils, our advocates at the judgment seat of God, and our amiable companions in bliss and glory throughout the endless eternity.

But why are the angels so little honored? The answer is that most people, even though aware of their existence, take very little trouble to increase their knowledge, and give the angels no more than a passing thought. To honor and love them, we must first know them. Were we to understand their dignity, their perfections, their close relations with God, their excellence and power, we should be drawn to venerate them and rejoice in the glory which their companionship confers upon us. Were we to remember, furthermore, the affection they bear us and the care with which they guard our souls, we should be inflamed with real love for them.

Moreover, the Church has always practiced and encouraged devotion to the holy angels. All the ancient liturgies make mention of them and of the protection they grant to the faithful who invoke them. The early Fathers express the same doctrine. According to Origen these blessed spirits aid us in all our acts of religion by uniting their supplications to ours. They carry our petitions to God and bring back to us favors and benedictions. The angels have care of us poor pilgrims, writes St. Augustine, they have compassion on us and at Gods command they hasten to our aid, so that we, too, may eventually arrive at our common fatherland.

Another reason, not the least important, why we should honor and love the angels, lies in the relationship existing between them and us; an affinity which is based on the same Precious Blood. As Father Faber clearly explains, the angels needed no ransom; amid their almost countless graces there is no redeeming grace. But, there is not a grace in that sea of graces which could not have been merited for them by the Precious Blood. They, too, sing anthems in Its praise, though not the same anthems as the redeemed. Jesus is Head of the angels as well as men, and it is as Man that He is Head of the angels. Thus the whole of that marvellous world of glorious intelligence, profound gladness, gigantic power and beautiful holiness is a province of the empire of the Divine Redeemer.

Loving worshippers of this Sacred Price of our Redemption, let us be happy to join our voices to the angelic spirits in an everlasting song of praise of the Blood Divine which merited for us and could have merited for them unending joy and bliss in Heaven.