Michaelmas

Catholics are familiar with St. Michael the Archangel, whose armored figure, complete with subduing sword, standing victoriously over the defeated Satan, is depicted on holy cards and in paintings and statues. Many churches add the Prayer to St. Michael at the end of the Mass, and Pope John Paul II urged all Catholics to recite it even when it and other prayers once said after Mass were dropped in 1970. In England his feast is referred to as Michaelmas Day, and there is even a spring flower called Michaelmas. Certainly, the huge number of people, schools and churches named after St. Michael attests to his popularity.
In 1969, two other Archangels were added to the liturgical calendar on this day, Gabriel and Raphael. All three appear in Scripture, Michael in the Letter of Jude, and in Revelation. Gabriel is the angel of the Annunciation, and Raphael appears in the book of Tobit as the guide to young Tobias and the "apothecary" whose suggested remedy for Tobit's blindness works. The Church teaches that angels are superior beings, somewhere between God and humans in the hierarchy of creation, who serve as messengers and defenders and who stand in worship before the Almighty, always ready to do his bidding. In Hebrew, Michael means, "Who is like God"; Gabriel, "God has shown himself mighty", and Raphael, "God has healed." Michael is the patron of policemen; Gabriel, of communications workers, and Gabriel, of travelers.
Pope Leo XIII composed the prayer to St. Michael which would be good to repeat often, especially today:
"St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the 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, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen." --Pope Leo XIII
Bro. Rene