Signs of the Times  

(Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael -- Sept. 29th)

   St. Michael, be our refuge here,
    Preserve us from all useless fear;
    Through you may God his peace bestow

       On all the nations here below.

     "With the name of Jesus, we shall overthrow the demons..."
                                                                      St. John Vianney



   "War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.  The dragon and his angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.  The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.

     Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

       'Now have salvation and power come,
     and the Kingdom of our God
     and the authority of his Anointed.
     For the accuser our brothers is cast out,
     who accuses them before our God day and night.
 
         They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
      and by the word of their testimony;
      love for life did not deter them from death.
      Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
      and you who dwell in them.'"
                                                Rev. 12:7-12


                                                   THE INTERCESSION OF MICHAEL

    When those who were in this very place saw me weeping with the angel, they cried out and themselves wept, saying, "O Lord God, have mercy on us!"  And after that I saw heaven opened and the Archangel Michael coming down from heaven, and with him the whole host of angels, and they came to those who were placed in the punishments.  And seeing him they cried out again with tears, and said: 'Have mercy on us, Archangel Michael on us and on the human race, for because of your prayers the earth continues.  We have now seen the judgment and known the Son of God.  It was impossible for us to pray for this previously before we came to this place.  For we did hear that there was a judgment before we came forth from the world, but  tribulations and a worldly-minded life did not allow us to repent." 

       And Michael answered and said, "Listen when Michael speaks:  It is I who stand in the presence of God every hour.  As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, for one day or one night I do not cease from praying continually for the human race, and I pray for those who are still on earth.  They, however, do not stop committing iniquity...and they do not help me in what is good while they are placed on earth.  And the time during which you ought to have repented you used up in vanity.  But I have always thus prayed and now I beseech that God may send dew and that rain may be appointed over the earth, and I continue to pray until the earth bring forth its fruit; and I say that if anyone has done even a little good I will strive for him and protect him, that  he escapes the judgment of punishments.  Where are your prayers?  Where is your repentance?  You have squandered time contemptibly.  But now weep, and I will weep with you, and the angels who are with me together with the dearly beloved Paul, if perchance the merciful God will show mercy and give you ease."

   And when they heard these words, they cried out and wept much and said all together: "Have mercy on us, Son of God."  And I, Paul, sighed and said:  "Lord God, have mercy on what you have fashioned, have mercy on the children of men, have mercy on your own image."
                                                                                    --"Apocalypse of Paul", 4th c.