Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Chruch, and All People
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Reciting the St. Michael Prayer After Masses
As I mentioned last week, for the month of July we are adding the St. Michael Prayer after Masses.  It was almost eighteen months ago that we began honoring our Blessed Mother after all Masses with a particular hymn for the liturgical seasons or Advent, Lent, and Easter.  Outside of those seasons we rotated with other prayers for vocations, for the faithful departed, and for the parish.  Since we have moved into Ordinary Time we have kept a prayer to the Blessed Mother, but it is appropriate to add the St. Michael prayer.  One reason is, I think since I have been at St. Paul’s or at least soon after I arrived, that at daily Mass, the faithful recite this prayer out loud on their own.  So why not extend that to the weekend Masses as well?
 
I think another reason to add it is its history.  Pope Leo XIII wrote this prayer around 1885.  Historians say he wrote it in response to a frightening vision he had while in prayer.  The vision included hosts of demons descending upon the Church and Rome. He saw it as a portent of difficult times ahead for the Church.  St. Michael is a powerful intercessor against the evil one.  As Catholics we believe prayer is efficacious, so the pope mandated this be prayed along with three Hail Mary’s, the Hail Holy Queen, a prayer for the Church, and calling upon the Sacred Heart after all “low masses.”   Some reading this may remember praying these prayers after masses.  After the time of the Second Vatican Council, with the changing of the Mass, the prayers were expunged as a normal practice. 
 
In our current times, it seems demonic forces are becoming even more ambitious.  With violence, false narratives, evil ideologies, militant atheism, racism, rash judgment, confusion, sexual deviancy, media exploitation, corruption, occult “spirituality,” and the list goes on, we are in the midst of demonic forces. Even so we have nothing to fear for we are in the Lord, but we are called to do our part in the fight.  Our weapons though are truth, non-violence, and prayer. Again, Catholics believe prayer is efficacious.  I think it makes sense to call on our Blessed Mother and to ask St. Michael to defend us in the spiritual battles that surround us. Please consider joining not only in the prayer after Mass, but praying it everyday.
 
Thank you!
Thank you to all who continue to show their financial generosity to the parish.  While understandably some are negatively affected by the virus, there are many parishioners who have continued to contribute their support through envelopes, or online giving, or other donations made to the parish.  Some have even increased their donations to help during this difficult time.  Thank you! This has been crucial for us to continue paying our bills and to keep our office open throughout the week.  We are continuing to use this time to update parishioner info, work toward better communication, and preparing for when things can open up some more.  I know of parishes where this has not happened and they have had to take out loans to survive.  Let’s continue keeping each other in prayer that the Lord continue to bless our parish through the sacrifices we each can offer.
 
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr