Who were the first witnesses of the Savior’s resurrection? The angels, without a doubt. But to allow mortal men to witness the empty burial place and to examine its contents, the angels came down to roll back the stone.
St. Michael will really take us to our judgment and then lead us to Purgatory and then to Heaven and the Resurrection! It is easy to see how keen an interest our great archangel has in our happy death and our journey after death. It is part of the service he renders to Jesus, caring for the souls that he has saved from hell and helping them to share in the mystery of his death and rising on the third day. The prospect of these future events should give us great hope, but also a great hatred for sin, for anything which would hinder our rising to heaven and the blessed reunion of our soul and body. We must never take our resurrection for granted.
This reflection is part of a Novena to St. Michael the Archangel, in preparation for Michaelmas. Learn more here.
Novena Prayer to St. Michael
Great Saint Michael, Prince of the Heavenly Host,
your name is a question filled with awe: "Who is like God?"
Your vocation is to reveal His power and His wisdom,
and so your name teaches us that nothing can compare with His might and goodness.
What is there that we cannot hope to receive from God's hand through your intercession and care?
We entrust to you the intentions we bring in this novena:
for Holy Church in Her trials; for our homelands so much in
need of healing and grace; for our families who are shielded
by the angels who guard us on our way to heaven;
for the sick; for sinners; for the dying;
for our dear, departed loved ones; and for protection
from all the forces of evil who oppose these intentions.
We expect great things and abundant blessings as we invoke you.
Christ the Lord is your King and ours; we are safe under your
shield and with your fiery sword of burning love for Him.
We thank you in advance for the gifts to be obtained in this
novena and promise in our gratitude to make your name
and devotion known as much as we are able.
Blessed be God, glorious in His fair hosts of angels led by you,
Michael, the leader of the bodiless powers of heaven!
Amen.
