THE GREATNESSES OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL 40 Days Devotion in Honor of the Heavenly Prince of Angels by Fr. Nicola Ricci, 1869 MONTH OF SAINT MICHAEL: MEDITATIONS DAY SIX 6th Meditation Greatness
THE GREATNESSES OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL 40 Days Devotion in Honor of the Heavenly Prince of Angels by Fr. Nicola Ricci, 1869 MONTH OF SAINT MICHAEL: MEDITATIONS DAY SIX 6th Meditation Greatness Of Saint Michael In Hope.
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I. Let us consider how Saint Michael, who was admirable in his faith, was equally admirable for the virtue of hope; because there is a strong bond between these two virtues. Hope is awaiting eternal happiness, which comes from the grace of God and our merits. The object of this supernatural virtue is eternal happiness; the means to acquire it are the grace of God and the creature’s cooperation. As a motive, it has God’s faithfulness to His promises. Saint Michael the Archangel stood out for this virtue, because as soon as God had revealed the beatific vision to His Angels, the former, answering the grace with which God had abundantly provided him, rekindled in his heart the ardent desire to follow Him. Through faith, he understood the great benefits that God reserves for those who fear Him, and he did not lose his confidence of being able to reach them with divine help. Moreover, the choice graces and prerogatives that God had enriched him with constituted as many stimulations for his unswerving hope. Knowing through a heavenly enlightenment the delights of the eternal sojourn, he would repeat unceasingly, with ardent sighs, the words that God, one day, had put in the mouth of David the Prophet: “The only desire of my heart is to live in the Lord’s dwelling place”.
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II. Let us consider how constant was Saint Michael’s hope, as opposed to the presumption of proud Lucifer, who, seeing himself adorned with great natural and supernatural gifts, instead of using them with ardor for God’s everlasting enjoyment, became the admirer and adorer of his own self, as if God had suddenly stopped to be the only source of beatitude for him. But as soon as Lucifer had conceived this proud scheme, he saw the dream of his greatness vanish away, which was to lead him to his definite loss. Before this horrid fall, Saint Michael’s hope was a triumph. Indeed, seeing how easy it is for a high creature to fall, instead of going away, he came even closer to God, saying to himself: “My happiness is to be united with my God”. Therefore, defying himself, he put his hope in God and faced Lucifer, with this cry: “Who is like God?” Never will it be possible for a creature to be happy without God; all that I am and all that belongs to me is the fruit of His grace, and God, through His infinite goodness, will open for me the door which leads to the beatific vision. O greatness of Saint Michael’s hope.
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III. God has revealed to man an everlasting rest, an immense joy, for which we must hope and long; with ardor and confidence! Now, how many a man does not reach this rest and enjoyment, because of their accursed presumption! Presumption kills hope in them. Whomever presumes on his own strength, may he have reached the stars, will be cast down into the abyss. Peter the apostle had this presumption, and there he was, a renegade. David as well, and there he fell into adultery. How many, these days, have the strange presumption that they will save themselves through faith alone, without works! They believe, however, in the remission of sins through the merits of Jesus Christ, but they neither believe in the necessity of doing satisfactory works, nor that the Lord wants worthy fruits of penance. Therefore, those who do not make any efforts towards perfection and refuse to fast, mortify themselves and pray, sin against hope. What a monstrous error! Saint Peter warns us to ensure, through good works, our election and vocation to eternal happiness. May Lucifer’s downfall be always before our eyes to drive presumption from us. The victorious hope of Saint Michael must be for us the noblest example, to be different and put our trust in God. God has made a promise, and He shall not fail to keep it, with whomever is faithful.
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PRAYER
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Merciful God, Thou art all my hope, I place all my desires in Thee, Who promised me eternal happiness. The wounds of Jesus Christ, my Savior, are my merits. And thou, Saint Michael, through thy invincible hope, grant me the grace to obtain the everlasting glory. Drive presumption from me, so that diffident of my own strength, and putting my trust in God’s alone, I may work my eternal salvation.
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SALUTATION
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Hail, Saint Michael, help those who put their trust in God.
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SPIRITUAL BOUQUET
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You will say nine times the act of hope in honor of the nine choirs of Angels, admirers of Saint Michael’s great hope.
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HYMN IN HONOR OF ST MICHAEL.
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O Jesus! splendour of the Father
life and virtue of the heart.
The Father’s Power and Glory bright!
Thee with Angels we extol;
from Thee they draw their life and light.
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Thy thousand, thousand hosts are spread,
embattled o’er the azure sky;
but Michael bears Thy standard dread,
and lifts the mighty Cross on high.
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He in that sign the rebel powers
did with their dragon prince expel:
and hurled them from heaven’s high towers.
down like a thunderbolt to hell.
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Grant us with Michael still, O Lord,
against the Prince of Pride to fight;
so may a crown be our reward,
before the Lamb’s pure throne of light.
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To God the Father and the Son
and Holy Paraclete to Thee,
as evermore hath been before,
be glory through eternity. Amen.