Since the late 19th Century, Catholics have recited the Prayer to St Michael when facing disease, disaster and despair.
The prayer proclaims, in part, “St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. … O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.”
Before Vatican II, this prayer was often recited after Mass, although it wasn’t in the rubrics. In 1994, St Pope John Paul II urged Catholics to embrace it – while preaching on threats to the unborn.
During the present pandemic, many parishes added the prayer to the end of Mass.
This summer, Scotland got the opportunity to host a visit of a specially commissioned pilgrim statue of St Michael the Archangel. Made in Italy, it arrived at St. Augustine’s Church, Coatbridge where it was blessed by Fr Peter Prusakiewicz (CSMA), on May 4th, 2022. Initial interest to see and host the statue has exceeded expectations the result of which the four month schedule has been extended to February, 2023.
St James’, Kinross were the first parish to receive the statue in Dunkeld Diocese and from there it travelled to Our Lady’s, Perth where Bishop Stephen celebrated Mass to mark the occasion and thereafter to St John the Baptist, Perth. Later this month it is scheduled to visit St Thomas’, Arbroath (26th October) and then, from 2nd-9th November, St Mungo’s, Alloa,
For more information on the tour,
email holyangelsinfo@gmail.com
