Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wiles and wickedness of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls. + Pope Leo XIII
The World
The LORD said to the satan, “Where have you been?” Then the satan answered the LORD and said, “Roaming the earth and patrolling it.” Job 1:7
“Do not be surprised that, as time goes on, our ancient foe will fight all the harder to wipe out the Christian religion.” + St. Gregory VII, pope (1025-1085 A.D.)
“It is the wisdom of this world to conceal the heart with strategems, to veil one’s thoughts with words, to make what is false appear true and what is true appear false.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“The world hates Christians, so why give your love to it instead of following Christ, who loves you and has redeemed you?” + St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr (208-258 A.D.)
“Lovers of the world, who are kept from good works by some evil desire, lie sick and listless, and it is this sickness that deprives them of any strength to accomplish good works.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“We are wrapped up in worldly concerns, and the more we devote ourselves to external things, the more insensitive we become in spirit.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“Love of the world cannot be reconciled with love of God, and the man who does not separate himself from the children of this generation cannot join the company of the sons of God.” + St. Leo the Great, pope (400-461 A.D.)
“Against Christ’s army the world arrays a twofold battle line. It offers temptation to lead us astray; it strikes terror into us to break our spirit. Hence if our personal pleasures do not hold us captive, and if we are not frightened by brutality, then the world is overcome. At both of the approaches Christ rushes to our aid, and the Christian is not conquered.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“Whatever you possess must not possess you; whatever you own must be under the power of your soul; for if your soul is overpowered by the love of this world’s goods, it will be totally at the mercy of its possessions.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“It is surely not right that the Son of God should go his way on the path of shame while the sons of men walk the way of worldly honor: The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant greater than his master.” + St. John of Avila, priest (1499-1569 A.D.)
“By desiring heaven we exercise the powers of our soul. Now this exercise will be effective only to the extent that we free ourselves from desires leading to infatuation with this world.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“I have only contempt for the world’s threats, I find its blessings laughable.” + St. John Chrysostom, bishop (347-407 A.D.)
“The tempter spreads many a snare to trap the soul, and of itself human nature is too weak to defeat them. This is why the Apostle bids us to arm ourselves with heavenly weapons.” + St. Gregory of Nyssa, bishop (335-394 A.D.)
“Whoever attacks a brother in need, or plots against him in his weakness of whatever sort, surely fulfills the devil’s law and subjects himself to it.” + Blessed Isaac of Stella, bishop (1100-1169 A.D.)
“When evil days are upon us and the worker of malice gains power, we must attend to our own souls and seek to know the ways of the Lord.” + St. Barnabas, apostle (unknown – 61 A.D.)
“To advance against the foe involves a bold resistance to the powers of this world in defense of the flock.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“You wish to stray, you wish to be lost; but I do not want this. For the one whom I fear does not wish this.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“If you do not want me to suffer, do not stray, do not become lost.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“All who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ must answer to God for the blood of his Son.” + St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr (69-155 A.D.)
“Whoever does evil does injury to Christ.” + St. Caesarius of Arles, bishop (468-542 A.D.)
“How will the world be brought to an end, and by what means will it be destroyed? The answer of Scripture is: By the sound of trumpets.” + Origen, priest (185-251 A.D.)
