Sunday, October 30, 2011

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL






All Saints Day is coming ( November 1, 2011)  so want to share this very beautiful story about one of my favorite warrior saint :D ST. MICHAEL the ARCHANGEL :)

the Letter from Michael...
There's a story about a young Marine named Michael who wrote a letter home to his mother while he was in the hospital after having been wounded in Korea in 1950.  A Navy Chaplain named Father Walter Muldy apparently was given the letter, checked the facts and concluded what was in the letter was true. A year later he read the letter in public for the first time, to a gathering of some 5,000 Marines at the Naval Base in San Diego.  Here is the letter:
Dear Mom,
I wouldn't dare write this letter to anyone but you because no one else would believe it. Maybe even you will find it hard but I have got to tell somebody. First off, I am in a hospital. Now don't worry, ya hear me, don't worry. I was wounded but I'm okay you understand. Okay. The doctor says that I will be up and around in a month.
But that's not what I want to tell you.
Remember when I joined the Marines last year; remember when I left, how you told me to say a prayer to St. Michael every day. You really didn't have to tell me that. Ever since I can remember you always told me to pray to St. Michael the Archangel. You even named me after him. Well I always have.
When I got to Korea, I prayed even harder. Remember the prayer that you taught me? "Michael, Michael of the morning, fresh chord of Heaven adorning," you know the rest of it. Well I said it everyday. Sometimes when I was marching or sometimes resting. But always before I went to sleep. I even got some of the other fellas to say it.
Well, one day I was with an advance detail way up over the front lines. We were scouting for the Commies. I was plodding along in the bitter cold, my breath was like cigar smoke.
I thought I knew every guy in the patrol, when along side of me comes another Marine I never met before. He was bigger than any other Marine I'd ever seen. He must have been 6'4" and built in proportion. It gave me a feeling of security to have such a body near.
Anyway, there we were trudging along. The rest of the patrol spread out. Just to start conversation I said, "Cold ain't it." And then I laughed. Here I was with a good chance of getting killed any minute and I am talking about the weather.
My companion seemed to understand. I heard him laugh softly. I looked at him, "I have never seen you before, I thought I knew every man in the outfit."
"I just joined at the last minute", he replied. "The name is Michael."
"Is that so," I said surprised. "That is my name too."
"I know," he said and then went on, "Michael, Michael of the morning ..."
I was too amazed to say anything for a minute. How did he know my name, and a prayer that you had taught me? Then I smiled to myself, every guy in the outfit knew about me. Hadn't I taught the prayer to anybody who would listen. Why now and then, they even referred to me as St. Michael. Neither of us spoke for a time and then he broke the silence.
"We are going to have some trouble up ahead."
He must have been in fine physical shape or he was breathing so lightly I couldn't see his breath. Mine poured out in great clouds. There was no smile on his face now. Trouble ahead, I thought to myself, well with the Commies all around us, that is no great revelation. Snow began to fall in great thick globs. In a brief moment the whole countryside was blotted out. And I was marching in a white fog of sticky particles. My companion disappeared.
"Michael," I shouted in sudden alarm.
I felt his hand on my arm, his voice was rich and strong, "This will stop shortly."
His prophecy proved to be correct. In a few minutes the snow stopped as abruptly as it had begun. The sun was a hard shining disc. I looked back for the rest of the patrol, there was no one in sight. We lost them in that heavy fall of snow. I looked ahead as we came over a little rise.
Mom, my heart stopped. There were seven of them. Seven Commies in their padded pants and jackets and their funny hats. Only there wasn't anything funny about them now. Seven rifles were aimed at us.
"Down Michael," I screamed and hit the frozen earth.
I heard those rifles fire almost as one. I heard the bullets. There was Michael still standing. Mom, those guys couldn't have missed, not at that range. I expected to see him literally blown to bits. But there he stood, making no effort to fire himself. He was paralyzed with fear. It happens sometimes, Mom, even to the bravest. He was like a bird fascinated by a snake. At least, that was what I thought then. I jumped up to pull him down and that was when I got mine I felt a sudden flame in my chest. I often wondered what it felt like to be hit, now I know..
I remember feeling strong arms around me, arms that laid me ever so gently on a pillow of snow. I opened my eyes, for one last look. I was dying. Maybe I was even dead, I remember thinking well, this is not so bad. Maybe I was looking into the sun. Maybe I was in shock. But it seemed I saw Michael standing erect again only this time his face was shining with a terrible splendor. As I say, maybe it was the sun in my eyes, but he seemed to change as I watched him. He grew bigger, his arms stretched out wide, maybe it was the snow falling again, but there was a brightness around him like the wings of an angel. In his hands was a sword. A sword that flashed with a million lights. Well, that is the last thing I remember until the rest of the fellas came up and found me. I do not know how much time had passed. Now and then I had but a moment's rest from the pain and fever. I remember telling them of the enemy just ahead.
"Where is Michael," I asked.
I saw them look at one another. "Where's who?" asked one.
"Michael, Michael the big Marine I was walking with just before the snow squall hit us."
"Kid," said the sergeant, "You weren't walking with anyone. I had my eyes on you the whole time. You were getting too far out. I was just going to call you in when you disappeared in the snow."
He looked at me, curiously. "How did you do it kid?"
"How'd I do what?" I asked half angry despite my wound. "This marine named Michael and I were just ..."
"Son," said the sergeant kindly, " I picked out this outfit myself and there just ain't another Michael in it. You are the only Mike in it."
He paused for a minute, "Just how did you do it kid? We heard shots. There hasn't been a shot fired from your rifle. And there isn't a bit of lead in them seven bodies over the hill there."
I didn't say anything, what could I say. I could only look open-mouthed with amazement.
It was then the sergeant spoke again, "Kid," he said gently, "every one of those seven Commies was killed by a sword stroke."
That is all I can tell you Mom. As I say, it may have been the sun in my eyes, it may have been the cold or the pain. But that is what happened.
Love, Michael
********
 The Prayer the mom taught Michael the soldier ,  this is from Fr. Joseph Reitz, who knew the prayer.  Here it is: 
Michael, Michael, of the morning,
Fresh chord of Heaven adorning,
Keep me safe today
And in time of temptation,
Drive the devil away.

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FORGIVENESS CORNER

FORGIVENESS CORNER
this corner is for those who we want to forgive and those for whom we pray for forgiveness, let us ask Jesus to help us and open our hearts to forgiveness and forgiving. Look at the Cross and tell Jesus, Lord i want to forgive, im finding it hard to do so, help me. I chose to forgive and leave everything in Your loving hands.

THE ARCHANGELS


ST. MICHAEL -
(Archangel of those born on a Sunday) Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, the Commander in Chief of all the hierarchies of the Heavenly Hosts, the Angel who defeated Luciferadn His followers in the first rebellion or creatures against God. By his battlecry: MI-Ca-EL " Who is like unto God?.. the first defender of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Mystery of the Incarnation ( Dan 10:12 12:1 Apoc.12:7)

ST GABRIEL
- ( ARCHANGEL of those born on a Monday ) Special messenger of God, bearer or Gods secret messages to His chosen ones.( luke 1:19) (Daniel 8:19 9:21)

ST. RAPHAEL - ( ARCHANGEL of those born on aTuesday) Healer & Guide for the Christian pilgrim, patron also of Singles wanting to find their partner in marriage.He also gives the light to discern correctly Gods ways and protects us from dangers that befall us on our way to our heavenly home.

ST. URIEL - ( ARCHANGEL of those born on a Wednesday) Archangel of Justice, reminds us of Divine Justice, to whatever we do good or bad, reminds us of the terrible justice of God upon the world for the human pride and Godlessness with which human affairs are conducted.

St. SEALTIEL - ( ARCHANGEL of those born on a Thursday) Archangel of Worship & Contemplation, stands before God with incenser in hand, his angelic purity transforms the love and worship we mortals give to God.

ST. JHUDIEL - (ARCHANGEL of those born on a Friday) Archangel of Divine Mercy. Gods mercy comes to us in every moment of our lives.Without it we would die.Mercy is gracefor bodily and spiritual needs. Mercy is God Himself through the m,erits of Jesus Christ bringin us back to our Heavenly home

ST. BARACHIEL - (ARCHANGEL of those born on a Saturday) Archangel of Divine Providence. the one who was assigned by God to keep watch over His adopted Children taking care that He and the Choirs of Angels assigned to the task guard these transformed souls in all their way, bearing them up ( Psalm 91, 12)

check the Perpetual Calendar in this blog fill it with your birthdate and know which archangel is in charge of you... God bless!