00:00Today, September 29, we honor the three great archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
00:11But among them, Saint Michael the Archangel occupies a special place in the hearts of the faithful.
00:17Patron of France, with Saint John of Arc, protector of knights and soldiers,
00:23He is also the angel who conquers the forces of evil, the one who fights and defeats the dragon.
00:30The Archangel Michael is mentioned several times in the Bible.
00:34In the book of Daniel, he is described as the defender of God's people, the one who fights for Israel in trials.
00:42In the Apocalypse, Saint John presents him as the leader of the heavenly army,
00:47leading the faithful angels into the great battle against Satan and his demons.
00:52The cry of Michael, who is like God, who is like God, has become his very name,
01:00a reminder that no one can equal the Creator.
01:04Devotion to Saint Michael is very ancient.
01:08From the 5th century, sanctuaries were dedicated to him,
01:11including the famous Mount Gargan in Italy,
01:14then Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy,
01:17which became one of the greatest medieval pilgrimage sites.
01:19Tradition tells that in 708, the archangel appeared to Bishop Aubert of Avranche
01:26to ask him to build a church on Mont-Tonde, the future Mont-Saint-Michel.
01:33Since then, this mountain in the middle of the sea has become a shining symbol
01:38of the protection of Saint Michael over France and the church.
01:42Saint Michael is not only the fighting angel,
01:44he is also the psychopomp,
01:48the one who accompanies souls at the moment of death.
01:52Iconography often depicts him holding a scale,
01:56weighing the souls of the deceased.
01:59Its mission is to introduce the righteous to heaven
02:02and to intercede for sinners.
02:06This is why in the Middle Ages, people prayed to Saint Michael at the hour of death.
02:09and his name is still invoked in the liturgy of the dead.
02:14And Saint Michael remains above all the sign of God's victory.
02:24In a world where evil sometimes seems to triumph,
02:28where injustice and violence prevail,
02:31The archangel reminds us that evil will never have the last word.
02:36God's light will always ultimately prevail over darkness.
02:41For Christians, Saint Michael is a powerful protector
02:43in spiritual battles,
02:46a sure guide in the face of tempests
02:48and a companion in the inner struggle that each of us must lead.
02:53With him, we also honor today the Archangel Gabriel,
03:00the messenger of the Annunciation,
03:02the one who brought to Mary the news of the incarnation of the Word,
03:06and the archangel Raphael, the guide and healer of the Book of Tobit.
03:12Together they manifest the greatness of angelic service,
03:16messengers and protectors sent by God to lead his people.
03:20Let us entrust to Saint Michael and his angelic companions,
03:26our lives, our families, our churches and our world.
03:31May they watch over us and lead us into the light of the risen Christ.
03:35Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
03:39Saint Michael the Archangel,
03:42defend us in battle.
03:44Be our help
03:45against the malice and snares of the devil.
03:49May God impose his reign on him,
03:51we beg you.
03:52And you, prince of the heavenly host,
03:55push back to hell
03:56by divine power
03:58Satan and other evil spirits
04:00who roam the world for the destruction of souls.
04:03Amen.
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