St. Michael - Vox Clamantis Editorial

Source: District of Great Britain

Editorial by Rev. Fr. Sebastian Wall, Prior of St. Andrew's House, Carluke, Scotland

St. Michael ♦ The Scottish Reformation Pt I

Dear Faithful,

September begins with the celebration of the patron of Edinburgh, St. Giles on the 1st, with St. Adaman (2nd), St. Mirin (15th), St. Ninian (16th), St. Adamnan (23rd) and St. Finbarr (25th) as well as our holy Patron, St. Pius X on the 3rd, so quite a full month for Scotland.

This month I am also starting a new series on the Scottish Reformation. This is an immense subject and I can’t possibly do it justice fully in the small articles I publish every month, but I do hope to be able to give some lesser known details about how Scotland’s Faith was taken away by force as well as giving some of the broader outlines for those who know nothing about the sad history.

I was anxious not to start a new series without finishing the one we are already following, viz. the Spirit of the Society. It would have made a fitting end to the series (there is only one instalment left) in this month of our Patron, but, instead, constraints of time mean that that will have to be postponed until next month.

We also have first Holy Communions this month in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. I hope to be able to share photos of these great events in the lives of our young faithful next time.

Of course at the end of the month we shall be celebrating the feast of St. Michael. Though there is limited space to print all its constituent parts here, I would like to recommend the chaplet of St. Michael, which is readily available from sites like Rugged Rosaries (cordbands.com) on the web. (This site has traditional prayers rather than ‘modernised’ ones).

At the end of the chaplet the following prayers are said, but even without the chaplet itself, these prayers would be a useful devotion during September and particularly apt for the turbulent times in which we have to live our Catholic Faith.

Anthem

Michael, glorious prince, chief and champion of the heavenly Host, guardian of the souls of men, conqueror of the rebel angels, steward of the palace of God under Jesus Christ, our worthy leader, endowed with superhuman excellence and virtues: vouchsafe to free us all from every ill, who with full confidence have recourse to thee; and by thy incomparable protection enable us to make progress every day in the faithful service of our God.

V. Pray for us, most blessed Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ. R. That we may be made worthy of his promises.

Prayer

Almighty and Eternal God, who in Thine own marvellous goodness and mercy didst, for the common salvation of man, choose the glorious Archangel Michael to be the prince of the Church: make us worthy, we beseech Thee, to be delivered by his beneficent protection from all our enemies, that, at the hour of our death, none of them may approach to harm us; rather do Thou vouchsafe unto us that by the same Archangel Michael, we may be introduced into the presence of Thy most high and divine majesty. Through the merits of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

With every good wish and blessing,

Rev. Sebastian Wall (Prior)