St. Michael the Archangel

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Monday, 29 September 2014 : Feast of the Holy Archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Daniel 7 : 9-10, 13-14

I looked and saw the following : Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took His seat. His robe was white as snow, His hair white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire.

A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before Him. Thousands upon thousands served Him and a countless multitude stood before Him. Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book.

I continued watching the nocturnal vision : One like a Son of Man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into His presence. Dominion, honour and kingship were given Him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served Him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; His kingdom will never be destroyed.

 

Alternative reading

Revelations 12 : 7-12a (or Apocalypse 12 : 7-12a)

War broke out in heaven with Michael and his angels battling with the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and lost their place in heaven. The great dragon, the ancient serpent known as the devil or Satan, seducer of the whole world, was thrown out. He was hurled down to earth, together with his angels.

Then I heard a loud voice from heaven : “Now has salvation come, with the power and the kingdom of our God, and the rule of His Anointed. For our brothers’ accuser has been cast out, who accused them night and day before God. They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they gave up their lives going to death.”

“Rejoice, therefore, o you heavens and you who dwell in them.”

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9th Anniversary of my baptism and entry into the Church of God (19 September 2004 – present)

9 years ago, on the Feast of St. Januarius, 19 September 2004, I was received into the Church through the Sacrament of Baptism.

As St. Paul before me, I have been called from the darkness into the light. Once a sinner, God had called me to be one of His children, unworthy as I am.

May my patron saints, St. Peter Canisius and St. Peter my namesake, and St. Michael the Archangel who strengthens me, continue to pray for me, and pray for all the other children of God in this world! That they will especially pray for those who are still on the journey to seek the Lord and in the process to enter the Church of God!

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(I baptise you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit)

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(As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of His Body, sharing everlasting life)

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(Receive the light of Christ!)

 

Pray for me always, brethren! And pray for our brethren in need of our love too!

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Dedication of the State of the Vatican City to St. Joseph and St. Michael the Archangel

As all of you have heard, the Vatican City state had been dedicated by Pope Francis to both St. Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster-father of Jesus Christ our Lord; as well as St. Michael the Archangel, the leader of all of heaven’s angelic forces, the mighty champion of our Lord, and the terror of demons.

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The above statue is a statue of St. Michael the Archangel subduing Satan, the evil one. The statue was unveiled and blessed by Pope Francis in a ceremony at the Vatican Gardens where the statue is located.

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The ceremony was attended by both Pope Francis and his predecessor as the Vicar of Christ, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

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Let us pray for both our Pope and our Pope Emeritus, that God will continue to guide them in leading the Church, in the spirit of prayer. St. Joseph and St. MIchael the Archangel, pray for us! Pray for the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, and protect our leader, the Successor of Peter, whose residence now entrusted to both of you for protection.

God bless the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church!

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9th Anniversary of my experience at Mass in the Catholic Church (6 February 2004 – present)

Today marks the 9th anniversary since the very first Mass that I fully participated in. That Mass was not the first Mass I ever attended, since I had attended the wedding Mass of my aunt two years before that.

However, on Friday, 6 February 2004, on the first Friday of the month, on the feast day of Saints Paul Miki and Companion the martyrs, which remained as a strong memory in my mind, is the first Mass I attended and I participated in, save for receiving Communion of course.

Yes, I was not a born Catholic, but was baptised as a teenager in September 2004. This year marks my eighth year in the Catholic faith.

I would like to thank God for His constant love for me, and His constant guidance to me. I would not be here, not even writing this blog regularly on the faith, if God is not with me since the very beginning. Thank you everyone too, for your constant support, love, and prayers.

Sts. Paul Miki and Companions, pray for me, and for all of my brethren in faith.

St. Peter the Apostle, St. Peter Canisius, and St. Michael the Archangel, my patrons, pray for me too, and also for all my brethren in faith.

King David of Israel, my namesake, pray for me, and for all of God’s beloved children.