This year you should do the Saint Michael lent, starts August 15. Why?
He is the mightiest defender of Heaven. The prince of the heavenly host & the shield of the Church
The story of Saint Michael & the forgotten tradition of the Saint Michael Lent - a 🧵✝️
Before man was created, there was war in Heaven.
Lucifer, once the greatest angel, rebelled out of pride.
But it was not just some random angel who defeated him.
It was a humble servant: Michael, meaning “Who is like God?”
The cry of holy humility "Quis ut Deus?!" crushed pride. - Revelation 12,7-9
Michael didn’t rely on his own power. He invoked God’s Majesty.
In the battle, Lucifer fell and became Satan, the adversary. Michael, by God's power, cast him and the rebellious angels out of Heaven.
Since then, Michael has been the Prince of the Heavenly Armies, leading the fight against evil.
Saint Michael in Scripture & Tradition? Yes, he is.
>Daniel 10: Michael defends Israel.
>Daniel 12: Michael protects God's people at the end of time.
>Revelation 12: Michael defeats Satan.
>Jude 1,9: Michael contends for Moses' body.
The Church honors him as: Guardian of the Church Protector of souls at death
Leader in the final battle against evil
The Saint Michael's lent, what is it?
In the 13th century, Saint Francis of Assisi received the stigmata during a 40-day fast and prayer in honor of Saint Michael.
From August 15 (Assumption) to September 29 (Michaelmas), Francis fasted, prayed, and sought purification, asking Saint Michael to defend him from evil.
This devotion became known as the Saint Michael Lent, a lesser-known penitential season like Lent in spring.
Not as rigorous as the Great Lent, but still marked by:
>Prayer
>Fasting or abstinence
>Spiritual battle
>Seeking purity of heart
It’s a time to prepare for Michaelmas, the feast of the great archangel.
Why is this devotion spiritually powerful?
> Saint Michael is the chief of the angelic armies.
> He protects souls at death from demons.
> His intercession helps break addictions, obsessions, and temptations.
> His presence purifies the home, family, and Church.
Spiritual fruit from the Saint Michael Lent includes:
>Deeper humility
>Strength against sin
>Protection in spiritual warfare
>Renewed zeal for God’s glory
Saints and mystics have testified to the power of invoking Saint Michael during trials and spiritual battles.
How to observe the Saint Michael Lent (Aug 15 – Sept 29):
>Obey the precepts of the Church, including attending Mass and going to Confession as needed.
>Fast and abstain, as you would during Lent, from the Feast of the Assumption on August 15 to Michaelmas (the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel) on September 29 or otherwise make some daily sacrifice to God on those days.
>Light a candle before an image of St. Michael, and pray the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, all of the supplications and accompanying prayers (the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be), and the Litany to St. Michael every day from the Assumption to Michaelmas.
>On Michaelmas, make the Act of Consecration to St. Michael the Archangel.
A simple daily prayer:
>"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares 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 evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."
In times of darkness, God raises up His greatest warriors.
Saint Michael was there in the beginning, and will be there at the end.
Perhaps, in your battle today, it is time to call on him again. Michaelmas is is next month. Prepare your soul.
Quis ut Deus?!
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
848 years ago, on November 25, 1177, one of the most unlikely victories in Christian history took place.
A sick king and a few Crusader knights faced, and defeated, Saladin's giant army - Outnumbered 20 to 1
The Battle of Montgisard - a🧵✝️
The great protagonist of this battle is Baldwin IV, the "Leper King."
Diagnosed still in his youth, he already suffered from the numbness of his hands and legs, but his strength of spirit was indomitable.
No disease took from him the duty to protect Jerusalem.
With what many believed to be the end of campaign season, many of Baldwin’s barons had already ridden north.
But when word reached Jerusalem of Saladin’s approach, Baldwin, the young leper King, did not hesitate.
War was once again upon them and they were to fight, or die.
Saladin launched a new offensive against the Kingdom of Jerusalem with about 26,000 men, relying on surprise and the apparent weakness of the Crusader forces.
Christians are supposed to be pacifists? Just say you know nothing about Christianity
The saints and doctors of the Church taught that war is sometimes not only permitted, but a duty
Let’s talk about Just and Holy War - a🧵✝️
Let’s begin with a myth: “Christianity means absolute pacifism. War is always evil.”
This is FALSE.
From the early Church Fathers to the great Doctors like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, the Church has always taught that some wars are just, even holy.
War is an evil, but sometimes necessary to restore just peace and avoid greater evils.
The Church does not glorify violence.
But she teaches that peace is the fruit of justice, not cowardice - Is 32,17
If tyrants threaten the innocent. If evil crushes the weak.
Then Christian men may, and sometimes must, take up arms in defense of the good.
The tilma of Guadalupe still hasn’t decayed after 500 years.
Its colors can’t be reproduced.
And in her eye? A reflection of witnesses, 1/100th of a millimeter.
This is the image that shouldn’t exist , but it does - a 🧵✝️
The year was 1531. A poor indigenous man named Juan Diego sees a woman “brighter than the sun” on a hill near Mexico City.
She speaks to him in his native tongue.
She says: "Am I not your mother?"
What happened next changed the Americas forever.
To prove the apparition was real, Our Lady tells Juan Diego to gather roses in December.
He finds them blooming out of season.
He carries them in his tilma, a rough cactus-fiber cloak. When he opens it before the bishop, the roses fall and an image appears.
You’ve probably prayed novenas before.
But have you ever heard of a 12-year novena that if prayed daily Jesus will defend you at judgment?
Plus no purgatory, protection for 4 generations, and even foreknowledge of death?
The 12-Year Prayer of St. Bridget of Sweden – a 🧵
From Eden to Calvary, salvation has always been written in Blood.
When Adam and Eve fell, God clothed them with garments of animal skin, the first blood sacrifice to cover sin. (Gen 3:21)
But these sacrifices only pointed forward.
The Israelites shed the blood of lambs, goats, and bulls.
Yet none of these could heal the wound of sin.
It took the Blameless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, whose Precious Blood was poured out at Calvary, once for all, for our redemption.