The Providence of God

Almighty God, true to His identity of Love Himself, always accompanies the Church and us on our pilgrim journey through this life. The victory of His Son, Jesus Christ, has been accomplished in His Passion, His Death on the Cross and His glorious Resurrection. This tremendous victory of love is constantly shared with us, most especially in the Sacrifice of the Mass, and also in the intercession of those in heaven.
 
Indeed, in His Providence, Our Heavenly Father has given us sure help on our way. One such help is His hosts of Angels, whom He gives to us as guardians, helpers, protectors and intercessors. On October 3 we celebrate the Feast of Our Guardian Angels. On September 29 we commemorate the three Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Most often invoked among the holy three is St. Michael, whom we ask after Mass in that beloved prayer given to us by Pope Leo XIII to defeat the devil and protect us from evil. Just as the evil we find in the world around us is real, so, too, is real the angelic help that God gives us in St. Michael the Archangel and the heavenly hosts. We hear of the role and ministry of St. Michael and his angels in the twelfth chapter of the Book of Revelation. “War broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it” (Rev 12:7-9).
 
Another manifestation of God’s Providence that we celebrate during the month of October is the powerful intercession of the Virgin Mother of God through the prayer of the Rosary that she loves so much. For over 800 years the Rosary in its present form, has raised the minds and hearts of people to contemplate the mystery of Christ with the help of the intercession of Our Lady. She teaches us in the Rosary to keep her Son Jesus always in our minds and hearts.
 
There is a wonderful intersection between devotion to the Holy Angels and the praying of the Rosary. The Hail Mary prayed so often in the Rosary is also called “the Angelic Salutation,” because the first lines of the prayer are taken from the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel when the Archangel Gabriel addressed the Virgin Mary, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” (Lk 1:28). This powerfully grace-filled encounter between the Archangel Gabriel and the Maiden who is full of grace resulted in the Incarnation of the Word, the Son of God Himself, who took on our human flesh to save the world.
 
Dear friends, as we continue to grow in holiness and seek to transform the world by our announcing the Gospel as the Second Vatican Council asks us to, we rejoice in the Providence of God, who gives us the support of His grace by the prayers and protection of Our Blessed Mother and the Holy Angels. St. Michael is most often pictured with a sword raised in his hand as he tramples upon a defeated Satan. He is the warrior of God always battling against the Evil One and his minions. The Rosary is often described as a sword.   St. Padre Pio noted, “The Rosary is the weapon for our times.” The battle sword of St. Michael and the weapon of the Rosary do not kill or maim as earthly weapons do. Rather, they defeat Satan, his fallen angels and promote the Kingdom of God which is all about life, love, peace, and mercy. Pope Leo has made a plea for the faithful to pray the Rosary daily during October for peace throughout the world. He knows the power of these heavenly aids.

Make no mistake about it we are in a great cosmic battle, but we have the weapons to defeat the kingdom of sin, darkness, violence and death. Our Blessed Mother and the angels are powerful protectors for us. Let us ask their help as we pursue our call to become saints and proclaimers of the Gospel in a world of chaos and death.
 
Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh