St. Michael Window Shines In Holy Cross Church
September 29, 2015
Today is St. Michael's feast day and the first time we have had a stained glass window of this saint in our church on his feast day.
Our window shows him clad in the armor of God brandishing a sword of flame and vanquishing Lucifer. On the shield above his head is emblazoned "Quis ut Deus," "Who is like God?" The scale at the top of the window recalls Michael's traditional role in weighing the souls of the just for entry into heaven.
Beside the role of St. Michael defeating Lucifer and other rebellious angels for the battle of heaven, he has also been considered a kind of shuttle-angel, being sent to souls near death for a final opportunity to express sorrow for sins and be escorted to heaven.
Michael is invoked as the patron saint of those in the military, firefighters, police and the sick. Pope Leo XIII added a prayer of exorcism to St. Michael at the end of the mass.
St. 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 cast into hell Satan and all the evils spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen