"In 1884, at the end of a mass, Pope Leo XIII suddenly raised his head, straight face and eyes fixed on something.
After a few minutes of ecstasy, the Pontifical Sovereign finally regained his senses and left the church. Half an hour later, he called the secretary of the congregation in charge of rites, handed him the prayer to St. Michael, which he had just written, and instructed him to distribute it to all the bishops. The prayer was officially initiated and recited at the end of each service by the celebrant and the entire congregation.
The sentence that the Pope uttered: “(demons) that wander around the world at the expense of souls”, has an explanation, told several times by his special secretary, Monsignor Rinaldo Angeli. Leo XIII actually really had a vision of the infernal spirits that were growing on the eternal city (Rome) and from that experience came the prayer that he wanted to have the whole Church recite.
Here is the text to this short but very important prayer... :
“Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle against the evil and the snares of the devil, be our help. Please plead: Lord have it in control! And you, Prince of the heavenly militias, with the power that comes from God, cast into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the loss of souls. Amen. "
Pope Leo XIII wrote with his own hand a special exorcism contained in the Roman Ritual. (edition 1954) and recommended bishops and priests to recite these prayers often in their dioceseses and parishes.
Pope Leo XIII described his vision.
Initially as an exchange of two voices, that of God and that of Satan.
He then had a "terrible vision of hell" and, right at the end, Saint Michael the Archangel intervened after the increase of prayers aimed at him.
With the wide spread of his prayer to St. Michael and his institution at the end of each Mass, Pope Leo XIII wanted to communicate to all believers the urgency of praying fervently for the conversion of souls and for the victory of the army of the Lord against Satan, so active in the world.
INVOLVING ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL AGAIN...!"
Shared from another Catholic Warrior.
Deo Gratias!!!!
source: Catholic Defenders
