Rev. Peter M.J. Stravinskas: On Archangels and the Greatest Miracle

A story is told of an elderly priest who had served at the motherhouse of a community of Sisters for decades. As he was dying, the Mother General asked him if he had any last requests. He said, “I want to be buried with the Sisters.” She informed him that, according to the rule of the order, that was not possible. He pressed: “After all my years of service, I think I deserve some special consideration.” Reverend Mother went to the general council, who came up with a Solomonic solution: Monsignor could be buried in a plot at the entrance to the nuns’ cemetery. So, now the question was: “What do you want on your tombstone?” Quickly, the old gent replied: “Blessed art thou among women!” I feel somewhat like that today.

The Church’s calendar would have us honor the three archangels named in Sacred Scripture: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Those familiar with the Low Mass of the Extraordinary Form, of course, know that the Leonine Prayers include the petition to St. Michael the Archangel to “defend us in battle” and to “to be our safeguard against the wiles and snares of the Devil.” However, when was the last time you prayed that lovely prayer the Sisters taught us in kindergarten: “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide.”? …

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