Knights of Saint Michael - Holy Spirit Catholic Church North Ryde

In Honour of the Angels
A publication of the Congregation of St Michael the Archangel (Pacific Delegature)
Special Issue II, 2012
St Michael the Archangel,
A Warrior for Today
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Special
Issue of our Newsletter
dedicated to our Patron,
St Michael the Archangel.
Our aim with this issue is
to make known the
devotions and prayers to
this great Commander of
the Heavenly Army. Saint
Michael is a “Warrior for
our times”, who we all
need to invoke to protect
us from the dangers,
harms and evils that
invade our world and our
everyday lives. We hope
that it will provoke your
interest in Saint Michael
and Angels and inspire
you to pray for their
guidance. Perhaps you
might consider passing it
onto those who may be in
special need of help and
protection of this
Heavenly Archangel,
“Who is like God”.
May God bless you.
Fr Janusz Bieniek, CSMA
Editor
Knights of
Saint Michael
1
Apparitions of
Saint Michael
2
The Saint Michael
Prayer
3
The Chaplet of
Saint Michael
4
SMMS
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Knights of Saint Michael
Knighthood of Saint Michael
This is a lay Catholic Religious Movement
formed in 1994 at the initiative of the
Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel
(CSMA) in Poland. At that time, Fr Marian
Polak, CSMA was the General Animator
(Coordinator) of the Knighthood. It was
approved by the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith and Patron of the
Knighthood is Saint Michael the Archangel.
The Knighthood has its own statutes which
were approved on 15th August 1994 by the
Superior General of the Congregation. The
headquarters of the Knighthood is located
at the General House of the Michaelites
(CSMA) in Warsaw, Poland. From 2004,
Fr Peter Prusakiewicz has been the General
Animator for the Knighthood and he is also
the editor of the bi-monthly magazine
“The Angels – Messengers from a loving
God”, the main publication in which the
spirituality of the Knighthood is nourished
and promoted.
Magazine Subscription:
C /- Sonia Starc
20 Field St Craigieburn 3064
group is called an Animator and is selected
from all the members.
Charism:
The main task of the knights is to proclaim
the victory of Jesus Christ over Satan. The
knights are set on a mission to obtain the
conversion of sinners and to expiate for the
sins of humankind. The primary responsibility of the knights is to strive to remain in a
state of sanctifying grace, to frequently
and fully participate in the Eucharist, and to
comply with the teachings and intentions
of the Catholic Church in our country and
around the world.
In order to help promote this movement,
this newsletter “In Honour of the Angels”
has been established, to reach out to all
who would be interested in becoming
members of the Knights of Saint Michael
the Archangel. Our newsletter with other
helpful publications will be provided regularly for
use by parish
groups. Please
consider becoming
a Knight of Saint
Michael the Archangel and contact
the Office of the
National Animator
or your local
Animator for more
information.
Parish Groups—Hosts
Any Catholic man or woman who is ready
to accept the statutes of the Knighthood of
Saint Michael the Archangel can become a
member. Prayer groups formed in parishes
are called Hosts of the Knights of Saint
Michael the Archangel. The leader of the
Devotions & Duties of the Knights
Devotees of Saint Michael the Archangel
carry out the duties of daily recitation of
the prayer of Saint Michael if possible after
daily Mass. They are also required to pray
the Chaplet of Saint Michael regularly and
attend a monthly prayer meeting, called
Host of Adoration, preferably on the first
Tuesday of the month.
Establishing the Movement in Australia
Hosts have been established in various
countries with membership reaching almost
eight thousand. However, in Australia,
Michaelites are still in the process of introducing this movement in the parishes where
they are working. At present, the National
Animator is Fr Janusz Bieniek with the help
of parish animators: Fr Stan Kluk and
Fr George Gorzkowski at North Ryde;
Fr Mark Okarma at Terrigal; Fr Dominic
Karnas in Horsley Park; Fr Paul Kopczynski
at Clovelly, Fr Anthony Casamento at Australian Catholic University.
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Apparitions of St Michael at Gargano Italy
The FEAST of
Saint Michael
the Archangel
29th September
His feast, originally
combined with the
remembrance of all
angels, had been
celebrated in Rome from
the early centuries on
September 29. The Synod
of Mainz (813) introduced
it into all the countries as
a public holiday.
Throughout medieval
times Saint Michael’s Day
was kept as a great
religious feast and public
holiday.
Saint Michael,
Helper of the Sick
& Dying
Not only during our life
but at the hour of death,
Saint Michael has the
special office to receive
the souls as they leave
the flesh. With loving
solicitude and princely
bearing, he presents them
to the Light Eternal and
to the House of God’s
Glory. “When the last
hour of our earthly life
draws near and we are
confronted by that awful
moment when our soul
must leave the body
which it has loved so
much, to pass through
the narrow portal of
death, satanic hosts like
racing lions will make a
last attack upon our
souls. But we need not
fear, if during life we have
had devotion to the
Precious Blood and have
been faithful in venerating
Saint Michael and in
imploring his aid for the
hour of death.
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Biblical Tradition
The Old Testament presents Michael the
Archangel as prince of the Angels, Protector
of the chosen people and the symbol of
powerful divine assistance towards Israel.
In the book of Daniel he appears as the
Defendant of the Hebrews and the supreme
head of the Heavenly army who defends the
weak and the persecuted. His name Michael
means Who is like God? In the New
Testament, the Archangel Michael is
presented as the
adversary of the devil,
victor of the last battle
against Satan and
his supporters.
Therefore Christians
consider the
Archangel Michael as
the most powerful
defender of God’s
people.
History of Apparitions
The history of the Archangel’s apparition at
Gargano is related in the Roman Breviary for
May 8. According to the tradition, around the
year 490 the Archangel Michael appeared
several times to the Bishop of Sipontum near
a cave, asking that the cave be dedicated to
Christian worship and promising protection.
These were the first apparitions of Michael in
Western Europe. Pope Gelasius I (reigned
492-496) directed that a basilica be erected
and closing the space of the cave. To
Michael’s dramatic later intercession, he
appeared with a flaming sword on the top of
the mountain, in the midst of a storm, on the
eve of the battle, the Lombards of Sipontum
attributed their victory (May 8, 663) over the
Greeks loyal to the Byzantine emperor. Since
the time of Pope Pius V, the 8th May has
been formalised as Apparitio S. Michaelis to
commemorate the apparition.
many popes (Leo IX, Gregory X, John XXIII,
John Paul II), saints (Bridget, Bernard of
Clairvoux, Thomas Aquinas), emperors, kings
and princes. Also, Francis of Assisi went to
visit the Sanctuary, but feeling himself
unworthy to enter the grotto, he stopped in
prayer and meditation at the entrance, kissed
and carved on a stone the sign of the cross
“T” (Tau).
The shrine of Saint Michael is known and
extolled everywhere not for the splendour of
its marble, but for the
prodigious events that
took place here; of
modest form, it is
nevertheless, rich in
celestial virtue,
because the Archangel
Michael himself
deigned to set up and
consecrate it, who
being mindful of
human frailty, came
down from heaven so
that men could participate in things divine in
this temple. (An anonymous writer)
The Guardians of the Shrine
Since 1996, the pastoral care of the Shrine of
St Michael at Gargano has been officially
entrusted to the Fathers of the Congregation
of St Michael the Archangel . The
Congregation, of Polish origin was founded by
the Blessed Father Bronislaw Markiewicz
(1842—1912). The spirituality and style of
life of this religious family, commonly known
as the Michaelites, is contained in the two
phrases: “Who is like God” and “Temperance
and Work”, with the aim of educating
abandoned children and youth. Therefore in
their pastoral ministry, the Michaelites give
particular attention to the youth and children,
the adults of tomorrow, through parish work
as well as through the running of institutes
for orphans and neglected children. The
Michaelite Fathers, Brothers and Sisters,
Pilgrimages
During the centuries millions of pilgrims went fortified by their Patron the Archangel, wish
to give witness with their lives to this only
to Monte Sant’Angelo in order to visit the
and essential truth for each one of us:
Celestial Basilica among the pilgrims who
“Who is like God!”
visited the Saint Michael Sanctuary were
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The Saint Michael Prayer
Pope Leo XIII
(pictured left)
wrote the Saint
Michael prayer
on 13th October
1884, exactly 33
years to the day,
prior to the
great Miracle
of the Sun in
Fatima. The
Pope had a remarkable vision after
celebrating Mass, attended by some
Cardinals and a few members of the
Vatican staff. Suddenly, he stopped
at the foot of the altar. He stood
there for about 10 minutes as if in a
trance, his face was ashen white.
Then he immediately went from the
chapel to his office where he composed the Saint Michael prayer and
instructed for it to be said after every
Mass throughout the whole Church.
He explained later that he heard two
voices. One kind and gentle, the
other mean and harsh. As he listened
he heard the boastful voice of Satan,
in all his pride claiming he could
destroy the Church, then he heard
Satan demand to have 75 years to
carry it out.
Interestingly, 75 years later, John
XXIII publicly summoned the Second
Vatican Council, which contributed
greatly to the renewal of the Church
through reforms of Christian practices and liturgy. Unfortunately in the
process of the renewal, the prayer to
Saint Michael was abandoned.
Testimony of St Francis de Sales:
Three centuries ago this holy bishop
wrote: "Veneration of Saint Michael
is the greatest remedy against
despising the rights of God, against
insubordination, scepticism and
infidelity," vices which are perhaps
more prevalent now than in any
previous period of history.
Let us then with confident trust,
invoke the aid and the protection of
this mighty Archangel, whose shield
bears the inscription:
"Who is like God.”
Fr Kazimierz
Radzik and the
Provincial
Superior of
Oceania,
Fr Janusz
Bieniek, asked
the Archbishop
of Mt. Hagen, to present a petition to
the Bishops’ Conference for introducing the prayer in the Neo-Melanesian
language, since Saint Michael is the
Principal Patron of the country.
John Paul II teaching:
Since the prayer was first written,100
years later John Paul II gave us many
teachings on the nature of the Catholic Church, correcting things said and
done in the past. In 1994, he encouraged us to take up the Saint Michael
prayer when he said in St Peter's
Square, on Sunday, April 24 1994
During one of the visits of our
Superior General with Pope John
"May prayer strengthen us for the
Paul II, the Pope implored him that
spiritual battle we are told about in
the Michaelite Congregation teach
the Letter to the Ephesians: Draw
people the prayers and devotions to
strength from the Lord and from His
Saint Michael the ArchanMighty Power(Eph.6:10). The
gel. This has become an
Book of Revelation refers to
important part of our
this same battle, recalling
charism and missionary
before our eyes the image
work - to pray to Saint
of Saint Michael the ArchanMichael and the Angels gel (Rev.12:7). Pope Leo XIII
and this will also be an
certainly had a very vivid
integral part of the aposrecollection of this scene
tolate of the Knighthood.
when, at the end of the last
century, he introduced a
May we all take the
special prayer to Saint
“Great” Pope’s advice
Michael throughout the Church.
and familiarise ourselves with this
Although this prayer is no longer
powerful prayer:
recited at the end of Mass,
PRAYER TO ST MICHAEL
I ask everyone not to forget it and
to recite it to obtain help in the
THE ARCHANGEL
battle against forces of darkness
Saint Michael the Archangel,
and against the spirit of this world."
(L’Osservatore Romano; May 1994).
defend us in battle, be our
safeguard against the wickedPractice of the Prayer
ness and snares of the devil;
The Michaelites always continued to
promote this prayer and petitioned
may God rebuke him, we
Bishops to allow it to be recited in all
humbly pray and do you, O
parishes under their care. Here in
Prince of the Heavenly Host,
Australia the prayer has been introduced in Michaelite parishes and the by the power of God, cast into
hell Satan and all the evil
practice is continued by the local
faithful.
spirits who prowl about the
world seeking the ruin of souls.
While visiting Papua New Guinea
Amen
in 2011, the Superior General
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Knights of St Michael
The Archangel
This is a lay Catholic
Religious Movement whose
members under the banner of
St Michael are set on a mission to proclaim the victory of
Christ over Satan, to obtain
the conversion of sinners and
to expiate for the sins of
humankind.
Office of National
Animator
58 Arden St, Clovelly 2031
Ph: 9664-4529
Fr Janusz Bieniek (CSMA)
Therese Allan, Irma Escalante
Nadia Caravello, Jason & Jenny
Hodges, Janette Merrotsy,
Ewa Kluk, Estelle Sok, Cecilia
Ferrer, Caterina Raccosta
In Honour of the Angels
Quarterly Newsletter
Editor:
Fr Janusz Bieniek (CSMA)
Graphics/Layout:
Caterina Raccosta
St Michael Mission
Society (SMMS)
Supporting the missions in
PNG and Michaelite
missionaries. If you would like
to become a member of
SMMS or make a donation
contact:
Michaelites Sydney:
PO Box 6094,
North Ryde 2113
michaelites@catholic.org
Michaelites Central Coast:
PO Box 4, Terrigal 2260
starsea@bigpond.net.au
Chaplet of Saint Michael the Archangel
The Chaplet of Saint Michael is a wonderful
way to honour this great Archangel along
with the other nine Choirs of Angels. What
do we mean by Choirs? It seems that God
has created various orders of Angels.
Sacred Scripture distinguishes nine such
groupings: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones,
Dominions, Powers, Virtues, Principalities,
Archangels and Angels. The Seraphim is
believed to be the highest Choir, the most
intimately united to God, while the Angelic
Choir is the lowest.
chosen from each of the nine choirs. In
addition, for those who would recite the
Chaplet daily, he promised his continual
assistance and that of all the holy angels
during life. Praying the chaplet is also
believed gradually to defeat demons and
grant a ‘pure heart’ thus delivering members of the direct family from Purgatory.
These blessings extend to all those praying.
The vision was approved by Pope Pius IX
in 1851 and was granted indulgences.
History of the
Chaplet
The history of
this Chaplet
comes from a
devout Servant
of God, Antonia
d’Astonac, who
had a vision of
Saint Michael.
He told Antonia
to honour him
by nine salutations to the nine Choirs of
Angels. Saint Michael promised that whoever would practice this devotion in his
honour would have, when approaching
Holy Communion, an escort of nine angels
Saint Michael Mission Society
The Saint Michael Mission Society (SMMS)
is a Catholic organisation that was set up in
1996 with the help of Parishioners in North
Ryde, Sydney, to raise funds for the
missions in Papua New Guinea, to support
the Michaelite priests working there and to
educate seminarians. The organisation is
affiliated with and approved by the Catholic
Archdiocese of Sydney. In 1998, it was
incorporated and granted the status of an
Association and has been allocated with an
ABN by the Australian Taxation Office.
A fundraising committee of volunteers has
been established to increase awareness of
the work and the amount of donations
received.
By becoming a member of the St Michael
Mission Society you are becoming a friend
of St Michael helping to create a larger
Michaelite Community in a spiritual
manner. By taking part in devotions to
St Michael we are securing victory for the
Church, guarding our souls, and preventing
the spread of evil throughout the world.
Your prayers and donation could be an
The main aim of the Society as stated by
evangelical “cup of water” given to the
its Constitution is:
needy in Jesus’ Name and supporting
“To alleviate illiteracy and promote
substantially the mission activity when
education in the spirit of Christian ideals.”
we are many and working together.
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