We are taught as Catholic children to ask our guardian Angels for help. As a child I was given the picture of the children on a broken bridge, and a beautiful angel there to guard them. This imagery appeals to a child’s sense of safety and protection. I know that I was comforted by this thought. As I’ve gotten older, and my experience of troubles have changed, so has my angel ideal.
As I experience this life of constant battles of good and evil, I think I want a scrapper. I want an angel that can “defend me in battle”. We have an enemy that is relentless, cunning and merciless. Our struggles with the flesh are real. It’s not the appearance that I need to change, after all, look at our Blessed Mother, it’s that angels aren’t placed in our lives to be beautiful, but to get their hands dirty. I need to change the way I think about them. I need to call on my angel, not only to get me across a rickety bridge, over dangerous waters, but to be my “protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil”.
Prayer to St. Michael
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 hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Veronicas Veil 