A Vision of Pope Leo XIII

Leo XIII was elected pope at the age of 68, yet he reigned for 25 years, from 1878 to 1903. When he died at the age of 93, the world had entered the twentieth century — a century that would witness two world wars, the spread of communism, the rise of secularism and naturalism, the denial of God, and moral corruption. 

Satan and his demons

The first revolutionary of all time was Lucifer — the first to raise the banner of revolt against God's plan. It is he who inspires, guides, and assists all those who rise against Christ and His Church. The bloody persecutions of the first three centuries, the successive heresies of the following ones, the devastation of Christian communities in Africa and Asia by Islam, the great schism of Protestantism, the Freemasonry of modern times, the materialism and communism of today, and the dictatorship of finance — behind all these, we find Satan and his legions of demons.

Hell has not disarmed; on the contrary, it seems more unleashed than ever, even as scientific progress, by shrinking distances, should have made it easier to spread the Gospel message.

Pope Leo XIII once had a terrifying vision of this infernal fury. It occurred on October 13, 1884 — exactly 33 years to the day before the final apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, on October 13, 1917.

The Holy Father had just finished celebrating Mass when he suddenly turned pale, collapsed, and fell to the floor. Doctors rushed to his aid. The Pope appeared lifeless; his heart had stopped. As the condition persisted, the physicians were about to declare him dead when he finally revived, groaning, visibly shaken, and crushed under a deep spiritual anguish.

What had happened to him? He later explained, as best as words could convey. He had seen a vision of the unleashed powers of Hell descending upon the world. The demons filled the atmosphere. Overwhelmed with terror — so great that he thought he might die — he saw, beside the malicious figure of Satan, the glorious Saint Michael the Archangel appearing to defend the Church.

It was as a result of this vision that Leo XIII composed the Prayer to Saint Michael, which he ordered to be recited after every Low Mass (non-sung Mass). This prayer became part of what were known as the "Leonine Prayers": three Hail Marys, the Salve Regina, a prayer to Mary, and this prayer to Saint Michael.

These prayers continued to be recited until September 29, 1964, when the Inter oecumenici instruction (no. 48, §j) decreed: "The Leonine Prayers are suppressed."

Nevertheless, Pope Leo XIII's prayer to Saint Michael retains all its power and effectiveness. The Pilgrims of Saint Michael continue to recite it daily. We reproduce it here for those who may no longer find it in their missal. It is, in fact, quite easy to learn by heart:

Saint 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,

by the divine power entrusted to thee,

cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits

who prowl about the world

seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

                                               Louis Even

(See on page 41 what Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis said about the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel.)