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macy, of His transcendence and power. Michael
fights to re-establish divine justice; he defends the
People of God from its enemies and above all of the
enemy par excellence, the devil. And Saint Michael
triumphs because it is God who acts in him.
“This sculpture, then, reminds us that evil has
been vanquished, the accuser is unmasked, his
head is crushed, because salvation was accom-
plished once and for all in the Blood of Christ. Even
if the devil always tries to scratch the Archangel’s
face and man’s face, God is stronger; the victory is
His and His salvation is offered to every man.
“We are not alone in life’s journey and trials; we
are accompanied and sustained by the Angels of
God who offer, so to speak, their wings to help us
surmount so many dangers, to be able to fly high
in regard to those realities that can weigh down our
life or drag us down. On consecrating Vatican City
State to Saint Michael the Archangel, we ask him to
defend us from the Evil One and to cast him outside.
“Dear brothers and sisters, we consecrate Vati-
can City State also to Saint Joseph, the custodian
of Jesus, the custodian of the Holy Family. May his
presence make us stronger and more courageous in
making space for God in our life to always overcome
evil with good. We ask him to guard us, to take care
of us, so that the life of grace will grow every day
more in each of us.”
Pope Francis then recited the following prayer
of consecration of Vatican City to St. Michael the
Archangel:
O glorious Archangel St. Michael
You who announces to the world
the consoling news
of the victory of good over evil
open our lives to hope.
Watch over this City and the Apostolic See,
the heart and center of the Catholic Church,
so that it may live in fidelity to the Gospel
and the exercise of heroic charity.
The Lord of the universe made you powerful
against the forces of the enemy:
unmask the traps of the devil
and of the spirit of the world.
Make us victorious over the temptations
of power, wealth and sensuality.
Be our safeguard against all machinations
that threaten the serenity of the Church;
be the sentinel of our thoughts, who delivers
us from the assaults of a worldly mentality;
be our spiritual guide,
who supports us in the good fight of faith.
O glorious Archangel St. Michael,
who always contemplates the Holy Face of God,
keep us firm on the path to Eternity.
Amen.
u
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