Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Leo XIII 1810 - 2010


Today 2 March 2010 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Pope Leo XIII, Gioacchino Pecci, who was born on 2 March 1810, elevated to the See of Peter in 1878 and died in 1903. It may be fitting to recite today the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel which he composed:

Sancte Míchael Archángele,
defénde nos in prœlio;
contra nequítiam et insídias diáboli esto præsídium.
Imperet illi Deus, súpplices deprecámur:
tuque, Princeps milítiæ cœléstis,
sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos,
qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in mundo,
divína virtúte in inférnum detrúde.
Amen.

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 power of God,
thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.


Today is also the 124th anniversary of the birth of the Venerable Servant of God Pope Pius XII.

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