That our Patron Saint continue to protect and guide us with strength, courage and faith. Today, 29 September, we celebrate with Our Dedication and Our Spirit, St Michael the Archangel. We honour those who were, who are and who will be part of this Glorious Tradition, with a special remembrance and prayer to those who are no longer with us physically, but are with us in our hearts.
FOLGORE!!!
Prayer of the Parachutist
Eternal, Immense God, who created the infinite spaces and measured the mysterious depths, look benignly upon us.
Paratroopers of Italy, who in the performance of duty leapt from our aircraft into the vastness of the skies.
Send the Archangel Gabriel St Michael as our guardian; guide and protect the daring flight.
Like mist in the sun, before us let our enemies be dispelled.
White as the silk of the parachute may our faith always be, and indomitable our courage.
Our young life is yours, O Lord!
If it is written that we fall, so be it!
But from every drop of our blood may there arise gallant sons and brothers innumerable, proud of our past, always worthy of our unfailing future.
Bless, O Lord, our homeland, our families, our loved ones! For them, in sunrise and sunset, always our life!
And for us, O Lord, Thy glorifying smile.
So be it.
St Michael Archangel: a bit of history
Michael (Hebrew מִיכָאֵל, mixa'el, "Who is like God?"; Ancient Greek Μιχαήλ, Mikhaḗl; Latin Michaël; Arabic ميخائيل, Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel revered in the Jewish, Christian (except Adventist) and Islamic religions. In the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran Church traditions he is called 'St Michael the Archangel' or, simply, 'St Michael'. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, he is also known as 'Tassiarch Archangel Michael'.
The name Michael, derived from the theophoric term מיכאל, is one of the three names explicitly associated with archangels in the Bible, along with Gabriel and Raphael. The first mentions of the name Michael are found in the Judaic literature of the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, where he is described as the chief of the angels and protector of Israel. These traits were later retained in Christianity as well.
The Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of the three archangel saints on 29 September: St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael. Devotion to St Michael is also celebrated on other dates, such as 8 November, 8 May, 6 September, 16 October and the third Sunday of Easter, although these festivities are not in the common liturgical calendar. 8 May, for instance, marks the apparition of St Michael to St Lawrence Maiorano, Bishop of Siponto, in the cave on the Gargano, an event that gave great impetus to the spread of the archangel's cult in Europe.
Michael is mentioned with the Hebrew word for 'archangel' or 'prince' in the following biblical passages: Jd 9, Rev 12:7, Zech 13:1-2, Dan 10:13, 21 and Dan 12:1. In the Apocalypse of John, the archangel leads the heavenly militia against Lucifer and his rebellious angels. According to Christian tradition, at the end of time, Michael will sound the trumpet announcing the final judgement, after which the Kingdom of Heaven will be restored by Jesus Christ to God the Father for eternity.
In Islam, Michael (Mīkāʾīl or Mīkīl) is mentioned in the Koran as a high-ranking angel, along with Jibrīl (Gabriel), sent by Allah to guide the prophet Muhammad.
St Michael is also the Heavenly Protector of the Order of Minims, founded by St Francis of Paola.
Together with St George, St Sergius and St Maurice, he is venerated as the patron saint of paratroopers, soldiers and warriors. He represents the ecclesia militans, i.e. the 'Church militant', and is honoured as 'Prince of the heavenly army, to whom the angels honour' (Princeps militiae coelestis quem honorificant angelorum cives).
St Michael is linked to many historical battles and providential victories, including:
- The victory of the Lombards of Siponto (Manfredonia) against the Neapolitan Greeks on 8 May 663.
- The double defence of the city of Constantinople: from the Avars in 626 and the Arabs in 676.
- After the Battle of Lechfeld in 955, he became patron of the Holy Roman Empire and later of Germany.
- Before the battle of Kulikovo in 1380, in which he defeated Khan Mamai, Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy prostrated himself before an icon of Michael, venerated as the 'Heavenly Leader and Archistrategist'.
- According to the visions of St. Joan of Arc, St. Michael played a decisive role in the Hundred Years War between France and England, guiding her in her divine mission.
In the late Middle Ages, St. Michael became the patron saint of chivalry, on a par with St. George, and inspired the birth of chivalric orders dedicated to him, such as the Order of St. Michael in France (1469) and the Order of St. Michael and St. George in England (1818).
Saint Michael Archangel in Italy
In Italy, St Michael Archangel is the patron of several categories and bodies, including Parachutists of the Folgore, Incursors of the 9th Col Moschin, Captors of the 185th RRAO Folgore, Police Forces, Paramedics, Sailors, Firefighters, Radiologists, Nurses, Drugs, Rescue Workers and the Order of Minims.