In the year 1886, within the hallowed halls of the Vatican, Pope Leo
XIII initiated a solemn ritual known as the "Leonine Prayers" after the celebration of Mass. These prayers, whispered in hushed tones, held
a dark secret—a secret that would haunt the faithful for generations
to come.
Legend shrouds the origin of one prayer in
particular—the Prayer to St. Michael. It is whispered among the clergy
that Pope Leo himself was visited by a vision so sinister, it would
forever alter the course of history.
During Mass one day, as the incense
swirled and the chants in the mass rose to the heavens, Pope Leo's countenance
underwent a ghastly transformation. Witnesses spoke of a pallor that
gripped his features, a fear that emanated from his very soul.
Whispers among the cardinals spoke of demonic apparitions gathering over the
Eternal City, their malevolent presence casting a shadow over Rome. It
is said that Pope Leo, in a moment of terror, beheld these forces of
darkness encroaching upon the holy city.
But the most chilling part of all is that of the conversation Pope Leo overheard in the abyss; a
conversation between Jesus and Satan himself, echoing through the
depths of hell and into the very heart of the Vatican.
"Jesus," spoke the voice of darkness, "I can destroy your Church."
And
in response, the voice of the divine uttered words that sent shivers down the spines of those who dared to listen:
"You can? Then go ahead and do so."
The exchange continued, each word dripping with
dread and foreboding. Satan, in his arrogance, demanded time and power
to fulfill his dark desires. And Jesus, in His wisdom, granted him
both.
The air was thick with the weight of impending doom as
the conversation drew to a close. And after it did, Pope Leo finally emerged from the depths of despair, his heart heavy with the burden of what he had witnessed.
In
haste, he penned the Prayer to St. Michael—a plea for protection
against the encroaching darkness, for he knew that in these turbulent
times, only prayer could dispel the shadows that threatened to engulf
the world.
And so, the prayer was born—a whispered invocation
against the forces of evil that lurked in the shadows, waiting to claim
the souls of the faithful.