Heralds of the Gospel Magazine, Vol. 20, nº 227, September 2026
Heralds of the Gospel Magazine, Vol. 20, nº 226, August 2026
Heralds of the Gospel Magazine, Vol. 20, nº 225, July 2026
Who are the Heralds of the Gospel?
Help of Christians
Christmas Carols
“Man’s life on earth is a struggle”
As we journey through the annals of history, we readily encounter true epic battles that have left a brilliant legacy for centuries to come—whether in terms of the virtue of fortitude displayed by some during combat, or the rejection of the pride and mediocrity of others.
Such situations were a pale reflection and continuation of a first battle that took place in the dawn of creation: “There was a great battle in Heaven” (Rev 12:7), as the Holy Scripture recounts.
And Saint John, referring to the offspring of the accursed serpent, declares: “And there was no longer any place for them in Heaven” (Rev 12:8).
Indeed, the revolt of the rebellious angels and the cry of Saint Michael marked the beginning of the battle that every man must wage during his earthly pilgrimage to attain salvation: “Man’s life on earth is a struggle” (Job 7:1).
However, man’s struggle is not a physical one, but a spiritual one, “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but […] against the rulers of this dark world, against the spiritual forces of evil [in the heavenly realms]” (Eph 6:12).
A soul constantly turned toward the angelic world
So that men might more easily manifest the heroism to which they are called, God has charged the Angels to assist them, as St. Paul states: “Are not all the Angels spirits in the service of God, to whom He entrusts missions for the good of those who are to inherit salvation?” (Heb 1:14), and elsewhere: “God has charged his angels to guard you in all your ways” (Ps 90:11).
Indeed, since the Angels are pure spirits and superior to men in power and strength,[1] we must not only turn to them in times of difficulty, but also keep our souls constantly turned toward this angelic world, for since the struggles against Satan and his followers are unceasing, heavenly aid must not be lacking either.
In this regard, Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira states: “Those who keep their eyes open to the angels are those who keep their eyes open against Satan; and only those who have never closed their eyes to the angels keep their eyes open against Satan.” [2]
The Role of Saint Michael
The glorious Archangel Saint Michael played a leading role in the expulsion of the fallen angels. “He defended God, and God chose to use him as His shield.” [3]
This prince of the heavenly host was considered in the Middle Ages to be the foremost of knights; “the heavenly knight, perfectly loyal as a knight ought to be, ideally strong as a knight ought to be, pure as an angel, and victorious as a knight ought to be.” [4]
In the great and terrible struggles of our time, we can well imagine how Saint Michael will act.
God wants him to be the shield of mankind against the devil; God wants him to be the shield of the Holy Catholic Church against the devil. But a shield that is not merely a shield: it is also a sword.
He does not merely defend; he defeats, he hurls into hell. [5]
We must, therefore, regard him as our faithful “natural ally in battle” and never fear the adversary. [6]
Following his example, “let us take up the armor of faith and love, and the helmet of the hope of salvation” (1 Thess. 5:8), and let us never cease to cry out: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Sovereign, the One who is, who was, and who is to come” (Rev. 4:8).
