St. Alphonsus Liguori is often quoted as saying that "Devotion to St. Michael and the holy angels is a mark of predestination."  This reason alone were certainly sufficient to induce us not to neglect their veneration.  On the contrary, we should earnestly strive to cultivate their frienship, in which we ashall indeed be blessed, for no earthly friends can compare with them in goodness, in power and in love."  Jesus is the head of the Angels

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Prayer for Doctors and Nurses

O merciful Father, who have wonderfully fashioned man in your own image, and have made his body to be a temple of the Holy Spirit, sanctify, we pray you, our doctors and nurses and all those whom you have called to study and practice the arts of healing the sick and the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them in body and soul, and bless their work, that they may give comfort to those for whose salvation your Son became Man, lived on this earth, healed the sick, and suffered and died on the Cross. Amen. 

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The Black Madonna of Czestochowa The Icon was, according to legend, painted by St. Luke the Evangelist on a cypress table top from the house of the Holy Family. The picture shows the Madonna in fleur de lys robes.  

 The painting displays a traditional composition derived from the icons of Eastern Orthodoxy. The Virgin Mary is shown as the "Hodegetria" ("One Who Shows the Way"). In it the Virgin directs attention away from herself, gesturing with her right hand toward Jesus as the source of salvation. In turn, the child extends his right hand toward the viewer in blessing while holding a book of gospels in his left hand.

 One of the oldest documents from Jasna Góra states that the picture travelled from Jerusalem, via Constantinople, to finally reach Czestochowa in August 1382. The Black Madonna is credited with miraculously saving the monastery of Jasna Gó ra (English: Bright Mount) from a Swedish 17^th Century invasion, The Deluge, which actually changed the course of the war. This event led King Jan Kazimierz to "crown" Our Lady of Czestochowa ("the Black Madonna") as Queen and Protector of Poland in the cathedral of Lwó w on April 1, 1656. This legend was however created much later than the actual events, as in reality the icon had been taken away well in advance so as to prevent it from falling into the hands of the advancing Swedish army.

Another legend concerning the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is that the presence of the holy painting saved its church from being destroyed in a fire, but not before the flames darkened the fleshtone pigments. The legend concerning the two scars on the Black Madonna's right cheek is that a Hussite robber drew his sword upon the image and inflicted two deep strikes. When the robber tried to inflict a third strike, he fell to the ground and squirmed in agony until his death. Despite past attempts to repair these scars, they had always reappeared.*

*Wikipedia 

 "The very name of Michael urges us to honor this glorious spirit; it is a cry of enthusiasm and fidelity, for it signifies: "Who is like unto God?"  Satan trembles at hearing this name, for it reminds him of the noble protest wherewith the bright Archangel answered the call of the rebel angels.  Michael proved his strength and prowess when he fought the great battle in Heaven.  From that hour he has been known as "Michael, the captain of the armies of God, first Prince of the Holy City, to whom the other angels yield ready obedience.  They most willingly and gratefully recognize his supremacy, for after God, they owe to him their preseverance in grace and their eternal happiness.  With loving submission, they receive from him their various offices.  They are attentive to the slightest wish, because they recognize in his commands and regulations the will of God, their sovereign Lord and King.*

 * St. Michael and the angels

 Prayer to Saint Michael

Dear Saint Michael, your name means, "Who is like God?" and it indicates that you remained faithful when others rebelled against God. Help police officers in our day who strive to stem the rebellion and evil that are rampant on all sides. Keep them faithful to their God as well as to their country and their fellow human beings. Amen.

"Hail, bright Archangel, Prince of Heaven! Spirit divinely strong!

To whose rare merit hath been given to head the angelic throng".

 St. Alphonsus Liguori is often quoted as saying that "Devotion to St. Michael and the holy angels is a mark of predestination."  This reason alone were certainly sufficient to induce us not to neglect their veneration.  On the contrary, we should earnestly strive to cultivate their frienship, in which we ashall indeed be blessed, for no earthly friends can compare with them in goodness, in power and in love."  Jesus is the head of the Angels

 "The very name of Michael urges us to honor this glorious spirit; it is a cry of enthusiasm and fidelity, for it signifies: "Who is like unto God?"  Satan trembles at hearing this name, for it reminds him of the noble protest wherewith the bright Archangel answered the call of the rebel angels.  Michael proved his strength and prowess when he fought the great battle in Heaven.  From that hour he has been known as "Michael, the captain of the armies of God, first Prince of the Holy City, to whom the other angels yield ready obedience.  They most willingly and gratefully recognize his supremacy, for after God, they owe to him their preseverance in grace and their eternal happiness.  With loving submission, they receive from him their various offices.  They are attentive to the slightest wish, because they recognize in his commands and regulations the will of God, their sovereign Lord and King.*

 * St. Michael and the angels

 Prayer to Saint Michael

Dear Saint Michael, your name means, "Who is like God?" and it indicates that you remained faithful when others rebelled against God. Help police officers in our day who strive to stem the rebellion and evil that are rampant on all sides. Keep them faithful to their God as well as to their country and their fellow human beings. Amen.

"Hail, bright Archangel, Prince of Heaven! Spirit divinely strong!

To whose rare merit hath been given to head the angelic throng".

 St. Alphonsus Liguori is often quoted as saying that "Devotion to St. Michael and the holy angels is a mark of predestination."  This reason alone were certainly sufficient to induce us not to neglect their veneration.  On the contrary, we should earnestly strive to cultivate their frienship, in which we ashall indeed be blessed, for no earthly friends can compare with them in goodness, in power and in love."  Jesus is the head of the Angels