With the official pilgrim image of San Miguel Arcángel, from Mount Gargano, in Italy, place of the appearances of the Archangel in the first centuries of Christianity, Brazil was enshrined on August 12 to the protection and intercession of St. Miguel Arcángel, in a solemn session in the Plenary Session of the National Congress in Brasilia. The image was also crowned as a spiritual commander of the Brazilian nation.
The statue was solemnly blessed and taken to Brazil, the country with more Catholics worldwide, by the members of the Hesed Institute: Sr. María Joana, Sr. María Raquel and Father Emanuel Maria, together with the Bishop of Piracicaba, Mons. Devair Araújo Fonseca.
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The pilgrimage of the image in Brazil began on July 26, in the city of Santa Bárbara d’estest, in the state of Sao Paulo and Diocese of Piracicaba; and will go through several cities in the five regions of the South American country.
“It is precisely at this time marked by spiritual and moral challenges that Brazil welcomes this legislative chamber whose Christian tradition recognizes as defender of faith, guardian of the Church and commander of the heavenly militia,” said federal deputy Simone Marquetto, who requested the solemn session.
Marquetto emphasized that the presence in the Parliament of the images of San Miguel Arcángel and Our Lady Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil who also holds the title of general of the Brazilian army, represents the deep devotion of Brazilians and, more than that, it is a call, a call to spiritual responsibility, national unity and moral courage to build a Brazil founded on eternal values.
“We live in a time when we need to recover our faith: the Roman Apostolic Catholic faith”, because “the Brazilian nation was born from a Holy Mass,” said the congresswoman.
“The presence of San Miguel Arcángel from Mount Gargano, Italy, an old place of faith, is not only the visit of an image, but the arrival of a sign of heaven for our people” and “a warning to return to the path of consciousness, justice and faith,” he said, emphasizing that it is “a clear sign of divine protection over our institutions.”
At the end of his speech, Marquetto requested that the sword of San Miguel “defend the truth, that his presence inspires the righteous and that his mission reminds us every day that no authority is greater than that of God and that all authority is only legitimate if it serves good.”
He also asked that “the National Congress, through this act, joins heaven and at this time resonates in history as the day when Brazil proclaimed: San Miguel Arcángel, defend us in battle!”
Consecration: Sacred Moment for Brazil
“Today, before the gathered nation, heaven leans before the earth,” said the bishop of Piracicaba, Mons. Devair Araújo da Fonseca.
“At this sacred moment before the Brazilian nation, in a gesture of faith, we spiritually trust this country in the care of the prince of the heavenly armies. We trust you, San Miguel Arcángel, the keys of this land, the fate of our families, the integrity of our institutions and the soul of this people that cries out for protection,” said the prelate in the consecration.
“May your sword defend our homes of the spirit of division, violence and lie. That your silent but powerful presence walks in front of those who serve the common good, and that Brazil listen to your voice, awakening sleeping hearts and restoring faith in the wounded,” the bishop continued.
“That no project contrary to God will prosper in this nation, and that your heavenly surveillance unmasks evil, strengthens the righteous and defends the truth with courage. Fighting next to us, guide us towards the victory of the light over the darkness. And that this earth, consecrated to you, is a visible sign that the sky has not abandoned Brazil, but that God walks with us.
“The great reconquest”
Then, sister María Raquel, a member of the Hesed Institute, said that this consecration arises from a movement called “The Great Reconquest”, which “is not only a campaign, but a mission, a call to our families, our communities and the whole nation to return to God, because we live in times when faith has been ridiculed, the family attacked and the relativized truth.”
However, we believe, as Saint John Paul II said: “That man can even build a world without God, but this world will eventually turn against man,” said the nun.
“Today, before the authorities and the people, we declare publicly and solemnly that this country does not walk alone, but is under the protection and command of the one that is called the prince of the heavenly hosts,” said the religious.
“This act carried out today,” he concluded, “is a cry of faith that must permeate the walls of this Parliament and reach the heart of Brazil, of each Brazilian, reminding us that every authority must be at the service of the common good and in the light of truth.”
San Miguel Coronation
The nun later explained that the crown placed on the image of San Miguel “represents the public recognition that the struggle we are fighting is not only human, but spiritual” but that “represents the clamor of a people who know that we do not have to fight against men of flesh and blood, but against the principalities and power, against the rulers of this world of darkness as we read in Ephesians, chapter 6”.
“This coronation is, therefore, an act of faith, a public delivery from Brazil to the care of the one who has always protected the people of God,” said the sister. “It is the spiritual proclamation that San Miguel Arcángel is, as of today, the spiritual commander of the Brazilian nation.”
The coronation of San Miguel was made by Mons. Devair Araújo, who prayed the following sentence:
“We consecrate you, San Miguel Arcángel. We crowned you, San Miguel Arcángel, as a spiritual commander of our nation, defender of our families, guardian of our freedom, shield against the darkness and patron of the faithful Brazil.”
The sword placed at the foot of the image of San Miguel was delivered by the deputy Marquetto, who prayed: “With this sword, symbol of authority and justice, we trust you to the protection of Brazil. That she lifts himself against the forces of evil and be light among the nations.”
National Day of San Miguel Arcángel
Deputy Simone Marquetto also reported the “bill that establishes within the national territory on the day of San Miguel Arcángel to be held annually on September 29”, which has already been filed in the Chamber of Deputies, so that it is celebrated the same day that the Catholic Church remembers it.
Next, Fr. Emanuel Maria, of the Hesed Institute, directed the prayer of the “Rosario de Combat”, which according to him is “a prayer that God inspired” one of the founders of Hesed, Mother Kelly Patrícia,
“The heart of this combat rosary is a prayer called ‘Queen Augusta’, and this prayer did not come from the earth, but from heaven,” the priest continued: “The Virgin Mary appeared to Blessed Father Louis-Edouard Cestac, who saw a multitude of demons and asked for help and later saw Our Lady and said: ‘You cannot beat the demons.’ It is prayer. ‘
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in Aci digital
Monasa Narjara
Monasa Narjara is a journalist in ACI Digital since 2022 and was a journalist in the Archdiocese of Brasilia between 2014 and 2015.