Feb 7, 2009 Nelson Acquilano

Pope Leo XIII - The Vatican

The priests and even cardinals rushed to his side, fearing the worst. The Pope rose, and was visibly shaken. He looked traumatized, and rushed back to his apartment where he immediately wrote a Prayer of Leonine Exorcism Ð the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel to "protect us in battle." He then mandated this prayer to be said after every Mass from that point forth.

Pope Leo did not die. Allegedly, he fell into what is known as a mystical ecstasy. Upon his recovery he revealed that he heard a confrontation between Satan and Jesus coming from in front of the tabernacle.

He reported that he heard a deep gruff voice which the Pope identified as Satan, boasting that he could destroy the Holy Catholic Church and have the whole Church under his domain if only he "had more time and more power."

He heard a gentle, masculine voice say, "How much time... how much power?"

The deep voice replied "One hundred years, and power over those who would give themselves in service to me."

He heard Jesus say, "So be it."

The Pope reported that he then saw a horrifying vision of the evil demons all being released from hell. He also said that at the last minute, he saw St. Michael come and drive them back into hell.

He returned directly to his room and wrote the Leonine Exorcism. The Pope feared that Satan would attempt to destroy both the Church, the deposit of faith, and the Dogmas of the Church. To try to protect the Church and all families, he wrote a prayer for a powerful intercession by the great St. Michael the Archangel.

Between 1882 and 1902 Pope Leo also wrote 12 Encyclicals on the Rosary. It was if he was saying "Here is the answer... here is the weapon against Satan... the power of the Rosary.... put yourself in the hands of the Mother of God."

In 1934, however, Pope Leo's intercessory prayer was changed without explanation. It was replaced by an abbreviated Prayer to St. Michael, which still is powerful but not as strong as the original.

The new prayer reads, "St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."

This is a very holy prayer, but not the original Prayer to St. Michael that Pope Leo composed and ordered to be recited at every Mass. It is believed that Church authorities substituted this new prayer to keep people unaware of the incredible content and events of the original prayer. Later, the Church also withdrew the "mandate" to say even this modified prayer after every Mass.

They believe that the 20th century was given to Satan as a time of testing for humanity, and that this past century has been the most sinful in all history with all the wars and atrocities. They also believe that although he is acting more aggressively in causing immorality, his power is starting to wane.

Pope Leo XIII had a mystical experience. That experience, original Prayer to St. Michael, and eventual suppression of that prayer remains one of the most interesting and controversial events relating to the present situation in which the true Catholic Church finds itself.