St. Michael the Archangel Parish, General Santos City

Last April, went back to General Santos to attend the wedding of my cousin. The wedding was held in St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church in City Heights.Upon nearing the church, I remembered my Lalang who would always recite the prayer to St. Michael after praying the rosary.

Saint 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 Divine Power of God -

cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,

who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Church Interior

One noticeable thing about the church is the space, it is huge. This is my first time to enter this church so after the customary 3 wishes, my eyes started wandering about. I don't need to pay attention to the wedding, due to a series of unfortunate events I ended up arriving in time for the family pictures...and of course a bit of sight seeing before we proceeded to the reception.

Something tells me I am not in Kansas anymore...banners all around are either written in Bisaya or in Ilocano...I am not sure, my mom did not teach me the languages they use down South.

Angels and Crosses...images of angels and of St. Michael the Archangel are all over the parish--as expected of course. The church facade in cream and light blue, I don't think these colors fit St. Michael.

High ceiling and wide aisles, this church is bigger compared to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in the city proper.

On the right side of the Altar is a huge tarpaulin image of the Divine Mercy (used during the celebration of the feast). Outside, on the entrance, a huge chandelier which looks like something made of shells hovers atop a polygonal sculpture I assume is a baptismal font

Images of St. Michael around the Parish Church

The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.

Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim. St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness. St. Micahel, the Archangel

Prayer to St. Michael

O Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, and spirits of evil.

Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist Thee, nor was there place for them any longer in heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels.

Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men; his depraved mind, corrupt heart, his spirit of lying, impiety, blasphemy, his pestilential breath of impurity and of every vice and iniquity. These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the Spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.

Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate Thee as their protector and patron; in Thee Holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to Thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, do Thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.

Church Exterior

A view of the Parish grounds...

Back at my Tito's house

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy name, and we humbly implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel St. Michael, Thou wouldst deign to help us
against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls.
Amen.