The Church honors St. Michael as one of the most important angels in heaven. Devotion to St. Michael, invoked as the Protector of the Church against the power of Satan, has grown steadily throughout the centuries. St. Lawrence Justinian wrote, "Let all acknowledge St. Michael as their protector, and be devoted to him." He guards us through life, directs us on our way, and conducts us to our eternal home. St. Michael is popularly invoked as the patron of police officers and security guards, radio and telecommunications; paramedics and medical technicians, and the Church. The novena booklet includes morning and evening prayer, Novena to St. Michael, Prayer for Police Officers and Police Officer's Prayer to St. Michael; Prayer for One's Family; Litany of St. Michael, and more. The tradition of praying novenas has its roots in the earliest days of the Church. Christians have always prayed for various needs, trusting that God both hears and answers prayer. The word "novena" derives from the Latin term novem, meaning nine. In a novena we pray a prayer for nine days. "But," we might wonder, "doesn't God know our needs before we event ask? Isn't praying once for something enough?" Although we believe in God's love for us, something we need to remind ourselves of this. Although we know we are held in God's hands and that God will not let go, sometimes we need reassurance. What may appear to be mere repetition in a novena is really a continual act of faith and hope in our loving God. Just as we pray for each other while here on earth, those who have gone before us and are united with God in heaven can pray for us and intercede for us as well. We use the term "communion of saints" to refer to this exchange of spiritual help among the members of the Church on earth, those who have died and are being purified, and the saints in heaven. Devotion to the saints can help us witness to our faith and encourage us in our commitment to lead lives of holiness and service as they did.
