Other Saint Michael's Conferences
Saint Michael's Conference: Midwest
Saint Michael's Conference: Massachusetts, The Original
Saint Michael's Conference : Ontario
A Michaelite Poem
I sat alone, my mind beginning to wander.
A figure approached with a gracious stride
The end of camp I start to ponder.
The figure asks what burden I hold inside.
“There’s a hole in my soul.
The demons I fled I must face
I don’t know where to start
Now that I’ve left that holy place.”
A gentle smile and the figure said
“Did the priests teach for you to forget?
The demons flee when a holy name you invoke.
But perhaps the demon’s growth causes you to fret.”
“My child, your demon lives.
The fight seems harder than before.
If only your strength you knew.
Your duty is to fight this war.”
“You say I need stand and fight
With these demons in my soul
How can I fight for what is true?
The darkness takes its toll.”
“Stand firm, young warrior.
Lament not that your darkness grew
You will not fall, though your demon be strong.
The darkness grew, because so did you.”
“Your courage grew in the Sacrament
Your soul was healed in Confession
God intended it be thus.
That you might fight transgression.”
“How can I fight when alone I stand?
Without the union of Michaelites
Away from that haven of peace
How are we to know each other’s plights?”
The archangel (for him it was) rose with a beckon.
His outstretched wing I took hold
What he had to show to see
But over my vision descended a haze of gold.
My eyes were opened, and I saw through his eyes
Surrounded by hundreds we stood
People who seemed all to be standing in prayer
“I fear I have not understood.”
The angel ever patient explained.
“These are your brothers, your sisters.
Marked by the Cross with the water of Walsingham.
All fighters, all sinners.”
“These are the Michaelites throughout all the years.
The Church is an army, and here is a legion.
Together we stand, time and distance have no power.
Together we fight, still unbeaten.”
“Here you see priests, poets, and scholars.
Campers and counselors, all running the race.
Though spread through the world
We stand united through one holy place.”
“In Christ you are One.
As One you have them all at your back.
An angel I’ve assigned to each.
To defend in attack.”
“Together in struggle, together in danger.
Me as a safeguard in the day of battle.
You need never fear to stand
The foundation of our Church will not be shackled.”
-Rebecca Telander 2019
“Now a war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world – he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” Revelation 12:7-9