October 1, 2018
 
PORTLAND---Pope Francis has invited all the faithful in the world to pray the rosary each day in the Marian month of October to join in communion and penitence.
 
“In addition, the Holy Father has asked that two prayers be added after the recitation of the rosary, one to the Blessed Mother and one to Saint Michael the Archangel, both asking the Lord to protect the Church from evil,” said Bishop Robert P. Deeley. “I certainly support Pope Francis in this effort.”
 
The Russian mystics and the great saints of all the traditions advised, in moments of spiritual turbulence, to shelter beneath the mantle of the Blessed Mother pronouncing the invocation “Sub tuum praesidium”:
“We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.”
 
The rosary would conclude with the prayer written by Pope Leo XIII:
“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 power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”
 
In recent days, the Holy Father met with Fr. Fréderic Fornos, S.J., international director of Pope Francis’ Worldwide Prayer Network, and asked him to spread this appeal to all the faithful throughout the world