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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Is Archangel Micheal's sword, Church Anathema?	Steven	Thursday, January 8, 2015
Question: Really the only 'hurl into hell' weapon there is, is Christ's lips pronouncing a person bound to their sin. It is the sword of Christ's mouth which slays the wicked in the book of Revelation. I think that Archangel Michael and his combat angels of the apocalypse, serving under Christ's Command at the Battle of Armageddon, are wielding the big gun, Church anathema or an angelic equivalent. Is Church anathema the weapon of Michael the Archangel?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Stephen: Quoting from the 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia: ...although during the first centuries the anathema did not seem to differ from the sentence of excommunication, beginning with the sixth century a distinction was made between the two. A Council of Tours desires that after three warnings there be recited in chorus Psalm CVIII against the usurper of the goods of the Church, that he may fall into the curse of Judas, and "that he may be not only excommunicated, but anathematized, and that he may be stricken by the sword of Heaven". This distinction was introduced into the canons of the Church, as is proved by the letter of John VIII (872-82) found in the Decree of Gratian (c. III, q. V, c. XII): "Know that Engeltrude is not only under the ban of excommunication, which separates her from the society of the brethren, but under the anathema, which separates from the body of Christ, which is the Church." The Encyclopedia continues on to explain that someone who has received an Anathema may repent: Still the anathema maranatha is a censure from which the criminal may be absolved; although he is delivered to Satan and his angels, the Church, in virtue of the Power of the Keys, can receive him once more into the communion of the faithful. More than that, it is with this purpose in view that she takes such rigorous measures against him, in order that by the mortification of his body his soul may be saved on the last day. The Church, animated by the spirit of God, does not wish the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live. This explains why the most severe and terrifying formulas of excommunication, containing all the rigours of the Maranatha have, as a rule, clauses like this: "Unless he becomes repentant, or gives satisfaction, or is corrected..." St. Paul gives the scriptural basis for anathema and its purpose: (1 Corinthians 5:3b-5) I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. The purpose of delivering "this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh" (anathema) was to hope that he will repent ("that his spirit may be saved"). In this sense that those who received an Anathema may repent and return to the Church, it is not the "weapon" of St. Michael. Rather, St. Michael wields his sword at the condemned who have died rejecting God, and thereby cannot repent. On that point the "hurling into hell" of those judged condemned are not those receiving anathema from the Church (which is an ecclesiastical judgement), but the judgment of condemnation that comes from God alone. The Church never judges a person to hell. It is the judgment of God that comes at the Particular Judgment immediately after death, and at the Final Judgment at the end of the age, that determines our eternal destiny. St. Michael's role in this is "to call away from earth and bring men's souls to judgment" ("signifer S. Michael repraesentet eas in lucam sanctam", Offert. Miss Defunct. "Constituit eum principem super animas suscipiendas", Antiph. off. Cf. The Shepherd of Hermas, Book III, Similitude 8, Chapter 3). [1917 Catholic Encyclopedia] God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

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Is Archangel Micheal's sword, Church Anathema?

Steven

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Question:

Really the only 'hurl into hell' weapon there is, is Christ's lips pronouncing a person bound to their sin. It is the sword of Christ's mouth which slays the wicked in the book of Revelation. I think that Archangel Michael and his combat angels of the apocalypse, serving under Christ's Command at the Battle of Armageddon, are wielding the big gun, Church anathema or an angelic equivalent. Is Church anathema the weapon of Michael the Archangel?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Stephen:

Quoting from the 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia:

...although during the first centuries the anathema did not seem to differ from the sentence of excommunication, beginning with the sixth century a distinction was made between the two. A Council of Tours desires that after three warnings there be recited in chorus Psalm CVIII against the usurper of the goods of the Church, that he may fall into the curse of Judas, and "that he may be not only excommunicated, but anathematized, and that he may be stricken by the sword of Heaven". This distinction was introduced into the canons of the Church, as is proved by the letter of John VIII (872-82) found in the Decree of Gratian (c. III, q. V, c. XII): "Know that Engeltrude is not only under the ban of excommunication, which separates her from the society of the brethren, but under the anathema, which separates from the body of Christ, which is the Church."

The Encyclopedia continues on to explain that someone who has received an Anathema may repent:

Still the anathema maranatha is a censure from which the criminal may be absolved; although he is delivered to Satan and his angels, the Church, in virtue of the Power of the Keys, can receive him once more into the communion of the faithful. More than that, it is with this purpose in view that she takes such rigorous measures against him, in order that by the mortification of his body his soul may be saved on the last day. The Church, animated by the spirit of God, does not wish the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live. This explains why the most severe and terrifying formulas of excommunication, containing all the rigours of the Maranatha have, as a rule, clauses like this: "Unless he becomes repentant, or gives satisfaction, or is corrected..."

St. Paul gives the scriptural basis for anathema and its purpose:

(1 Corinthians 5:3b-5) I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The purpose of delivering "this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh" (anathema) was to hope that he will repent ("that his spirit may be saved").

In this sense that those who received an Anathema may repent and return to the Church, it is not the "weapon" of St. Michael. Rather, St. Michael wields his sword at the condemned who have died rejecting God, and thereby cannot repent.

On that point the "hurling into hell" of those judged condemned are not those receiving anathema from the Church (which is an ecclesiastical judgement), but the judgment of condemnation that comes from God alone. The Church never judges a person to hell. It is the judgment of God that comes at the Particular Judgment immediately after death, and at the Final Judgment at the end of the age, that determines our eternal destiny.

St. Michael's role in this is "to call away from earth and bring men's souls to judgment" ("signifer S. Michael repraesentet eas in lucam sanctam", Offert. Miss Defunct. "Constituit eum principem super animas suscipiendas", Antiph. off. Cf. The Shepherd of Hermas, Book III, Similitude 8, Chapter 3). [1917 Catholic Encyclopedia]

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.