Saint Michael and the Bears

Saint Michael and the Bears

In 1880, a little nine year old boy named Peter, lived in Quebec with his mother Agnes, who was quite poor. At one time they were quite well off when Peter's father was in the trade business with other countries. But in 1878, his father died of a heart attack and since that time, Peter and his mother were on their own.

Even though he was very young, Peter loved to help his mother with her work. He would go to the market with his mother and help her buy fruit and vegetables. He helped his mother clean the house and do the laundry. Peter was always there to help.

One day Peter’s mother became very sick with a fever. She needed more food and there was no one else but the boy to help her. She called little Peter and he came running into the room, “What would you like, Mother?”

Agnes smiled up at her son, “Peter, I am too sick to go to the market. I would like you to go and buy some fruit and vegetables.”

The boy looked at his mother and turned as white as a sheet. “Oh Mother I would like to go, but I have to pass by the forest and I am afraid of the bears!”

“Peter,” his mother asked, “Who is the Prince of the Angels?”

He said,“St. Michael the Archangel is the Prince of the Angels!”

Agnes asked, “Who is stronger, the Devil or St. Michael?”

Peter exclaimed, “Oh Mother! St. Michael is far more powerful than the Devil and he is stronger than fifty bears!”

“And do you think that St. Michael is stronger than a hundred bears?” his mother asked.

“Oh yes,” the boy replied, “St. Michael could beat up a hundred bears with one arm tied behind his back!”

“From now on, I want you to ask St. Michael to protect you, and I place you under his care until your death. When I get some more money, I will buy you a nice big statue of St. Michael! God bless you my son. Now be on your way, and may St. Michael go with you.”

The boy ran off and prayed to St. Michael along the way, especially when he was passing by the forest. In about one hour, he came back with the items and was unharmed by the bears. St. Michael had protected him. Later on his mother bought him a big, beautiful statue of St. Michael.

We should ask St. Michael to protect us too, not only from bears and wolves, but especially from the Devil and sin, which can destroy or soul. You can be sure he will be there to help us, every time we call on him.

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