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Introduction to the Rule of St. Michael

Saint Louis de Montfort wrote:
Mary will raise up apostles of the latter times to make war against the evil one.... But the power of Mary over all the devils will especially shine forth in the latter times, when Satan will lay his snares against her heel: that is to say, her humble slaves and poor children, whom she will raise up to make war against him. They shall be little and poor in the world's esteem, and abased before all like the heel, trodden underfoot and persecuted as the heel is by other members of the body. But in return for this they shall be rich in the grace of God, which Mary shall distribute to them abundantly. They shall be great and exalted before God in sanctity, superior to all creatures by their lively zeal, and so well sustained with God's assistance that, with the humility of their heel, in union with Mary, they shall crush the head of the devil and cause Jesus Christ to triumph.
This quotation serves as our marching orders.
We are a group who are, in the language of our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, a new Foundation … composed of mixed groups of men and women, of clerics and lay persons, of married couples and celibates, all of whom pursue a particular style of life. We, as a new Foundation, have been called by God and by the Blessed Virgin Mary to be apostles of the latter times to wage war against Satan and his demons in the name and for the greater glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As a new Foundation, we are an integrated community bringing together Monastic, Eremitic, and Secular traditions under the watchful patronage of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Michael the Archangel, Sts. Paul, Elijah, Ignatius Loyola, Louis de Montfort, Francis of Assisi, Benedict, John of the Cross, Teresa of Ávila, Francis de Sales, Thérèsa of the Child Jesus (the Little Flower), Maximilian Kolbe, Dymphna, and Blessed Titus Brandsma.
The patron of our community, as the name implies, is St. Michael the Archangel, the Prince of Spiritual Warfare. In devotion to him and the Blessed Mother who has been given the authority to crush Satan's head, we seek the will of God as spiritual warriors in His army.
Saint Michael is the protector of the Church and of our Order. The Church, as far back as the fourth century, has paid special honor to the glorious Archangel Michael, whom in her liturgy she invokes as Prince of the heavenly host. His name is the war cry with which he smote Lucifer and his proud followers and cast them out of heaven into the depths of hell. His name means: Who is like God?
The battle is still being waged in the world. God gave us, through His Son Jesus Christ, a Church to teach, rule, and sanctify us, and lead us to His Kingdom in heaven. God wants us to become holy, for our holiness means glory to God and the triumph of His Church. But revolt against God and His Church is set against this Divine triumph and glory. Satan and his devils attack God and His Church in religious, social, political, economic, and educational areas of life.
Michael has always been the warrior Angel fighting Lucifer in heaven, fighting the enemies of God's chosen people of old, and now fighting the enemies of the Catholic Church. He is ever fighting, resisting, and overcoming the power of darkness.
When the foundation of society is shaken because of a lack of faith in God, there is a need to revive veneration to Saint Michael and to live according to the spirit that reigns in him, the spirit of God.
Saint Michael is the protector of the faithful. Special excellence is attached to Saint Michael's intercession because of his position in the Mystical Body of Christ. Although it is true that all the Angels in heaven are members of this same body, yet Saint Michael, being the prince of the heavenly host and patron and protector of the Church, has a unique place in it. He occupies a special place of honor and patronage over the members of the Mystical Body of Christ. God and the Church appointed him for such a patronage.
The Church, and our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, urges us to seek the patronage of Saint Michael against all evils, but especially against the evils that threaten the salvation of our soul. We must meet the attacks of the enemy by building up our own spiritual life, our power and resistance, and also by using a spiritual remedy against the enemies of our spiritual life and happiness. God offers us many means: grace, infused virtues of faith, hope, and love, gifts of the Holy Spirit, Divine Revelation, the Sacraments, and prayer. He also gives us Angels and Saints like Saint Michael to protect and assist us.
The principal work of Saint Michael is to wage relentless warfare against Satan and his forces of evil, that he may prevent the eternal loss of souls, which were created by God and redeemed by the Passion and Death of His Divine Son. We must follow the standard-bearer of God's armies.
But the Church also urges us to seek the patronage of Saint Michael in all the needs of soul and body. He prays for those who seek his assistance. He knows well our great needs and the great dangers that surround us. He who loves God and His people with an intense love cannot but be mighty in his intercession.
Saint Michael renders every type of assistance to his clients on earth. This is proved by the widespread devotion to him and the various reasons and needs for which he has always been invoked almost since the foundation of the Church. He obtains both spiritual and material benefits and overcomes various kinds of evils detrimental to the soul and to the body.
We should try to cultivate a personal devotion to Saint Michael in our daily life. Indeed in our Order this is central. Angels are given us by Divine Providence to help us, especially spiritually, but we must be willing to let them work their good in us. We constantly need heavenly assistance to grow in spiritual life, in grace, in the love of God and our neighbor. We should entrust ourselves and our family to his care, and invoke his help frequently in our needs and problems. Especially at the hour of death we will find him our support and consolation and our defense against the enemies of our soul.
This is the Call to St. Michael .....
Saint Michael, pray for us and protect us. Amen.