The Vatican's Computers Are Protected--

--but it ain't Norton.

Michael is the name of the firewall, or security computer, at the Vatican website. (They also have servers named Gabriel and Raphael. I think I detect a theme here.) According to a report from Catholic World News, it's been busy lately:

Islamic computer hackers tried to disrupt the Vatican web site earlier this week, but failed, according to a report in the ANSA news service.

In an online forum for militant Muslims, a group announced plans for an assault on the Vatican computer network, which was said to be a form of retribution for Pope Benedict's criticism of Islam in his Regensburg speech. Police later confirmed that there had been a concerted effort by hackers to penetrate the Vatican site, but computer-security experts were able to detect and repel the attack.

For those of you who are 'separated brethren,' St. Michael is the Archangel who was personally responsible for tossing Satan to the netherworld. Sts. Gabriel and Raphael are Archangels who are messengers...

Wonder if I could quit Norton....

At any rate, the Curt Jester has already written the prayer:

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us against Denial of Service attacks.
Be our protection against the bots and packets of black hats.
May thy firewall rebuke them, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosting Provider- by the Divine Power of God -
cast into digital hell, distributed attacks and all buffer overflows,
whose packets roam throughout the network seeking the downing of sites.

As for you inquiring-mind Separated Bretheren: you'll get the joke ONLY if and when you join the Church.