Feast of St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael Center ^ | September 29, 2003

[NYer]

A long tradition identifies St. Michael the Archangel, as the leader who remained faithful to God, and cast Lucifer at God’s command. His powerful aid has always been invoked by the Church in time of emergency.

The Popes have constantly called on St. Michael as the special protector of the Church whenever great evils threatened God’s people. For this reason, St. Michael is especially honored at Rome, on Monte Gargano, near Foggia, in Italy, and in France on Mont St. Michel in Normandy.

In times of unusual danger, when the malice of the devil seems triumphant, St. Michael will come to our aid.

[NYer]

St. Michael Apparitions

Italy has an endless list of interesting places to visit due to its Faith, history, beautiful countryside and the Italians love of art. One such place in Monte Sant' Angelo only a forty minute drive from San Giovanni Rotondo.

The town of Monte Sant' Angelo was built on a spur 850 meters above sea level which overlooks both Gargano Massif and the sea. Dominated by the ruins of Norman Castle it has kept its ancestral customs and its ancient appearance with whitewashed houses squeezed together onto rapidly sloping mountainside. The surrounding land is all rock and could easily be mistaken for the West of Ireland.

Interest in this lovely spot is due to the apparitions of St. Michael The Archangel. The Prince of the Heavenly Hosts was prefigured in the Old Testament: Michael in Hebrew means "one who is like God." There was devotion to him in the Eastern Church but not in the Western Church until after these Apparitions took place; it is from here that St. Michael became known throughout Europe and the new world.

• First Apparition

• Second Apparition

• Third Apparition

• Fourth Apparition

[NYer]

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.(Rev 12:7-9 RSV)

Who is Saint Michael? Michael is the only angel to have a feast day in the Lutheran calendar and the only angel to have a feast day on any calendar prior to the 9th century. He is commemorated on Sept 29, the feast of St. Michael and All Angels on the Lutheran calendar. Churches have been dedicated to St. Michael since the fourth century the first being near Constantinople.

Michael is mentioned by name several times in Holy Scripture – the passage from Revelation above, twice in Daniel (10:13 and 12:1), and in Jude 9. He is also believed to have been the mysterious warrior encountered by Joshua where he introduces himself as Commander of the Lord's army (Joshua 5:13-15).

Although traditionally credited with driving Lucifer and his legions from heaven, St. Michael was first venerated as a healer not a warrior in Phrygia. Pope Gregory the Great credited St. Michael with ending the plague in Italy when he saw Michael sheathing a flaming sword.

Michael means "Who is like God?" which is said to be the war cry of God's angel's before going into battle. Michael is believed in the east and by many in the west to be the highest ranking of all the angels. He is the protector of God's chosen people and thus is also the protector of the Church and her members against the evil one. He is the protector of Christian armies.

His symbol is the balance scales as tradition has it that he will weigh human souls on the Day of Judgment.

[Gerish]

One of my favorite saints! Wonderful info!

[Loyalist]

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the hour of 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, cast down to hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.

[8mmMauser]

As our Mass is always the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass canonized into perpetuity by Pope St. Pius V, our priests lead us all in this Prayer after each Low Mass as prescribed by Pope Leo XIII. We conclude our Rosaries with it as well.

Deo gratias

[NYer]

Ever since I posted this story, have been searching for the link I posted last year to the Cave of the Archangel Michael.

ENTER HERE for a virtual tour of the sanctuary.

[Desdemona]

Heavenly St. Michael Bump

[Desdemona]

The Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel

The Chaplet of St. Michael is a wonderful way to honor this great Archangel along with the other nine Choirs of Angels. What do we mean by Choirs? It seems that God has created various orders of Angels. Sacred Scripture destinguishes nine such groupings: Saraphin, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels and Angels (Isa 6:2; Gen. 3:24; Col. 1:6; Eph. 1:21; Rom. 8:38). There may be more groupings but these are the only ones that have been revealed to us. The Saraphim is believed to be the highest Choir, the most imtimately united to God, while the Angelic Choir is the lowest.
The history of this Chaplet goes back to a devout Servant of God Antonia d'Astonac, who had a vision of St. Michael. He told Antonia to honor him by nine salutations to the nine Choirs of Angels. St. Michael promised that whoever would practice this devotion in his honor would have, when approaching Holy Commmunion, ans escort of nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for those who would reciete the Chaplet daily, he promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy angels during life.


O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc.

(Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels)

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominions may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions. Amen.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation. Amen.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in order that we may attain the glory of Heaven. Amen.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted in the life to come to Heaven. Amen.

Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.

Concluding prayers
O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

[Salvation]

Thanks for this post!

[Salvation]

Apoligies to St. Michael

[Salvation]

Everyone needs to read this story!!!

The Story of Michael

[Salvation]

Feast Day of Michael,Gabriel and Raphael[Michael's Battle With The Dragon]

Also includes the Chaplet to St. Michael and some other prayers.

[kellynla]

Thanks for the ping. St. Michael is my patron saint. I was supposed to be born today...got tired of waiting and came a couple of days early. LOL

[baseballmom]

Thanks for the Ping. My husband is Michael, my 2 boys both have Michael for their middle name.

[Salvation]

Did you read the Story of Michael?

It is unbelievable!

[baseballmom]

Yes, I did. Very good post, Salvation. Thanks

[katherineisgreat]

I have a question? Why is Michael a "saint" if he is not human? What led the church to officially grant him the title?

[NYer]

Why is Michael a "saint" if he is not human? What led the church to officially grant him the title?

That is an excellent question! Michael is a member of the "communion of saints" but as to how he came to be canonized, I don't really know. Pinging those in the know.