The festival of St Michael and All Angels is celebrated on 29 September.  The liturgical colour is white.  The name Michael means ‘Who is like unto God?’ (1) – implying that no one is like God.

Michael the Archangel is mentioned in the Book of Daniel as “one of the chief princes” of the angels (NRSV, Daniel 10:13) and a special protector of the people of Israel (Daniel 12:1).  He is also mentioned in the Letter of Jude: “…the archangel Michael contended with the devil…” (NRSV, Jude 1:9).  In the Book of Revelation Michael and his angels fought against the devil (dragon) and his angels and defeated them (Revelation 12: 7-9).

From the beginning of Christian history there is evidence that Michael was held in honour. (2) In the Western Church he was honoured as ‘captain of the heavenly host’ and a protector of Christians.  In the Eastern Church he was regarded as a special guardian of sick people.  The 2nd century Shepherd of Hermas (see Similitude 8, Chap 3) depicts Michael as a majestic angel with a role in judgement. (3)

Constantine (3rd/4th century) built a church dedicated to Michael at Sosthenion outside Constantinople (4) and his feast day on 29 September is probably the anniversary of the dedication of a church in his honour on the Salarian Way at Rome in the 6th century. (5) In England, by the end of the Middle Ages, there were as many as 686 churches dedicated to Michael. (6)

Michael is portrayed in art in several ways. He is depicted as an angel in armour slaying the dragon as in a stained glass window at St Michael’s Church, Stoke St Michael in Somerset.  A medieval stained glass window in the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Eaton Bishop, Hereford shows Michael weighing a soul on a pair of scales i.e. judging.  At the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Chaldon, Surrey there is a medieval wall painting in the upper left quadrant of which Michael is standing with a pair of scales.  A devil is trying to weigh the scale pan down as a soul is about to climb on it.

Gabriel and Raphael

On 29 September we also celebrate the Archangels Gabriel and Raphael.

The name Raphael means ‘God heals’ and in the Book of Tobit (III:25 and V:5ff) he appears in a comforting and healing role.  He is also assumed to be the angel who stirred up the water in the pool at Jerusalem (John 5:2-4). (8) The Guild of St Raphael, founded in 1915, exists to promote, support and practise Christ’s ministry of healing as an integral part of the life and worship of the Church.

Gabriel is mentioned in the Book of Daniel where he appears as the angel who helped Daniel to understand his visions (Daniel 8:15; 9:21).  In the New Testament Gabriel brings to Zechariah the good news that his wife will bear a son (John the Baptist) (Luke 1:11-20).  Gabriel is best known, however, as the angel who at the Annunciation brought to Mary the news that she would bear a son and name him Jesus (Luke 1:26-38).  Here is a representation of the Annunciation from the Book of Hours of Richard III which is kept in the Lambeth Palace Library.  Here is a 13th century embroidered bookbinding showing the Annunciation.

Guardian angels

In the Roman Catholic Church Calendar the Feast Day of the Holy Guardian Angels is held on 02 October.  In the Anglican Church, guardian angels are included in the celebration of St Michael and All Angels, as is evident in the Common Worship liturgy for this festival.  

References

1. Farmer, D. (2011) (5th edition) Oxford dictionary of saints, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

2. Attwater, D. (1965) The Penguin dictionary of saints, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.

3. Farmer, D. (2011) (5th edition) Oxford dictionary of saints, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

4. Farmer, D. (2011) (5th edition) Oxford dictionary of saints, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

5. Watkins, Dom Basil (2002) (7th edition) The book of saints, London: A & C Black.

6. Farmer, D. (2011) (5th edition) Oxford dictionary of saints, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

7. Watkins, Dom Basil (2002) (7th edition) The book of saints, London: A & C Black.

8. Attwater, D. (1965) The Penguin dictionary of saints, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.

Short talks

Short talks for Michaelmas, The vision of God and Conflict are available in this part of the Holy Faith website.