Saint Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael the Archangel is the most renowned of the archangels and the “prince of the celestial militia”—the defender of God’s people against Satan. His name, from Hebrew *Mîkhāʼēl*, means “Who is like God?” (*Quis ut Deus?*): a profession of faith and a cry of battle against all pride. The Scriptures mention him in four passages—Daniel 10 and 12 (the “great prince” who watches over God’s people), Jude 9 (where he is called an *archangel*), and Revelation 12,7 (leading the angels in battle against the dragon).Saint Michael, whose Hebrew name means “Who is like God?” (Mi-ka-El), is the angel most frequently referenced in Sacred Scripture and the protector of the Church. The papal magisterium has dedicated numerous documents to him over the centuries, especially in the context of defending against evil. This post summarizes Catholic doctrine on Saint Michael.

Name

Hebrew Name: Miguel (Mi-ka-El), “Who is like God?”

Type

Greek Title: Archangel (*Arkhangelos*)

Role

Prince of the celestial militia, protector of the Church

Liturgical Feast

– September 29: Feast of the Archangels – May 8: Traditional Devotion

Patronage

– Universal Church – Poland – Germany – Military parishes

Saint Michael in Sacred Scripture

Saint Michael appears in five key passages:– Daniel 10, 13.21: “Michael, one of the chief princes” (or “one of the principal leaders”), protector of Israel’s people. – Daniel 12, 1: “At that time, Michael, the great prince who stands for your people, will appear.” – Jude 9: “Michael, the archangel, contested with Satan, and argued against his body.” – Revelation 12, 7: “And there was a war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.” – Revelation 12, 9: “The great dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent called the Devil or Satan.”

Ancient and Medieval Magisterium

Early Cults

– 4th-5th Century Rome: Basilica of Saint Michael on the Via Salaria (attributed to the time of Constantine) – Monte Gargano (Italy): Apparition of Saint Michael to Bishop Lawrence in 490, the primary sanctuary for Migueline cult in Europe – Mont Saint-Michel (Normandy): Apparition in 708 to Bishop Auberto of Avranches – Sant Cugat (Catalonia): 8th-9th Century

Sacramentary of Gelasius (8th Century)

Includes votive masses dedicated to Saint Michael.

Council of Mainz (813)

Establishes the feast of Saint Michael on September 29 as a day of obligation throughout Europe during the Carolingian period.

Saint Thomas Aquinas (13th Century)

In his *Summa Theologica*, Thomas argues that Saint Michael belongs to the choir of archangels (third hierarchy) and is the “prince” over the other archangels. His central message: “Who is like God?,” a direct rejection of Lucifer’s pride.

Modern and Contemporary Magisterium

Pius IX (1854-1855)

On December 8, 1854, the day of the definition of the Immaculate Conception, Pius IX simultaneously consecrated the Church to Saint Michael as the celestial protector against evil.

Leo XIII (1886-1890)

The *Prayer to St. Michael* and *Exorcismus in Satanam et Angelos Apostaticos* are key documents.

Leo XIII, Encyclical Humanum Genus (1884)

Regarding Freemasonry, he uses Saint Michael as a symbol of Christian resistance against organized evil.

Pius XII, Encyclical Sertum Laetitiae (1939) and others

He invokes Saint Michael as the protector of Poland and the Church under persecution.

John Paul II (1987 and 2003)

He visited Monte Gargano (Italy) and Mont Saint-Michel (France). On both occasions, he delivered homilies dedicated to St. Michael as a model of faithfulness to God.> «The battle against the Devil, which is the distinctive mark of St. Michael the Archangel, is still very much alive today, for Satan is alive and active in the world. The evil present around us, the disorders in society, the inconsistencies of man, his inner fracture, are not merely consequences of original sin but also the subtle and dark action of Satan» (JP2, Speech at Monte Gargano, May 24, 1987).

Benedict XVI

On numerous occasions, he invoked St. Michael as a model of faithfulness to Christ. On October 5, 2007, when dedicating a statue of St. Michael in the Vatican Gardens, he said:> «This statue reminds us that evil is always defeated, the Accuser is unmasked, his heavy head crushed because salvation was accomplished through Christ’s blood. When Satan temts us, especially in moments of trial, let us turn to St. Michael for help in living the serenity of the Cross on the way to Resurrection.»

Francis (September 29, 2018)

In the context of sexual abuse scandals within the clergy, Pope Francis called for all Catholics to pray the Rosary, the *Prayer to St. Michael*, and *Sub Tuum Praesidium* every day in October 2018.

The Four Offices of Saint Michael

Catholic tradition attributes four main offices to Saint Michael:– Combatant of Evil: «He fought with the dragon» (Rev 12:7), his primary role. – Protector of the Church: «Prince of the heavenly militia» who defends God’s people (Dan 12:1). – Guider of Souls: He leads souls to Christ at death and to Paradise (cf. “Signifer sanctus Michael representet eas in lucem sanctam,” Offer for the Deceased Mass). – Weigher of Souls: The traditional iconographic image (scale of justice at the Final Judgment).

Traditional Iconography

– Armored warrior, prince of the heavenly militia – Flaming sword, conqueror of the dragon – Foot on the dragon/Lucifer, victory over evil – Scale, weighing souls at the Final Judgment – Cross, shield, or banner, symbols of Christ the Conqueror

Special Devotions

Saint Michael’s Crown: 9 salutations to the 9 angelic choirs with 4 Our Fathers (attributed to Saint Anthony Maria Claret)
Saint Michael Septenary: 7 days before September 29th
Prayer to Saint Michael by Pope Leo XIII (1886), full text at dedicated post
Saint Michael’s Scapular: approved by Pius IX in 1851

Saint Michael the Archangel – Devotion and Magisterium: Prince of the Celestial Militia