About St. Michael

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

Feast Day September 29
Patron Saint of police officers, doctors, soldiers, firemen, the military, first responders and people who work in dangerous conditions.

The great Archangel Michael is the special Guardian Angel of Saint Joseph, the Guardian Angel of each one of the Popes, and one of the seven great angels who stand before the throne of God. Michael is the "Prince of the Heavenly Host," the leader of all the angels. His name means "Who is like God?" Michael acts as the defender of the Church and chief opponent of Satan, and assists people at the hour of their death.

It is clear, from the Holy Scriptures, that God is pleased to make frequent use of the ministry of the heavenly spirits in this world. The angels are all pure spirits; they are, by a property of their nature, immortal, as every spirit is.

Michael is the prince of the faithful angels who opposed Lucifer and his associates in their revolt against God. As the devil is the sworn enemy of God's Holy Church, Michael is its special protector against his assaults and schemes. This holy archangel has ever been honored in the Church as Her guardian under God, and as the protector of the faithful; for God is pleased to employ the zeal and charity of the good angels and their leader against the malice of the devil.

Michael is not only the protector of the Church, but of every faithful soul. He defeated the devil by humility and we are enlisted in the same warfare. His arms were humility and ardent love of God: the same must be our weapons. We ought to regard this archangel as our leader under God and, courageously resisting the devil in all his assaults, to cry out, Who can be compared to God?

In 1886, Pope Leo XIII added a Prayer to Saint Michael to the Leonine Prayers which he had directed to be prayed after Low Mass. "Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in 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, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."