The early Christians also developed a calendar to commemorate the most important events narrated in the New Testament. Besides Easter, these included days dedicated to the birth of Jesus, the birth of John the Baptist and the Day of the Annunciation, that is, the day when the Word became flesh after the Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that God had chosen her to be the mother of the Messiah.
One of those special Christian celebrations was dedicated to Saint Michael. The day reminds us of the scene described in the Book of Revelation: “A war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray, was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him.”
Though invisible, the Devil and his rebel angels are present among us. It would be foolish to ignore the danger we face. St Paul described the problem in the Letter to the Ephesians: “It is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual armies of evil on high.”
September 29th is the day traditionally dedicated to Saint Michael. It reminds us that God chose Saint Michael and gave him great power over Satan and all the other devils. In case you have never heard this prayer, I include it here. I highly recommend that you use it and use it often:
“Saint Michael Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”
Some Christians frown on prayers directed to anyone but God. I am not recommending the prayer because this angel might be divine and ought to be adored. That would be silly. After all, the name ‘Michael’ means: Who is equal to God? The prayer asks Saint Michael to help us by doing on earth the same thing that God asked him to do in heaven.
This article by Fr. Joe Babendreier first appeared in the Sunday Nation on 29th Sept 2019.