Defender of all faithful souls:

Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel

by Christie Fernando

Michael,” or “Who is like unto God?” was the cry of the great Michael the Archangel when he vanquished the dissenter, Lucifer in the heavenly conflict and rebellion for disobedience to God.

He is accredited as the Commander of the armies of God and the defender of all faithful souls to fight against the evil spirits.

He appears in the Holy Scripture as the guardian of the children of Israel; their comforter and protector in times of sorrow or conflict.

The Catholic Church venerates St. Michael as her special patron and protector and invokes him by name in her confession of sin; summons him to the side of her children, in the agony of death, and chooses him as their escort from the ‘chastening’ flames of purgatory to the realms of holy light.

Kingdom on earth

It is said that when the Antichrist sets up his kingdom on earth, it is Michael who will unfurl once more the standard of the Cross, sound the last trumpet, binding together the false prophet and the beast; and hurl them for all eternity into the burning pool.

When God created Heaven and the Earth and all the angels and the archangels, they were God's very special friends. They were “Shining, Strong and Powerful.”

Archangel Michael was sent to Moses, Jacob, Abraham and other throughout the history.

Another Archangel was Gabriel that God sent to announce that Mary was to become the Mother of God, our Lord and Saviour.

Angel Raphael helped Tobias according to the Bible.

Angels

Another Archangel was Lucifer. He was so beautiful that the other Angels called him the Son of the Morning.

But Lucifer was disobedient.

He wanted to be equal with God and vied for supremacy in heaven. With some bad angels he rebelled against God.

Michael the Archangel collected a cluster of angels to conquer Lucifer and the bad angels and they were condemned to the fires of hell.

In our prayers we say, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle, because he is so good at battles.

When Jesus was Crucified, he opened for us the portals of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Lucifer who was once an archangel and whose other name was Satan, was enraged because he was barred from entering heaven while ordinary people have a safe voyage to the gates of heaven.

On September 29, we commemorate the feast of St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and other angels, because all the Angels helped Archangel Michael to win the battle against Lucifer.

Lucifer

Let us pray to Saint Michael the Archangel in this manner:

Archangel Michael, “Defend us in battle. Be our protector against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. Do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.