The Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels (Michaelmas)

September 28, 2017

Each autumn the Western Church pauses to honor the great spirits of Heaven. The Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, celebrated on September 29, is a quiet but ancient festival in the Christian calendar , a day to remember the messengers and guardians of God.

Michaelmas Meaning

The Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, also known as Michaelmas or the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, Uriel and Raphael, is a Christian festival celebrated on September 29 according to the Western liturgical calendar.

Angels in the Bible

When asked to describe an angel, most of us picture the commercialized image: cherubic infants with warm faces and a pair of wings on a greeting card. The angels of the Bible, however, are nothing like that.

Sacred Scripture speaks of created intelligences other than humans who worship God in Heaven and serve as His messengers on earth. Little is told about them, and many argue that what is told is figurative rather than literal. The reason for the debate lies in the descriptions themselves. In the Bible, angels can sound completely terrifying. The prophet Ezekiel, in his visions (Ezekiel 1 and 10), tells of cherubim with four faces , the face of a man, the face of a lion, the face of an ox, and the face of an eagle, each looking in a different direction. Small wonder that angels so often greet humans with the words, "Do not be afraid."

The Nine Orders of Angels

There are nine orders, or choirs, of angels. In ascending order they are: Angels, Archangels, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Dominations, Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim. The Seraphim are highest, followed by the Cherubim. The lowest of the nine choirs are simply called Angels: God's messengers and the guardians of the human race, mediators between God and man. The English word "angel" comes from the Greek angelos, which means messenger.

Each order is said to reveal the glory of God to the order beneath it. The Seraphim devote their existence to beholding the face of God, praising and contemplating Him for all eternity. The Cherubim are pictured as winged lions or winged bulls guarding the throne of God.

The Saints Michael, Gabriel, Uriel and Raphael

Saint Michael

The name of the archangel Michael means, in Hebrew, "Who is like unto God?" He is known as the prince of the heavenly host and is most often depicted as a strong warrior in armor and sandals. His name appears in Scripture four times: twice in the Book of Daniel, once in the Epistle of Saint Jude, and once in the Book of Revelation. From Revelation we learn of the battle in Heaven, where Saint Michael and his angels fight Lucifer and the other fallen angels.

We invoke Saint Michael for help in our struggle against Satan, to rescue souls from the enemy especially at the hour of death, to be the champion of God's people in the Old Testament and now of Christians, and to bring souls to judgment.

This day is called Michaelmas in many countries and is one of the great harvest feast days. In England it is one of the "quarter days," historically marked by the hiring of servants, the election of magistrates, and the beginning of legal and university terms. It also opened the deer and large game hunting season. In parts of Europe, especially Germany, Denmark and Austria, a special wine called Saint Michael's Love (Michelsminne) is drunk on this day. Traditional foods vary by nation: in the British Isles, goose was eaten for prosperity; in France, waffles or gaufres; in Scotland, a large scone like cake called St. Michael's Bannock (Struan Micheil); and in Italy, gnocchi.

Saint Gabriel

The name Gabriel means "God is my strength." In Scripture, he appears three times as a messenger. He was sent to Daniel to explain a vision concerning the Messiah. He appeared to Zechariah in the Temple as he offered incense, to foretell the birth of his son, Saint John the Baptist. Above all, Saint Gabriel is known as the angel chosen by God for the Annunciation, to announce to mankind the mystery of the Incarnation.

His salutation to Our Lady, simple yet brimming with meaning , "Hail Mary, full of grace" , has become the constant and familiar prayer of all Christian people.

Saint Raphael

Our knowledge of the archangel Raphael comes to us from the Book of Tobit. His mission as wonderful healer and fellow traveler with the young Tobias has led the faithful to invoke him on journeys and at the critical moments of life. Tradition also holds that Raphael is the angel who stirred the waters at the healing pool of Bethesda. His name means "God has healed."

Saint Uriel

The name Uriel means "God is my light."

Blackberries and Michaelmas Superstition

It is said that on Michaelmas the devil was expelled from Heaven, and when he fell from the skies he landed in a blackberry bush. The devil cursed the fruit, stamped on it, and spat upon it. Some accounts go even further. Legend holds that Lucifer renews his curse on blackberries each year on this day, so gathering them after Michaelmas is considered bad luck.

"On Michaelmas Day the devil puts his foot on the blackberries."
(Irish proverb)

On this feast day we remember God's heavenly messengers and our place in the universe: we are not the top of the heap. There are higher beings than us. On this day we contemplate the truth that demons are fallen and rebellious angels, and that the higher we stand the lower we may fall. Let Michaelmas remind us to submit to God and grow more humble in our hearts.

Prayer

Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals. Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in Heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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