Collect of the Day: Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael and the Devil by Raffaello Sanzio, 1518Bless the Lord, all ye His Angels: you that are mighty in strength, and execute His word, hearkening to the voice of His orders.(From the introit of the day's Mass, Ps. 102, 20)
Collect of the dayDeus, qui, miro órdine, Angelórum ministéria hominúmque dispénsas : concéde propítius ; ut, a quibus tibi ministrántibus in cælo semper assístitur, ab his in terra vita nostra muniátur. Per Dóminum...
O God, who hast constituted the services of Angels and of men in a wonderful order, mercifully grant, that they who ever stand before Thy face to do Thee service in heaven, may also defend our life upon earth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity...
Lesson - Apocalypse of St. John, 1. 1-5 / Gospel - St. Matthew, 18. 1-10
September 29.—ST. MICHAEL, Archangel.
"MI-CA-EL," or "Who is like to God?" Such was the cry of the great Archangel when he smote the rebel Lucifer in the conflict of the heavenly hosts, and from that hour he has been known
as "Michael," the captain of the armies of God, the type of divine fortitude, the champion of every faithful soul in strife with the powers of evil. Thus he appears in Holy Scripture as the guardian of the children of Israel, their comfort and protector in times of sorrow or conflict. He it is who prepares for their return from the Persian captivity, who leads the valiant Maccabees to victory, and who rescues the body of Moses from the envious grasp of the Evil One. And since Christ's coming the Church has ever venerated St. Michael as her special patron and protector. She 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. Lastly, when Antichrist shall have set up his kingdom on earth, it is Michael who will unfurl once more the standard of the Cross, sound the last trumpet, and binding together the false prophet and the beast, hurl them for all eternity into the burning pool.
Reflection.—"Whenever," says St. Bernard, "any grievous temptation or vehement sorrow oppresses thee, invoke thy guardian, thy leader; cry out to him, and say, 'Lord, save us, lest we perish!'"
See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their Angels in heaven always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their Angels in heaven always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
The Angels: Feast of Saint Michael
- Date Preached: 2003-01-20
- Sermon length: 16 minutes 39 seconds
- File size: 3.8 MB
- Download Link: http://www.AudioSancto.org/auweb/20030120-The-Angels-Feast-of-Saint-Michael.mp3
"Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord!"
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| Francesco Botticini's, "Tobias and the Archangels", circa 15th century |
Today is the feast of St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael - the Archangels. Here is what is used for the second reading in today's Office of Readings, by St. Gregory the Great
You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message. Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels.
And so it was that not merely an angel but the archangel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary. It was only fitting that the highest angel should come to announce the greatest of all messages.
Some angels are given proper names to denote the service they are empowered to perform. In that holy city, where perfect knowledge flows from the vision of almighty God, those who have no names may easily be known. But personal names are assigned to some, not because they could not be known without them, but rather to denote their ministry when they came among us. Thus, Michael means “Who is like God”; Gabriel is “The Strength of God”; and Raphael is “God’s Remedy.”
Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by his superior power. So also our ancient foe desired in his pride to be like God, saying: I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of heaven; I will be like the Most High. He will be allowed to remain in power until the end of the world when he will be destroyed in the final punishment. Then, he will fight with the archangel Michael, as we are told by John: A battle was fought with Michael the archangel. So too Gabriel, who is called God’s strength, was sent to Mary. He came to announce the One who appeared as a humble man to quell the cosmic powers. Thus God’s strength announced the coming of the Lord of the heavenly powers, mighty in battle.
Raphael means, as I have said, God’s remedy, for when he touched Tobit’s eyes in order to cure him, he banished the darkness of his blindness. Thus, since he is to heal, he is rightly called God’s remedy.
FURTHER READING
- Read quotes from the writings of saints on the angels (St. Pio, St. Augustine, St. John Vianney, and more)
- Excellent list of Church catechesis on the Angels (CCC, Pope John Paul II audience addresses on the angels).
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Meanwhile, at our local St. Michael's church there is nothing special today.
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