ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven” (Revelation 12:7-8, RSV2CE).

 

Other than the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, the saint who is perhaps the most sought out and invoked in times of trouble is Saint Michael the Archangel. He is specifically mentioned five times in the Bible; three times in the book of the prophet Daniel, once in the Epistle of St. Jude (describing an event presented in Zechariah 3:1), and once in the Book of Revelation (12:7-8). 

In Daniel, St. Michael is described as a great and mighty prince, a reinforcement and a bulwark, and as a guardian of God’s people. In Jude (and in Zechariah), he is seen disputing directly with Satan over the body of Moses, and in the Book of Revelation, it is St. Michael who leads the angelic host in battle against Lucifer and the other fallen angels. 

Unlike most saints, Michael (whose name means “who is like unto God?”) has no human story—no date of birth, no parents and siblings, no biographical information that gives insight into his upbringing and character. Angels are completely different from—and in most ways superior to—human beings, and St. Michael is seen as their “commanding officer.” 

St. Michael does, however, have some history among us. He is recorded as having appeared to more than a few people, including St. Joan of Arc, St. Aubert, Diego Lázaro de San Francisco, Pope Saint Gregory the Great, and Bishop Alfonso Puccinelli. He is also mentioned as being the most frequently appearing saint during the Rite of Exorcism, often making his entrance precisely at the moment of deliverance, as he did in the actual exorcism upon which the movie, The Exorcist, is loosely based. 

While not an apparition, per se, St. Michael was seen in a vision by Pope Leo XIII in 1884. In the vision, the Holy Father saw a spiritual battle between St. Michael and Satan. Also in this vision, Satan was heard boasting to God that he could destroy the Catholic Church, and God was heard giving Satan permission to try…for a time. Pope Leo was so deeply struck by this vision and the clarity of it that he composed the prayer that most of us now know as the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel: 

“Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard 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, cast into Hell Satan and all of the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.” Amen†  

This prayer was recited at the end of every celebration of the Holy Mass from 1886 to 1964. This practice was generally terminated after the 2nd Vatican Council, but then restored in practice by Pope St. John Paul II. While it is not required to be said after Mass, many parishes (and even some entire dioceses by decrees of their bishops) have again made it a regular practice. 

Given that St. Michael has neither a birthdate nor a date of death, you might wonder how he ended up with September 29th as his feast day (now shared with Saints Gabriel and Raphael). 

St. Michael’s feast day was chosen because September 29th commemorates the dedication of the Church of Saint Michael, on the Via Salaria outside of Rome, in the 6th century. The Feast of St. Michael is also known historically as Michaelmas and celebrated in thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. 

St. Michael is revered as the patron saint of police officers, soldiers, first responders, grocers, bakers, and— appropriately—fencers (sword-fighters). He is also invoked as the defender and protector of the Catholic Church. 

St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us!

© 2025 by Michael F. Lee
Originally published by Decided Excellence Catholic Media, Sep. 2025