On September 29th, we at SOTHLC celebrated St. Michael and All Angels.
The name Michael means “Who is like God?” The Old Testament book of Daniel mentions Michael (Daniel 12:1), as well as the New Testament in Jude (v. 9) and Revelation (12:7). The Jewish, non-biblical book of 1 Enoch, which the New Testament book of Jude quotes, mentions Michael several times (1 Enoch 20:5, 40:8, and 53:6).
Daniel portrays Michael as the angelic helper of Israel who leads the battle against the forces of evil. In Revelation, Michael and his angels fight against and defeat Satan and the evil angels, driving them from heaven. Their victory is made possible by Christ’s own victory over Satan in His death and resurrection, a victory announced by the voice in heaven: “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come” (Revelation 12:10). Jude names Michael as an archangel. And 1 Enoch lists Michael as one of 4 angels that will cast Satan and his minions “into a furnace of blazing fire.”
Michael is often associated with Gabriel and Raphael, the other chief angels or archangels who surround the throne of God. Tradition names Michael as the patron and protector of the Church, especially as the protector of Christians at the hour of death.
