The Feast of Saint Michael

Yesterday, September 29, was the feast day of Saint Michael which reminded me of the stained glass window we find in the vestibule of our church which depicts this famous archangel.    He is depicted in shining armor, with a sword in his right hand and holding the banner of victory in his left.  He is wearing a crown with precious stones within his nimbus, representing his princely stature among the celestial hierarchy. 

We should perhaps not be surprised to find a representation of St. Michael at Corpus Christi.  After all, he was the patron saint of Michael Jenkins, one of the children of Thomas & Louisa Jenkins who built the church in honor of their parents.  Also, because the saint is regarded as the guardian of the church (see below), it is not uncommon to find the saint near the entrance of a church, protecting the building together with one of the other archangels.  At Corpus Christi, the window of St. Michael was installed in the church in 1901, one of the last three stained glass windows to be put into place.

Saint Michael’s feast has been celebrated in Rome from the early centuries on September 29.  The Synod of Mainz (813) introduced it into all the countries of the Carolingian Empire and prescribed its celebration as a public holiday.

Hebrew for “Who is like unto God,” Michael is mentioned twice in the Book of Daniel where he is referred to as a prince:

“So Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia, 14and have come to help you understand what is to happen to your people at the end of days.”   Daniel 10:13-14

“At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.”  Daniel 12:1

In Judaism, Michael is Israel’s advocate who wrestles with Jacob, teaches Moses, and guides the souls.  In the New Testament, Michael leads the armies of God in battle against the forces of evil in the Book of Revelation:

“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

In the Roman Catholic tradition & teachings Saint Michael has four main roles or offices. 

• He is the leader of the Army of God and the leader of heaven's forces in their triumph over the powers of hell. 
•  He is the angel of death, carrying the souls of all the deceased to heaven.
• He weighs souls in his perfectly balanced scales (hence Michael is often depicted holding scales).
• He is the guardian of the Church. 

All through medieval times Saint Michael’s Day (or Michaelmas) was kept as a great religious feast (in France even up to the last century) and one of the annual holiday seasons as well.    It was the religious or Christian equivalent of the autumn equinox. In England, it was considered the start of a new quarter. It marked the start of a new business year, a time for electing officials, making contracts, paying rent, hiring servants, holding court and starting school.  Obviously we still see the remnants of this in the timing of our elections and school year.  This is also a time when the weather is known to change. In Italy, they say "For St. Michael, heat goes into the heavens." In Ireland, people expect a marked decrease in sickness or disease. The Irish also consider this a lucky day for fishing: “Plenty comes to the boat on Michael's Day.”  Tradition holds that one should not pick or eat blackberries beyond this date.  Customary foods therefore include blackberry pie, as well as goose (because rents were often paid with food such as a goose), ginger ale and gingerbread.

   

In Christian art, the archangel Michael may be depicted alone or with other angels such as Gabriel.  Often he is represented as an angelic warrior, fully armed with helmet, sword, and shield.  The shield may bear the Latin inscription Quis ut Deus (Who [is] like God). He may be standing over a serpent, a dragon, or the defeated figure of Satan, whom he sometimes pierces with a lance.  In other depictions Michael may be holding a pair of scales in which he weighs the souls of the departed and may hold the book of life (as in the Book of Revelation), to show that he takes part in the judgment.   Some beautiful examples:

Statue of Saint Michael on top of the spire of the Abbey Church of Mont-Saint-Michel

Saint Michael in Memling's Last Judgment (National Museum Gdansk)

15th century fresco of Saint Michael in the St. Thomas Church in Strasbourg, France

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[1] "The Feast of St. Michael's." St. Michael's Feast Day. Andrew Perrotta, 2006. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <http://www.feastofstmichael.com/>.

[2] "Catholic Activity: Background and Customs for the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel." Catholic Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=1155>.

[3] Holweck, Frederick. "St. Michael the Archangel." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 30 Sept. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10275b.htm>.

[4] Wikipedia contributors. "Michaelmas." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 Sep. 2015. Web. 30 Sep. 2015.

[5] Wikipedia contributors. "Archangel Michael in Christian art." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 7 Mar. 2015. Web. 30 Sep. 2015.