The Holy Scriptures often speak of created beings other than humans who worship God in heaven and act as his messengers and agents on earth. These beings are referred to as angels. We are not told much about them, and it is not clear how much of what we are told is figurative. Jesus speaks of angels as ‘rejoicing over penitent sinners’ (Luke 15:10). Elsewhere in a statement that has been variously understood, Jesus warns against ‘misleading a child, because their angels behold the face of God.’ (Matthew 18:10).
On the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, popularly called Michaelmas, we give thanks for the many ways in which God’s loving care watches over us through his heavenly angels, both directly and indirectly, and we are reminded that God has much in his creation beyond our senses that he reveals for our blessing and providence.
St. Michael (whose name means, “Who is like God?”) is said to be the captain of the heavenly armies. He is mentioned in Holy Scripture in Daniel 10 where he is said to be ‘the prince of the people of Israel’; in Jude 9 where he is said to have ‘disputed with the devil about the body of Moses’; and in Revelation 12:7 where he is said to have ‘led the heavenly armies against those of the great dragon (the devil).’ St. Michael is generally pictured in full armor, carrying a lance, and with his foot on the neck of the dragon.
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