The name Michael means "Who is like God? Here depicted is the Archangel Michael holding a balance in his hand symbolizing Justice or the "scales in which the souls of the departed are weighed". He is dressed as a warrior, dressed in chainmail and holding a flaming sword in his right hand ready to carry out God's judgment. The Cross on his chest means that he is in the service of Christ.

How can we get an idea of an angel? Daniel had a vision of the angel Gabriel while in Babylon which he describes thus:

"As I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face shown like lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and feet looked like burnished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a multitude." (Dn 10:5-6) When Daniel saw the vision his face turned the color of death and felt powerless. From this description we see an angel as a being of power and might.

St. Michael is a mighty leader of the good angels who fights the cosmic battle against the forces of evil as we read in Revelation:

"Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it." (Rv 12:7-9)

The forces of evil are fundamentally conquered by the Blood of Christ but Michael with the good angels participate in this struggle to save mankind from eternal death and to bring us into the Kingdom of Christ.

The Jews had devotion to St. Michael which passed into Christianity. We are told that when Constantine had become the master of the Roman Empire and a Christian he built a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael (by his Greek name Michaelion), and this Church, one of the most magnificent in Constantinople, became renowned for its miracles, and the parent and model of hundreds more throughout the East.*

PRAYER

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection 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 Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

St. Louis of France