September 29 is the liturgical feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. Who is he?

The name Michael, derived from its Hebrew original Micha’el or Mîkhā’ēl, means “who is like God” (mi-who, ke-as or like, El-deity). The Talmudic tradition interpreted it as a rhetorical question: “Who is like God?” Such a question supposes the negative reply that no one is. Saint Michael is one of the main angels whose name was the war-cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against the enemy and his followers. Both his name and figure are represented as a symbol of humility before God.

The quadruple mention of his name in the Bible shows his important role in different eras of Jewish and Church’s history. In the book of Daniel, Gabriel says to Daniel, as the latter requests God to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem: “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 21 days; but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, so I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia and came to make you understand what is to befall your people in the latter days” (Dan 10, 13-14). In the same book, the Angel, who was speaking about the end of the world and the Antichrist, says: “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people” (Dan 12, 1).

In the Catholic Epistle of St Jude. “When the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, disputed about the body of Moses” (Jude v 9). Here, Saint Jude refers to an ancient Jewish tradition of an argument between Michael and Satan over the body of Moses. The account goes that Saint Michael concealed Moses’ tomb. By discovering it, Satan attempted to seduce the Jewish people to the sin of hero-worship. Furthermore, Saint Michael guards the body of Eve.

Lastly, in the twelfth book of the Apocalypse he is the protagonist against the forces of evil: “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought” (Rev 12, 7). For the Fathers of the Church there often remains the question of whether Saint Michael’s presence in the Bible is more frequent than it is often thought to be. Some say that he was the cherub who stood at paradise’ gate, “to guard the way to the tree of life” (Gen 3, 24), the angel through whom God issued the Decalogue to his chosen people, the angel who blocked the way against Balaam (Num 22,22), the angel who ruined the army of Sennacherib (2 Kgs 19, 35).

Christian tradition regards Saint Michael as the one who fights against Satan; liberates the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, particularly at the hour of death; is the champion of God’s people, the Jews in the Old Law, the Christians in the New Testament; and, lastly, the one who calls away from earth and brings men’s souls to judgment.

In our battle against the forces of evil let us invoke his powerful intercession and protection. ‘Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defence against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.’

Happy feast day to all Michaels especially to the editor of this newspaper, Michael Carabott, for his sterling journalistic service!

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

San Ġwann