Read the Old Testament and you will notice how crucial the calendar was to God’s people. It wasn’t just the Sabbath. The year featured a succession of special celebrations. Passover was the most important followed by the Day of Pentecost, the Day Dedication and the Day of Atonement.
The early Christians also developed a calendar to commemorate the most important events narrated in the New Testament. Besides Easter, they included days dedicated to the birth of Jesus, the birth of John the Baptist and the Day of the Annunciation, when the Word became flesh after Angel Gabriel told Virgin Mary that God had chosen her to be the mother of Messiah.
One of those special Christian celebrations was dedicated to Saint Michael. The day reminds us of the scene described in Revelation: “A war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. It fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The primeval serpent known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray, was hurled down to the earth together with his angels.”
Though invisible, the Devil and his angels are present among us. It would be foolish to ignore the danger we face. St Paul described the problem in Ephesians: “It is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the world rulers of this present darkness …”
Today is the day traditionally dedicated to Saint Michael. It reminds us that God chose Saint Michael and gave him great power over Satan. In case you have never heard this prayer, I include it here. I recommend that you use it often:
“Saint Michael, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking ruin of souls. Amen.”
Some Christians frown on prayers directed to anyone but God. I am not recommending it because this angel might be divine and ought to be adored. That would be silly. After all, the name ‘Michael’ means: Who is equal to God? The prayer asks the Saint to help us by doing on earth the same thing that God asked him to do in heaven.
