We move from Mary to Michael – Michael comes to prepare our souls to accept the approach and love of our Mother.
Michael, pronounced Mikael in Hebrew, means “Who is like God?” This is a bold question made by this angel, reflecting not only his identity, but also his loyalty and humility before God.
In the Book of Revelation, we discover the backstory of the conflict between Michael and the fallen angel Satan that gives us insight into the Archangel’s office as a warrior against evil.
“Next, war broke out in heaven, with Michael and his angels in combat against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon—the ancient serpent who is called the devil, or Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—was hurled down to earth, and his angels were cast down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brethren has been cast out, the one who accused them day and night before our God. They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, even in the face of death they did not cling to life. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, earth and sea, because the devil has come down to you. He is filled with rage, for he knows that his time is short.” Revelations 12:7-12
The Church holds that it was Saint Michael himself who cast Satan out of Heaven. These references show Saint Michael as a heroic intercessor and protector, especially against deadly sins and vices—vices which the enemy uses to destroy souls.
Sometimes we perceive the enemy’s rebellion as distant and removed from our everyday lives. On October 13, 1884, exactly 33 years to the day before the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, Pope Leo XIII composed the famous Saint Michael Prayer, saying the war between the angels of God and Satan is a war that touches every man and woman.
We wage this war in our struggle against temptation and sin. So we must pray every day through the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel that the Lord may defend us in that battle.
The Archangel’s name also points us to Christ. Recall that his name is also a question: Mikael, who is like God?
Christ is the answer to that question.He is the one who is like God because He is God. Satan, in his pride and envy, could not be like God. He also refused to bow before the One who is like God, our Lord Jesus.
Saint Michael has a great deal to teach us about God as well as about ourselves. As we look more and more to Saint Michael, we’ll learn more about his nature as a spirit created by God, just like us.
The Catechism explains, “Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature.If you seek the name of their nature, it is spirit. With their whole beings, the angels are servants and messengers of God.Because they always behold the face of the Father in Heaven, they are the mighty ones who do His word, hearkening to the voice of His word.”
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux said, “take away humility and all virtue perishes. If pride made demons of angels, humility could make angels of men.”
Turn always to this mighty warrior…look to his virtues. Learn from him how to overcome your vices, big and small. With virtues. Ask for the strength even to exhibit heroic virtues over vices and in everyday life.
“O glorious prince of the heavenly host, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle against the powers of darkness and in the struggle against the temptations of the world. Fill us with a portion of your humility, courage, and strength.Help us to reject sin and to perfect our love for God.Slay the evil and pride in our hearts so that nothing will keep us from God. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
