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St Michael

Feast day: 29 September

Very little is known about the archangel Michael. He appears in the book of Daniel in Chapters 10 and 12, where he is seen as the protector of Israel. In the Book of Revelations there is one reference to him in Chapter 12,v 7 where Michael and his angels fight against Satan and defeat him. In the Epistle of Jude (v7) reference is made to Michael fighting against Satan and disputing the body of Moses with him. His name means "Who is like God" in Greek.

In spite of there being little information about him Michael is honoured in Judaism, Islam and Christianity. He is an archetypal figure: the warrior who protects mankind and defeats Satan. He usually appears dressed in armour and often fighting a dragon, a symbol of the devil. In fact there seems to be a great similarity between his iconography and that of St George. This seems to stem from the victory of Constantine over Licinius in 324. The Emperor built a sanctuary dedicated to St Michael, the Michaelion, and a statue of Michael slaying the dragon became a major artwork. Originally he was invoked as a healer but this role appears to have been taken over by Raphael. Michael would be now seen more as God's champion.

There are many accounts of apparitions of the archangel. He is said to have appeared to St Aubert in 709 and ordered him to build a chapel on the island near Avranche in Normandy. St Michael had to appear twice more before his wishes were obeyed and he made his point by burning a hole in the bishop's skull with his finger! Benedictine monks moved in in 966 and it became a place of pilgrimage. It suffered during the French Revolution but religious services were restored in 1922 and a community of Benedictine monks moved there in 1969. It has a counterpart in Cornwall called St Michael's Mount near the town of Marazion. St Michael was supposed to have appeared to fishermen in the 5th century.

St Michael was the first of St Joan of Arc's voices who inspired her to fight against the English occupation of her country. In the Orthodox Church Michael frequently appears in icons and Archangel in Russia is named after him.

The prayer to St Michael is still said in Catholic churches today. It was once used to pray for the conversion of Russia. The name Michael was very popular in Ireland a couple of generations ago.

St Michael the Archangel, pray for us.