MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

Prince of All Angels

Weigher of Souls

Saint Michael the Archangel

Tempora on Wood

Museo Civico, Padua Italy, 1350

ichael, comes from a pre-Christian Chaldean tradition (Iraq) where he was worshipped as a God. His Hebrew name, Mikael, translates “who is like God.”⁸ Michael is the prince of all angels because Michael went to war with Lucifer (Satan) and drove the fallen Archangel from Heaven. Tradition has it that Lucifer believed he/she was greater than God was. In St. Jude’s Epistle, he also refers to the Jewish tradition that Michael was the angel that hid the body of Moses from Satan so Moses could be “assumed in heaven.” In Islam, in addition to guarding the throne of Allah he is also the Chief of the Order of Virtues, Prince of the Presence, and ruler of the fourth heaven .⁹

Another early tradition for St. Michael is as the caregiver for the sick. This tradition came from Constantinople where legend says he appeared to intervene as an angelic healer by causing a medicinal spring to sprout at Chairotopa (present day Ceretapa, Turkey). This legend comes from first century Greek Christians who claim the Apostles John and Phillip foretold Michael’s appearance. The spring became renowned for its healing powers. The local pagans became enraged by the spring's healing powers and tried to destroy it. However, Michael returned hurling a great bolt of lightening splitting the rocks that blocked the spring and allowed it flow freely again. Constantine (bust above) venerated Michael’s healing powers and built his principal sanctuary, the Michaelion, at Sosthenion, some fifty miles south of Constantinople.  Legend has it he also appeared at the 10th Century Benedictine Abbey of Mont St. Michel in France and other is Mount Gargano in Apulia, Italy in the 4th Century.

Raphael's Michael the Archangel

 Driving Lucifer from Heaven

Vatican

Principal roles for Michael:

• To fight against Satan.
• To rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death.

• To be the defender of God's people. During the middle ages, Michael was the patron of many orders of Knighthood. This and his Greek tradition as angelic physician is where we draw the tradition of his patronage for the victims of A.I.D.S.
• The “weigher of souls” and the one who brings the souls to judgment “Free them and may St. Michael the standard bearer present them in a holy light as once to Abraham and his seed you promised Lord Jesus Christ.” (Offertorium: Requiem Mass)

Click on Button to Go to Gabriel Profile