Michaelmas Day is upon us, and Holy Mother Church honors her celestial Guardian with a very solemn and devout reverence, as the following liturgical texts show.

The Invitatory in the Carmelite Breviary differs from that which is found in the Roman Breviary, and gives us a sublime depiction of the adoration Our Blessed Savior receives from the Angels, especially from St. Michael:

All the hosts of Angels adore the King of the heavens, * And amongst them the illustrious Archangel Michael: come ye, let us adore.

Despite our unworthiness, we are given the inexpressible privilege of participating in the Angelic praises even whilst still sojourning here upon earth through holy prayer, especially at Holy Mass and the recitation of the Divine Office. That is why we are bidden to come and adore the Lord whom St. Michael together with all the Angels praise in the empyreal precincts. As in the Carmelite Breviary, the Invitatory in the Præmonstratensian Breviary also mentions St. Michael, the Warrior-Chieftain of the heavenly hosts, the title of his mentioned in one of the Leonine Prayers:

Let us together rejoice unto God, the King of Angels, * Let us solemnly venerate the Chieftain Michael.

The Invitatory at Matins serves to remind us of the ultimate purpose of the Office and Mass of the Angels and Saints: to adore Our Blessed Lord for the predestination to glory and grace wherewith He has deigned to bestow upon His elect. Thus, the Roman Breviary hails Him as the King of Archangels, not only because He is their King by right by reason that He is their Creator but also by conquest because His human nature hypostatically united to the Eternal Word has triumphed over Satan and sits at the right hand of the Father [cf. Ps. cix], and He has gratuitously vouchsafed the now-beatified Angels during their trial the grace requisite to humbly submit to the Divine Majesty and reject the deceits of Satan. It was for His honor and glory that St. Michael fought and overcame the infernal serpent, and his humble subjection and ardent love for the Incarnate Word elevated him to the peerless and sublime rank he now enjoys.

Though in his angelic nature in its proper natural order St. Michael is a member of the Choir of Archangels and therefore inferior to the higher Angelic Choirs, he has been given greater grace and glory than all the Angelic worlds combined and has been enthroned above the Seraphim and the Cherubim for his immense contemplation, and set above the Thrones and Dominions, Principalities, Virtues and Powers, by reason of his exercise of the infused theological virtues and his jealous and ardent love for the glory of the only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father during the period of probation. It is important to remember that a single movement of divine charity is greater than all created natures combined, whether material or immaterial, whether Angelic or otherwise.

In this did his victory over the apostate Lucifer and his infernal cohorts consist: in a charity and zeal, established in profound humility, so great that it was as a might sword whose fulminating swing thrust them forthwith into the bottomless pit. The fallen seraph was humiliated at the sight of Michael, this relatively lowly Angelic warrior, now crowned by the Blessed Trinity as Prince of the celestial Choirs and Chieftain of the heavenly armies. Such is the prodigy that holy grace alone can work.



The following Responsories from the Carmelite Breviary illustrate the role St. Michael has in the economy of our salvation: he leads the souls of the faithful departed before the beatific vision of the Trinity; his patronage and tutelage is paramount to the welfare of the Christendom; and he is the conqueror of the devil and ceaselessly works to destroy his machinations and plots against Holy Mother Church.

℟. The Archangel Michael cometh with a multitude of Angels, to whom God hath delivered the souls of the Saints, * That he may lead them unto the Paradise of exultation. ℣. Power hath been given to Michael the Archangel over the souls of the Saints * That he may lead them unto the Paradise of exultation. (Fifth Responsory)

℟. This is Michael the Archangel, Price of the hosts of the Angels, * Whose honor doth grant the favors of the peoples, and whose prayer doth lead them unto the heavenly kingdoms. ℣. O Archangel of Christ, by Whom thou hast merited grace, we pray thee, that thou mayest liberate us from the snare of death, * Whose honor doth grant the favors of the peoples, and whose prayer doth lead them unto the heavenly kingdoms. (Sixth Responsory)

℟. A faithful word and all worthy of acceptance: the Archangel Michael hath fought with the devil: as conqueror hath he arisen in the heavens by the grace of God: * And by him hath the ancient enemy suffered great ruin. ℣. Let the Angels rejoice, and may the Archangels exult upon Michael, the herald of God. * And by him hath the ancient enemy suffered great ruin. (Eighth Responsory)

Let us ever remember that it was for the glory of Jesus and Mary that St. Michael fought against the devils and continually protects us throughout our mortal sojourn from their assaults. Let us have recourse to him, that we may worthily serve Jesus and Mary and be saved from the wiles and temptations of the devil. Let us also pray to him for Holy Mother Church and protect her in these tumultuous times.[/size]


From The Saint Andrew Daily Missal with Vespers for Sundays and Feasts by Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, O.S.B., of the Abbey of St- André (Bruges, Belgium: Liturgical Apostolate of the Abbey of St-André, 1956), here is the Mass, together with Proper Vespers, for Feast Day of the Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, Commander of the Heavenly Hosts

So glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

Amen

St. Gabriel
(God's fortitude)

O God, who amongst all the Angels didst choose the Archangel Gabriel to announce the mystery of Thine Incarnation; mercifully grant, that we who solemnly remember him on earth may feel the benefit of his patronage in heaven

Amen.

St. Raphael
(God has healed)

Vouchsafe, O Lord God, to send unto our assistance Saint Raphael the Archangel:
and may he, who, we believe, evermore standeth before the throne of Thy majesty,
offer unto Thee our humble petitions to be blessed by Thee.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Sancte Raphael

Dirigere dignare, Domine Deus, in adiutorium nostrum, sanctum Raphaelem Archangelum;
 et quem tuae maiestati semper assistere credimus,
tibi nostras exiguas preces benedicendas assignet.
Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
Amen.

Prayer to St. Raphael, Archangel

Glorious archangel, St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, illustrious by thy gifts of wisdom and grace, guide of travelers by land and sea, consoler of the unfortunate and refuge of sinners, I entreat thee to help me in all my needs and in all the trials of this life, as you did once assist the young Tobias in his journeying. And since you art the "physician of God," I humbly pray thee to heal my soul of its many infirmities and my body of the ills that afflict it, if this favor is for my greater good. I ask, especially, for angelic purity, that I may be made fit to be the living temple of the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard to rule and guide.
Amen.

Angele Dei

Angele Dei, qui custos es mei, me tibi commissum pietate superna; hodie (vel hac nocte) illumina, custodi, rege, et guberna.
Amen.

Before Starting on a Journey

My holy Angel Guardian, ask the Lord to bless the journey which I undertake, that it may profit the health of my soul and body; that I may reach its end, and that, returning safe and sound, I may find my family in good health. Do thou guard, guide and preserve us.

Amen.

St. Gertrude’s Guardian Angel Prayer

O most holy angel of God, appointed by God to be my guardian, I give you thanks for all the benefits which you have ever bestowed on me in body and in soul. I praise and glorify you that you condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemies. Blessed be the hour in which you were assigned me for my guardian, my defender and my patron. In acknowledgement and return for all your loving ministries to me, I offer you the infinitely precious and noble heart of Jesus, and firmly purpose to obey you henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my God.

Amen.

To the Holy Archangel Who Strengthened Our Lord in His Agony

I salute thee, holy Angel who didst comfort my Jesus in His agony, and with thee I praise the most holy Trinity for having chosen thee from among all the holy Angels to comfort and strengthen Him who is the comfort and strength of all that are in affliction. By the honor thou didst enjoy and by the obedience, humility and love wherewith thou didst assist the sacred Humanity of Jesus, my Savior, when He was fainting for very sorrow at seeing the sins of the world and especially my sins, I beseech thee to obtain for me perfect sorrow for my sins; deign to strengthen me in the afflictions that now overwhelm me, and in all the other trials, to which I shall be exposed henceforth and, in particular, when I find myself in my final agony.

Amen.

Prayer to St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael

Most Holy Trinity, I thank Thee for having formed the hosts of Thy ministers in Heaven so marvelously, and for having adorned their leader so magnificently. Be Thou adored and loved in the beauty and grandeur of Thy ministers: be Thou praised in their jubilant songs of praise and thanksgiving, through all eternity. Amen.

O holy princes of Heaven, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, I praise you for the love with which the Most High has loved you and placed you so near to His own throne. Be mindful of our necessities, and at the head of the Holy Angels, do battle for the Church of God upon earth, that Satan may be forced to yield ever more, and the Kingdom of light and grace, virtue and the holy love of God, may flourish in splendor, and its beauty be acknowledged by all. Amen.

And too bad about the picture above though, the devil could use some covering.

I hadn't noticed that: someone told me it was symbolic, because Satan had rejected grace and so was left spiritually "naked" --- for all the malice of his perverted nature to be made manifest. It is interesting that the first cognition of our First Parents after the Fall was their observation that they were naked: they were utterly bereft of any supernatural goodness as they had rejected grace and so it was fitting that the shame should rush upon them.

In the picture above, I don't think it's a problem because St. Michael does a good job of covering the demon up.

I am more concerned about depictions of St. Michael that make him look effeminate or androgynous. Today's art critic may object that Angels do not have genders (funny how they cite theology when it suits them), but the Holy Scriptures, the Fathers and spiritual writers have used the grammatical masculine form when speaking of St. Michael and the Angels.

Stanza from the old Little Office of the Holy Angels

Bright Spirit whom a God supremely wise,
has given to be Guardian of this land,
Come, armed with all your power from the skies,
and bear its children harmless in your hand --
safe from all evil that defiles the soul,
safe from disunion's withering control.

Gradual

Bless the Lord, all you His angels: you that are mighty in strength that do His will. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me bless His holy Name. Alleluia, alleluia. Holy Archangel Michael, defend us in battle: that we may not perish in the dreadful judgement. Alleluia.

Offertory (Apoc. 8)

An angel stood near the altar of the temple, having a golden censer in his hand; and there was given to him much incense; and the smoke of perfumes ascended before God.

Post Communion

Supported by the intercession of blessed Michael, Thy Archangel, we humbly entreat Thee, O Lord, that the service we pay with our lips, we may lay hold of with our minds. Through Our Lord. . .

For Help Against Spiritual Enemies

Glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, who are ever ready to assist the people of God; who fought with the dragon, the old serpent, and cast him out of heaven, and now valiantly defend the Church of God so the gates of hell may never prevail against her: I earnestly entreat you, assist me also in the painful and dangerous conflict I must sustain against the same formidable foe. Be with me, O mighty Prince! that I may courageously fight and wholly vanquish the proud spirit, whom you, by the Divine power, have overthrown, and whom our powerful King, Jesus Christ, in our nature, so completely overcame; so that, triumphing over the enemy of my salvation, I may, with you and the holy angels, praise the clemency of God, who through refusing mercy to the rebellious angels after their fall, has granted repentance and forgiveness to fallen man.

Amen.