Wyatt North - The Life and Prayers of Saint Michael the Archangel

At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people;

It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since the nation began until that time.

At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)

V erses from Daniel prophesize the Day of Judgment; the day when Satan will finally be cast down into the abyss to face the curse of damnation for eternity. On this day, as it tells us in Scripture, the world will be free from mourning and loss. We do not know when that day will come, only God the Father knows the date and time of judgment.

In the meantime, faithful followers of Christ must tread their path carefully, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ as they work out their salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

Yet we are not alone as we walk that road less travelled. While we may sense the spiritual onslaught from all directions we need not fear. At our side, throughout our journey we have the prince who stands for the children of your people. (Daniel 12:1)

That prince is Saint Michael the Archangel, warrior of God, invincible and insurmountable. All angels of Gods choir should be honoured, but Saint Michael above all of the angels and archangels stands revered through the ages. As the prophet Daniel makes clear, Saint Michael is indeed a prince among all of the angels.

Saint Michael is the Defender of the Faith and of our Church. As Christians we pray each day that he stands with us all and with our families through this life and beyond.

Saint Michael the Archangel is the most revered archangel within the Church throughout history and today but his pre-eminence transcends the history of the Christian Church.

His immortal name evolved from his outraged cry when the rebellious angel Lucifer dared to stand against God in the midst of the conflict of the heavenly hosts. In defending his God, Michael called out, MI-CHA-EL, Who is like unto God? or Quis ut Deus in Latin.

Who, after all, could ever compare to God?

And so it was - Saint Michael - a name which was to become synonymous through the centuries with a variety of roles but predominantly that of the Patron and Protector of the Church and the mighty Defender of the Faith.

Since his first defeat of Lucifer, a t the command of his divine sovereign, Saint Michael has continued to protect the faithful on Earth, initially in his role of Guardian of the Israeli people in accordance with the Old Covenant. Later that same protection was provided to the Christian Church under the New Covenant.

Saint Michaels role extends far beyond the war with the enemy here on Earth; it embraces every single member of the Church. His venerated name is invoked on a daily basis for protection, for healing, for consolation and by the dying as they make their final journey to Gods Eternal Kingdom, seeking to avoid the desolation of Purgatory.

Saint Michael the Archangel is the head of Gods heavenly throng, offering divine fortitude and protecting the souls of the faithful as they fight against the powers of evil seeking to overturn the throne of Almighty God and rule the world. Gods angels willingly submit to his command. After God, it is Saint Michael to whom they owe their eternal peace and joy, the archangel who seeks only to Gods will..

It was Saint Michael who was at Gods side before the beginning of time, playing a pivotal role in the first defeat of Lucifer, as he will on the final Day of Judgment.

It is Saint Michael who provides consolation to departed souls lingering in purgatory who seek only to reach the Paradise of Gods Eternal Kingdom.

It is Saint Michael who walks with those souls as they depart their mortal bodies to face judgment for their mortal lives.

It is Saint Michael who valiantly protects both the Church and the Blessed Sacrament.

It is Saint Michael who is pre-eminent among the holiest of heavenly hosts, the angels and archangels.

Ultimately, it is Saint Michael who will lead Gods angels, blessed with the power of light and grace, to victory over Satan and his fallen angels in the final battle. We see this prophesied in the verse from Daniel and depicted in the Book of Revelation.

It is Saint Michael who will sound the last trumpet and throw Satan and his allies into the burning depths of eternal damnation.

Saint Michael has been and remains protector and friend to Christians around the world, both today and through the centuries. We can rely on him and trust him. We know that a life lived invoking him to be our intercessor and our guardian angel will bring us the ultimate promise of eternal life when the Day of Judgment arrives.

He is the only archangel referred to by name in Scripture, a figure of reverence throughout the history of Christian art.

St Francis de Sales once claimed Veneration of Saint Michael is the great remedy against despising the rights of God, against insubordination, skepticism and infidelity. Today, in the often-moral-abyss of the 21 st Century it seems our need for him is greater than ever in countless daily conflicts of spiritual warfare.

Through it all Saint Michael is with us. He will take our hand through our fear and trembling. He will heed and respond to our heartfelt prayers.