St. Michael the Archangel defend us!

Of all the saints, few are as revered as St. Michael, the Archangel. Called upon to intercede in times of danger, Michael is the patron saint of paratroopers, police, and a protector of the Church. He is known for his battles against Satan and is frequently depicted trampling the Devil.

St. Michael is referred to as an Archangel, and scripture testifies to his place above other angels, referring to him as the "Prince of the Seraphim." 

This saint's feast day is September 29th and his name remains a popular choice for children around the world. 

It is widely understood that St. Michael continues to protect the Church and its faithful in their daily business.

Catholics typically recite this prayer to ask his help and protection. 

Saint Michael the Archangel,defend us in battle;be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,by the power of God,thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spiritswho prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.Amen.

Check out the Catholic Online entry for St. Michael

Feastday: September 29Patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police, and sickness

St. Michael, the Archangel - Feast day - September 29th The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heavenagainst satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.

Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim. St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness.

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There are a number of scriptural references to St. Michael, which comprise the majority of our understanding of his role in God's kingdom. 

Hebrew Bible

In the Hebrew Scriptures, and hence in the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel experiences a vision after having undergone a period of fasting. In the vision in Daniel 10:13-21 an angel identifies Michael as the protector of Israel. Daniel refers to Michael as a "prince of the first rank".[6] Later in the vision inDaniel 12:1 Daniel is informed about the role of Michael during the "time of the End" when there will be "distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations" and that:[7]"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise."

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In view of this, Michael is seen as playing an important role as the protector of Israel, and later of the Christian Church.

Although the three references to Michael in the Book of Daniel10:13, 10:21 and 12:1 are to the same individual who acts in similar ways in all three cases, the last one is set at the "end times" while the first two refer to local time in Persia.[8] These are the only three references to Archangel Michael in the Hebrew Bible.[9]

The references to the "captain of the host of the Lord" encountered by Joshua in the early days of his campaigns in the Promised Land(Joshua 5:13-15) have at times been interpreted as Michael the Archangel, but there is no theological basis for that assumption, given that Joshua then worshiped this figure, and angels are not to be worshiped. Some scholars also point that the figure may refer to God himself.[10][11] In the book of Joshua's account of the fall of Jericho, Joshua "looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand". When the still unaware Joshua asks which side of the fight the Archangel is on, the response was, "neither...but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come".

New Testament

The Book of Revelation (12:7-9) describes a war in heaven in which Michael, being stronger, defeats Satan:[12]

"...there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven."

After the conflict, Satan is thrown to earth along with the fallen angels, where he ("that ancient serpent called the devil") still tries to "lead the whole world astray".[12]

Separately, in the Epistle of Jude 1:9 Michael is specifically referred to as an "archangel" when he again confronts Satan:[13]

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"Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses"A reference to an "archangel" also appears in the First Epistle to the Thessalonians 4:16"... the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (American Standard Version of 1901, a version that uses the definite article, "the archangel", absent in the original Greek and in English translations such as the (English Standard Version of 2001, which has: "the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God").

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This archangel who heralds the second coming of Christ is not named,[13] but is probably Michael.[14]

Display your trust in St. Michael with these prints and cards. 

St. Michael is also honored in the Islamic tradition.

Qur'an

Michael (Arabic: ميخائيل, Mikhail ميكائيل, Mikael ), is one of the two archangels mentioned in the Qur'an, alongside Jibreel (Gabriel). In the Qur'an, Michael is mentioned once only, in Sura 2:98: "Whoever is an enemy to God, and His angels and His messengers, and Jibreel and Mikhail! Then, lo! God (Himself) is an enemy to the disbelievers."[15] Some Muslims believe that the reference in Sura 11:69 is Michael, one of the three angels who visited Abraham.[15]

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Saint Michael, the Archangel, full entry on Catholic Online.

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