St Michael is seen as the chief of archangels, a defender, guardian, protector of Israel and the faith. He is shown in Daniel as a warrior and of course in Revelation he is the slayer of the dragon and the angel who cast out the Satan from the heavenly thrones.
The to angels is said to be:
First Order are Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones,
Second order Dominions, Powers and Virtues
Third Order Principalities, Archangels and Angels
Terms also to describe angels are sons of God, ‘holy ones’, Angels are mentioned in the divine council of God as members of a heavenly chorus,
St Michael is gentle and brave, gallant and bold.
From the hymn by Jan Struther,
Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed
‘Gainst the dragons of anger and the ogres of greed:
And let me set free, with the sword of my youth,
From the castle of darkness, the power of the truth.
Michaelmass, September 29th is the time we remember St Michael and also celebrate the changing seasons of the agricultural world.
Read more in Sermons 2022…