Collection: St. Michael Archangel

ARTIST: Br. Arturo Olivas, OFS

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

St. Michael the Archangel, we honor you as a powerful protector of the Church and guardian of our souls. Inspire us with your humility, courage and strength that we may reject sin and perfect our love for our Heavenly Father.

In your strength and humility, slay the evil and pride in our hearts so that nothing will keep us from God.

His feast day is September 29.

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God had made Heaven and the Earth and all the Angels and all the extra important Angels, called Archangels. The Archangels were God's very special friends and were Shining and Strong and Powerful. One Archangel was called Michael. Michael, the Archangel, was "the Angel of the Lord", who was sent to Moses and Jacob and Abraham and to other people throughout the history of the world.

Saint Michael, the Archangel, who ranks among the seven Archangels, is also one of the three Angels mentioned by name in the Scriptures; the others being Saint Raphael and Saint Gabriel. Saint Gabriel is the messenger to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Mystery of the Incarnation. Michael is the defender of Jesus Christ in his Sacred Humanity. Saint Michael, the Archangel. He is spoken of twice in the Old Testament, and twice in the New.

The name Michael, signifies "Who is like to God" and was the war cry of the good Angels in the battle fought in heaven against Satan and his followers. Because of the victory, Saint Michael, the Archangel, is revered in Catholic tradition and liturgy as the Protector of the Church, as once, he was regarded as the Protector of the Israelites. In the Eastern Church, Saint Michael, the Archangel, is placed over all the Angels, as Prince of the Seraphim.

As distinct from the Guardian Angels, the Archangels are God's messengers to man in matters of grave moment; e.g., Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, Raphael to Tobias; and to the Archangels God also entrusts the care of persons of exalted rank or sanctit to the Archangels. Saint Michael, the Archangel, was the angel who communicated with Joan of Arc. In spite of her efforts to save her king and country with the help of God, Joan was betrayed by her own people to the English who tried her as a witch and burned her at the stake.

Saint Michael, the Archangel, is usually depicted with a sword. This sword is double edged: truth and justice. As the Archangel of battle and defender of Heaven, Michael is said to be the Patron Saint of policemen. In the Christian Bible, Michael is said to be the Angel who told the Virgin Mary of her approaching death.