Saint Who?
Saints Who Battled the Devil
Saint Michael
Archangel Feast: September 29
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it (Rv 12:7-9).
Michael is mentioned by name four times in the Bible: twice in the book of Daniel (10:13-21; 12:1), once in the letter of Jude (1:9), and most famously in Revelation (as quoted above). Commenting on this last passage, Gregory I wrote, “Whenever something is to be done needing great power, Michael is sent forth so that from his action and his name we may understand that no one can do what God can do.” His name means “Who is like God?,” attesting to the foundational nature of humility in the spiritual battle.
The familiar Saint Michael Prayer, largely based on the verses from Revelation, originated with Pope Leo XIII, after he received a vision of a demonic assault on the Church. At his request, the prayer was recited after Mass for decades. In recent years, Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis have specially requested the faithful to pray the Saint Michael prayer.
Merciful and mighty Father, may Saint Michael
protect us always from the snares
of pride and idolatry.
