Who is St. Michael?
The Feast Day of St. Michael is celebrated every year on September 29. St. Michael plays a unique role in the Catholic Church as he is tasked with protecting, healing and guiding us with his divine strength and powerful love.
St. Michael is an archangel and therefore is not a human being. Like the other angels, God created St. Michael as a pure spirit, with intellect and will, but with no physical body. St. Michael is often portrayed as a mighty warrior with a sword and shield. This is indicative of his reputation as the ultimate protector and defender against evil.
St. Michael led the angelic forces against Satan to expel him and his followers from heaven. He was rewarded for his loyalty to God and was made chief archangel. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes him as a saint due to his heroic actions and for serving as an excellent example to others. St. Michael helps us to have courage and to face challenges with bravery. He shields us from harm and drives away negativity, inspiring us to choose what is right and just.
In addition to being a Catholic saint, St. Michael is also recognized in Judaism and Islam. The name “Michael” in Hebrew means, “Who is like God”. He is envisioned as “standing” to the right of the throne of God, and oftentimes is considered as the right hand of God.
In the Qur’an, the Angel Mika’il (known as Michael in Christianity) is a friend to humanity who is a giver of rain, helping to provide people’s food. He is said to guard places of worship. As the Angel of Mercy, he asks God to forgive people’s sins and rewards people’s good works.
On the Feast Day of St. Michael, we celebrate his special role in our lives. We can turn to him in prayer, seeking his intercession and guidance. He reminds us that we are never alone and offers his loving presence to help us overcome challenges, find hope and experience God’s healing touch.
St. Michael teaches us to be courageous, to listen to God’s message and to care for ourselves and others. He reminds us that the power of God’s love and protection is always available to us and he inspires us to live our lives with faith, hope and kindness.
St. Michael plays an extra special role in our Archdiocese as he is the namesake of our Cathedral, the centre of the Archdiocese of Toronto. Furthermore, many important buildings throughout the GTA are named after St. Michael, including schools, parishes and hospitals.