Saint Michael & All Angels

September 29 – St. Michael & All Angels –

Also the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael, or Michaelmas. A day in the Western Christian calendar. Because it falls near the equinox, it is associated in the northern hemisphere with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days. Michael is the greatest of all the archangels and is honored for defeating Lucifer in the war in heaven.

In the presence of the angels, who obey thee, we praise thee, O Jesus, thou brightness and power of the Father, thou life of our hearts!

‘Tis for thee that fights this army of a thousand thousand princes, at whose head is Michael, the Conqueror, the standardbearer of salvation, who unfurls the Cross.

It was Michael that cast the cruel dragon into the depths of hell, and drove the rebels, with their chief, from the heavenly city.

Let us follow this prince against the king of pride; that we may deserve to receive, from the throne of the Lamb, a crown of glory.

Glory be to God the Father, who, by means of the angels, guards those whom the Son hath redeemed and the Holy Spirit anointed.

~Hymn for Vespers