The Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, also known as Michaelmas, falls annually on September 29. Angels appear throughout the pages of Holy Scripture. Sometimes, as in the case of Michael, they are named in obscure passages (Daniel 10:12:1, Thessalonians 4:16). In other cases, angels are referred to in a general sense (Job 38:7, Revelation 14:6). In other places, angels act as God’s messengers, such as when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:26-38).
Michael’s importance is tied to Revelation 12:7-9: “And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
It is for this reason that Saint Michael is portrayed in Christian art and iconography as a warrior. Our English word for angel comes from the Greek word “angelos” meaning messenger. For thousands of years, across cultures, human beings have reported angelic encounters. Within the Christian faith and the Western artistic tradition, angels have often been depicted as beautiful human like creature with wings and halos. These are symbolic portrayals. In Christian understanding angels are genderless; they are spiritual beings, not physical ones.
Angels aren't chubby babies with wings (I know they are so cute!) but are super-human intelligences that serve God; usually, behind the curtain of ordinary human perception. But, are they real? Traditional Christian belief and experience suggests, yes! With all that the natural sciences are revealing to us today about the “seen and unseen” it shouldn’t surprise us that there is more to this world that meets the naked eye. But what do you think about angels? Are they a mysterious reality or a medieval supersition? Please share in the comment sections below.
