The Catholic Church celebrates it on 29 September together with the archangels Gabriele and Raffaele. His name in Hebrew “Mi-Ka-El” means: “Who like God?”. In both Eastern and western iconography, St. Michael the Archangel is represented, in fact, as a fighter, with the sword or spear in hand and under his feet the dragon, a symbol of Satan, defeated in battle.
Popular saint and very revered not only in Italy, we are talking about him in chapter XII of Apocalypse book where the archangel is presented as an opponent of the devil and winner of the last battle against Satan and his supporters: «He then broke out a war in the sky: Michele and his angels fought against the dragon (…) The great dragon, the ancient snake, the one who calls the devil and Satan and who seduces the whole earth, had fallen on earth and his angels were also precipitated with him ».
Michele, head of the angels, first next to Lucifer (Satan) in representing the Angelica couple, then separates himself from Satan and from the angels who operate the split from God, remaining faithful to him instead, while Satan and his ranks precipitate in the underworld.
In popular tradition, therefore, it is considered The defender of the people of God and the winner in the struggle of good against evil. It is no coincidence that San Michele is depicted in different churches or on top of bell towers.
In the East, it is revered with the title of “Archistratega”, which corresponds to the Latin title of Princeps Militiae Caelestis (Prince of the celestial militias).
For this warrior and defensive virtue, San Michele has been proclaimed patron and protector of the State Police from Pope Pius XII on 29 September 1949 In homage to the “struggle” that the policeman fights every day at the service of citizens and to protect and protect public order, the safety of people .. more than 60 Italian locations, including Caserta, Cuneo, Alghero, Albenga and VastoThey venerate him as a patron saint, but S. Michele, as well as of the State Police, is the protector of many other categories of workers: pharmacists, golden, traders, scales manufacturers, judges, fencing masters, radiologists. The paratroopers of Italy and France also rely on him.
Patron of the police
Every year, to celebrate its patron, the State Police organizes several initiatives. There is also the Police of the policeman dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo.
Here is the text:
Oh! San Michele Arcangelo, our heavenly patron, who have won the rebel spirits – enemies of truth and justice – make strong and generous, in reverence and in the adhesion to the law of the Lord, how many the homeland has called to ensure among its citizens Concordia, honesty and peace so that – in compliance with any law – the spirit of human fraternity is fueled. For this reason, we implore from your patronage righteousness to our minds, vigor to our wishes, honesty to our affections, for the serenity of our homes, for the dignity of our land! Amen
What does the title of “archangel” mean?
In addition to San Michele, the church recalls the Archangels Gabriele and Raffaele.
The Bible reveals the specific missions of each: Michele’s opponent of Satan, Gabriele Annunciatore and Raffaele Rescorritore. Before the 1969 reform, San Michele Arcangelo was remembered on this day in memory of the consecration of the famous sanctuary on Mount Gargano dedicated to him.
The title of Archangel derives from the idea of UNa Celeste Corte in which the angels are present according to different degrees and dignity.
The archangels Michele, Gabriele and Raffaele occupy the highest spheres of the angelic hierarchies. These have the task of preserving the transcendence and mystery of God. At the same time, they make its salvific closeness in mind and perceptible.
What are their functions?
Sacred Scripture indicates the particular missions of the Archangels: day and night they serve God and, contemplating his face, glorify him incessantly. In particular Michele (“Who is he like God?”) Is the archangel that arises against Satan and his satellites (GD 9; AP 12, 7; cf. ZC 13, 1-2), defender of the friends of God (DN 10, 13.21), protector of his people (DN 12, 1).
Gabriele (“Force of God”) is one of the spirits before God (Lk 1, 19), reveals to Daniele the secrets of the Plan of God (DN 8, 16; 9, 21-22), announces in Zaccaria the birth of John the Baptist (Lk 1, 11-20) and that of Jesus (Lk 1, 26-38).
Raffaele (“God healed”), also among the seven angels who are before the throne of God (TB 12, 15; cf. AP 8, 2), accompanies and guards Tobia in the vicissitudes of his journey and heals his blind father. The pilgrim church on earth, especially in the Eucharistic liturgy, is associated with the hosts of the angels who in the celestial Jerusalem sing the glory of God (cf. ap 5, 11-14; conc. Vat. II, constitution on the sacred liturgy, “Sacrosanctum Concilium”, 8).
Why is it celebrating on September 29th?
The cult of Archangel Michael is of oriental origin.
The emperor Constantine I starting from 313 tribute to him a particular devotion, until he dedicated Micheleion, an imposing sanctuary made to build in Constantinople.
The first basilica dedicated to the Archangel in the West is the one that stood on a hill at the VII Mile of Via Salaria, found by the Archaeological Superintendence of Rome in 1996; The day of his dedication, officiated in all probability by a Pope before 450, or September 29, has remained to date in which the whole Catholic world celebrates “San Michele”.
The basilica “in septimo” was a destination for pilgrimages until the 9th century, When the geographical reference of the festival of 29 September is transferred to the Gargano Sanctuary and to the church of Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome. In the East San Michele is revered with the title of “Archistraga“, which corresponds to the Latin title of Princeps Militiae Caelestis (Prince of the celestial militias) that appears in the prayer in San Michele.
Raffaello, San Michele and the Dragon
The appearance on the Gargano and the spread of the cult in Europe
At the end of the fifth century, the cult spread rapidly throughout Europe, also following the appearance of the Archangel on the Gargano in Puglia. According to tradition, the Archangel would appear to San Lorenzo Maiorano, bishop of Siponto on May 8, 490, and indicated a cave on the Gargano invited him to dedicate it to the Christian worship.
In that place we still stand the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo – Celeste Basilica (in the middle of the city nucleus of Monte Sant’Angelo), which in the Middle Ages was a destination for uninterrupted flows of pilgrims, who in order to arrive there were a path of long purification the Via Francigena.
San Michele in Islam
The name of Mīkāʾīl (in Arabic: ميخ█), or Mīkīl (in Arabic: ﻣﻴﻜﻴﻞ), is mentioned in the Koran at Sura II, Versetto 98. It is indicated as equal rank compared to Jibrdīl (Gabriele). According to tradition, together with the latter, the prophet Muhammad would have instructed and, according to another tradition, his characteristic would be to never laugh.
