That is why the feast of St. Michael with the other six archangels is perfectly placed on September 29. During this season, daytime becomes shorter, falling near the equinox, nighttime is longer and colder especially in countries in the north. God and the Holy Catholic Church really has a way to fortify its liturgical days.
Saint Padre Pio said, “You will need the help of St. Michael living in this world.” It is true that in this day and age where people forget to go to church and pray, we need St. Michael in our daily lives.
The Bible mentions the importance of St. Michael and the angels in heaven because of the struggles and dangers we face in life..
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Ephesians 6:12
But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me one and twenty days: and behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there by the king of the Persians. Daniel 10:13
And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought with his angels: And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan who seduced the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12: 7-9
The great battle written in Revelation just shows how significant St. Michael and the archangels were as they defended heaven and God from the pride-driven angels who lost their luster when they were cast out. The fallen ones lost their place in heaven and lurked in the dark for all eternity.
That is why the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel is much needed today to protect us from the fallen ones. The prayer was composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1884 as a result of a vision in which he heard a voice believed to be God and the Devil. Because of the incident, he wrote the prayer and ordered it to be recited by the faithful.
Today is the feast of St. Michael and other Archangels, we are in the last quarter of the year, a time when the night is longer, colder and darker. A season to remind us again that God gave us mighty protectors to give us hope always. At times our intuition feels that we are in danger and unsure of our surroundings, never hesitate to invoke St. Michael and the archangels, or our guardian angels. Keep by heart the Prayer of St. Michael to protect our body and soul from elements be it seen and unseen.
