A few days ago, on September 29, the Church celebrated the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the three archangels named in Sacred Scripture. Here in the Diocese of Palm Beach, we marked the feast with our traditional Blue Mass at the cathedral, entrusting our law enforcement officers and first responders to the protection of St. Michael, their patron. In light of that celebration, I would like to reflect on why St. Michael has held such a prominent place in Christian faith and devotion, and on what he can teach us and our children today.
We should begin with something fundamental: angels are real. They are not mythological characters or merely beautiful symbols of religious art. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that "the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls 'angels' is a truth of faith" (CCC 328). They are creatures of God who glorify Him and serve His plan of salvation.
Our devotion to St. Michael has deep biblical roots. In the Book of Daniel, he appears as "one of the chief princes" (Dan 10:13) and as "the great prince, guardian of your people" (Dan 12:1). The Letter of Jude calls him "the archangel Michael" and shows him confronting the devil. Even then, he relies not on his own power but on God: "May the Lord rebuke you" (Jude 9). In Revelation, "Michael and his angels battled against the dragon," "the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan" (Rev 12:7, 9). Scripture gives us a remarkably consistent picture. Michael stands with God, defends God's people and opposes the powers of evil, always in the service of a victory that belongs to God.
Even his name contains a profound catechesis. Michael means "Who is like God?" In Latin, it is Quis ut Deus? Christian tradition has long associated those words with his fidelity in the face of Lucifer's rebellion. They express the exact opposite of the serpent's temptation in Genesis: "You will be like gods" (Gen 3:5). In this way, St. Michael teaches us humility. God is God, and we are His creatures. Far from diminishing our dignity, that truth reveals its foundation: We are made in God's image, loved by Him and redeemed by Christ.
Across the centuries, a number of saints have testified to St. Michael's assistance and protection. Among the most remarkable is St. Joan of Arc. According to the testimony she gave at her trial in 1431, she was only about 13 years old when St. Michael first came to her, accompanied by angels. He instructed her to be a good child and to trust in God's help. Such experiences are not the foundation of our faith in angels; Sacred Scripture and the teaching of the Church are. Yet the witness of the saints reminds us that the angels are not merely figures from a distant biblical past. They continue to serve God's providential plan.
St. Michael also reminds us that the Christian life involves spiritual combat. This does not mean living in fear or becoming preoccupied with the devil. Our faith is centered on Jesus Christ, who through His death and Resurrection has conquered sin and death. Spiritual combat is far more ordinary and concrete. It is the daily struggle to choose truth over falsehood, forgiveness over resentment and humility over pride. A child who tells the truth when lying would be easier is fighting that battle. So is a young person who refuses to follow friends into something wrong, or who stands up for someone who is being mistreated.
This is why St. Michael is such an important figure to place before our children and young people. We do not want them to be afraid of the world; we want them to become courageous disciples of Jesus Christ. Like the young Joan of Arc, they need to learn that courage is rooted not in confidence in themselves, but in confidence in God. The Christian life will demand that they stand firm. But they should never be afraid. Christ has already conquered, and those who belong to Him can walk forward with confidence.
Let us, then, entrust our children and young people, our families, our schools and parishes, our law enforcement officers and first responders, and our entire diocesan family to the protection of St. Michael the Archangel. May he defend us in our spiritual battles and help us remain faithful to Jesus Christ. And may his very name remain engraved upon our hearts as a profession of humility, fidelity and absolute confidence in God: Quis ut Deus? Who is like God?
Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez
