By Ania

Michael (Archangel)

Michael is the Archangel mentioned in the Book of Revelation 12:7. In the Old Testament Michael is mentioned by name in the Persian context of the Book of Daniel.

He is generally presented as the "Field commander of the Army of God." There Michael appears as "one of the chief princes" (Daniel 10:13) Michael who in Daniel's vision comes to the Lord's aid in his contest with the leader of Persia, and is also described there as the advocate of Israel and "great prince (or leader) who stands up for the children of your (Daniel's) people" (Daniel 10:21, 12:1).

The Talmudic tradition rendered his name as meaning "who is like El ("God"—but literally "El's Likeness")" (compare the late prophet Micah), but according to Rabbi Simeon ben Lakish (AD 230–270), all the specific names for the angels were brought back by the Jews from Babylon, and many modern commentators would agree. The name title "Archangel" translated into the English language means: 'highest messenger'.

Much of the late Midrashic detail about Michael was transmitted to Christian mythology through the Book of Enoch, whence it was taken up

Guido Reni's archangel Michael (in the Capuchin church of Santa Maria della Concezione, Rome) tramples Satan.

and further elaborated. In late medieval Christianity, Michael, together with St George, became the patron saint of chivalry, and of the first chivalric order of France, the Order of Saint Michael of 1469. In the British honours system, a chivalric order founded in 1818 is also named for these two saints, the Order of St Michael and St George.

St Michael is also considered in many Christian circles as the Patron Saint of the Warrior. Police officers and soldiers, particularly paratroopers, regard him as their patron saint.

Roman Catholics refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael ("Saint" is a title meaning "holy", and is not meant to indicate that Michael is a human soul in heaven). Orthodox Christians refer to him as the Taxiarch ("Commander") Archangel Michael or simply Archangel Michael.

Michael

St. Michael the Archangel
(Hebrew "Who is like God").

St. Michael is one of the principal angels; his name was the war-cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against the enemy and his followers. Four times his name is recorded in Scripture:

(1) Daniel 10:13 sqq., Gabriel says to Daniel, when he asks God to permit the Jews to return to Jerusalem: "The Angel [D.V. prince] of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me . . . and, behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me . . . and none is my helper in all these things, but Michael your prince";

(2) Daniel 12, the Angel speaking of the end of the world and the Antichrist says: "At that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people."

(3) In the Catholic Epistle of St. Jude: "When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses", etc. St. Jude alludes to an ancient Jewish tradition of a dispute between Michael and Satan over the body of Moses, an account of which is also found in the apocryphal book on the assumption of Moses (Origen, "De principiis", III, 2, 2). St. Michael concealed the tomb of Moses; Satan, however, by disclosing it, tried to seduce the Jewish people to the sin of hero-worship. St. Michael also guards the body of Eve, according to the "Revelation of Moses" ("Apocryphal Gospels", etc., ed. A. Walker, Edinburgh, p. 647).

(4) Apocalypse 12:7, "And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon." St. John speaks of the great conflict at the end of time, which reflects also the battle in heaven at the beginning of time. According to the Fathers there is often question of St. Michael in Scripture where his name is not mentioned. They say he was the cherub who stood at the gate of paradise, "to keep the way of the tree of life" (Gen., iii, 24), the angel through whom God published the Decalogue to his chosen people, the angel who stood in the way against Balaam (Numbers 22:22 sqq.), the angel who routed the army of Sennacherib (IV Kings 19:35).

Following these Scriptural passages, Christian tradition gives to St. Michael four offices:

To fight against Satan.
To rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death.
To be the champion of God's people, the Jews in the Old Law, the Christians in the New Testament; therefore he was the patron of the Church, and of the orders of knights during the Middle Ages.
To call away from earth and bring men's souls to judgment ("signifer S. Michael repraesentet eas in lucam sanctam", Offert. Miss Defunct. "Constituit eum principem super animas suscipiendas", Antiph. off. Cf. "Hermas", Pastor, I, 3, Simil. VIII, 3).

Regarding his rank in the celestial hierarchy opinions vary; St. Basil (Hom. de angelis) and other Greek Fathers, also Salmeron, Bellarmine, etc., place St. Michael over all the angels; they say he is called "archangel" because he is the prince of the other angels; others (cf. P. Bonaventura, op. cit.) believe that he is the prince of the seraphim, the first of the nine angelic orders. But, according to St. Thomas (Summa, I:113:3) he is the prince of the last and lowest choir, the angels. The Roman Liturgy seems to follow the Greek Fathers; it calls him "Princeps militiae coelestis quem honorificant angelorum cives". The hymn of the Mozarabic Breviary places St. Michael even above the Twenty-four Elders. The Greek Liturgy styles him Archistrategos, "highest general" (cf. Menaea, 8 Nov. and 6 Sept.).

FREDERICK G. HOLWECK
Transcribed by Sean Hyland

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Michael ("Who is as God"): Regardless of which major faith's angelic beings is being followed, Michael ranks as the highest of the host. He is the leader of the celestial armies and is the angel who fought Satan during the War and enchained the rebel leader. He is considered to be of the class of seraphim, and yet is also head of other ranks within the hierarchy: the ruler of the archangels leader of the virtues, and head of the principalities in his role as protector of Israel.

Michael is considered to be the angel of the burning bush through which God spoke to Moses, and has also appeared in the book of Daniel, where God states him as being the highest within the angelic ranks. Although other angels have been attributed with the title of Angel of Death, it is Michael who weighs the souls on judgment day, after his battle once more with the forces of evil. He is mentioned
as both an angel of destruction and vengeance in the name of God, but also as a protector and the angel who kept Satan from claiming the body of Moses after the patriarch's death. By all rights, Michael can be considered foremost among the angels.

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This Archangel is 'over the best parts of humanity and over chaos' His name means Who is like to God. Also known as St. Michael, Archangel Michael is said to be the closest to God and is heaven's greatest defender and mightiest warrior against evil. His symbol is a fiery sword.

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Also known as: Lord Michael, Prince of the Archangels, Archangel of the First Ray, Defender of the Faith

Historical and Literary References: Michael's Name means "Who is like God." Angel of Deliverance. Considered by all three of the major monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, to be the greatest of all the Angels. Also, Michael and Gabriel are the only two Angels mentioned in the Old Testament by name. According to Jewish writings, Michael was considered to be the "Viceroy of Heaven", which incidentally was a title applied to the great adversary Lucifer before his fall from grace. Michael has been credited as being the angel who stayed the hand of Abraham when he was on the point of sacrificing his son Isaac. According to Louis Ginzberg in The Legends of the Jews, Vol.2, p.303, "the Fire that Moses saw in the burning bush had the appearance of Michael, who had descended from Heaven as the forerunner of the Shekinah."

In the Book of Revelation 20:1, it is commonly thought that Michael is the "angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand." He is usually depicted wearing armor or chain mail and an unsheathed Sword, signifying his role as God's champion. He was described as young, strong and handsome; very huge and militant; eyes looking like pools of fire with firm, chiseled facial features. His skin was described as the "color of copper which radiates and glows from being in the Presence of God".

Divine Quality: Protection , Faith , Will of God , Power , Omnipotence of God , Perfection

Previously posted from my other site: http://raf1027.multiply.com/journal/item/158