St. Michael is the archangel presented in Sacred Scripture as a defender of God’s people and the leader of the heavenly host in battle against the dragon. His name asks, "Who is like God?" and proclaims that no creature can rival the Lord. As Catholics, we pray the novena to St. Michael for protection in spiritual warfare, courage against temptation, defense of the Church, and fidelity to Christ.
Begin PrayingMore about St. Michael the Archangel
The Church teaches that angels are personal, immortal, spiritual creatures created by God. They worship Him and serve His plan for the salvation of the world. In the Book of Daniel, St. Michael is called one of the chief princes and the great prince who stands guard over God’s people. The Letter of Jude identifies him as the archangel who contended with the devil, while Revelation presents St. Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon and casting him from heaven. These passages are the foundation of the Church’s devotion to St. Michael as a defender against the powers of evil. His victory is never independent of God, but comes entirely through the authority and triumph of Christ.
Devotion to St. Michael is ancient in both the Eastern and Western Churches. Shrines dedicated to him, including the sanctuary at Monte Gargano in Italy, became places of pilgrimage and prayer. He is commonly depicted with armor and a sword or spear, standing over the defeated dragon. Pope Leo XIII composed the well-known Prayer to St. Michael for the defense of the Church, and St. John Paul II encouraged the faithful not to forget it. The Church celebrates St. Michael with St. Gabriel and St. Raphael on September 29. The novena is prayed from September 20 through September 28 in preparation for that feast. Asking for St. Michael’s intercession is an act of trust in God, whose grace protects His people and gives them strength to reject sin.
