Novena to St. Michael the Archangel

Michael (Hebrew: 'Who is like God?') is one of the archangels named in Scripture, called 'one of the chief princes' and defender of God's people in the Book of Daniel (10:13, 21; 12:1), the angel who disputed with the devil over the body of Moses in the Epistle of Jude (1:9), and the leader of the heavenly host who cast down the dragon in the Apocalypse (Revelation 12:7-9). Tradition has long venerated him as the protector of the Church, the guardian who defends souls against the wickedness and snares of the devil, and the angel who weighs and escorts souls at the hour of death. His feast, kept on the Roman calendar since antiquity, falls on September 29 and is popularly known as Michaelmas. Devotion to him intensified after Pope Leo XIII composed a prayer asking his protection, added to the prayers recited after Low Mass from 1886 onward.

Sacred Scripture, Douay-Rheims translation (Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7-9), public domain; Roman Martyrology and universal Catholic tradition regarding St. Michael the Archangel, feast September 29.