St. Michael the Archangel is the warrior saint par excellence. No, he’s not a human saint, but he’s called “St. Michael,” and he’s actually recognized in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. He’s the head of the heavenly army that battled against the enemy of God—and defeated him. (Rev 12:7–9)

He’s definitely someone you want on your side.

The name Michael means “Who is like God?” and the word archangel comes from the Greek word arche (meaning prince) and angelos (meaning messenger). The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that, theologically speaking, angels aren’t what they are (they’re spiritual beings we can’t see), it’s what they do (they’re servants and messengers of God).

The Catechism also states that each of us has a Guardian Angel, who helps us achieve our salvation if we openly listen. And although we can’t see them, we’re frequently in the company of angels, especially at Mass. If nothing else, the Guardian Angel of every person in the congregation is there. During Mass (in the Eucharistic Prayer), we’re invited to “sing with the angels and archangels,” when we recite “Holy, Holy, Holy…” St. John Chrysostom wrote that at the Mass, the entire sanctuary is filled with angels who honor Christ, present in the Eucharist. That’s pretty astonishing when you think about it. It is comforting to know we’re surrounded by these powerful beings who protect us, guide us, and lift our prayers to God.[1]

The most powerful one is St. Michael. Typically, he’s depicted in art as an angelic warrior wearing battle attire, carrying a shield and sword, and standing with one foot on a dragon or demon. According to an ancient tradition, St. Michael also weighs the deeds of the deceased and leads them to eternal life. That’s why you’ll sometimes see him holding scales. Other ancient traditions claim that St. Michael brought Mary—body and soul—into heaven.

St. Michael is the only angel in the Bible who is referred to as an “archangel” and is quoted as saying to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you!”[2] He’s also mentioned three times in the Old Testament (the Book of Daniel), where he’s referred to as the guardian angel (“one of the chief princes”) of Israel.

St. Michael was also an important figure in Christianity during the Middle Ages. In early 590, when Rome was being plummeted by famines, a decimated infrastructure, and frequent flooding from the Tiber River, the plague broke out. St. Gregory the Great lead a procession through the streets of Rome, with the faithful chanting litanies and carrying the famous icon of the Blessed Mother, Salus Populi Romani. The plague was so severe that apparently 80 people died as they processed. But while the group was approaching the Mausoleum of Hadrian at the Tiber River, St. Gregory saw St. Michael standing on the top of the building, sheathing his sword. According to reports, the plague ended. St Gregory renamed the Mausoleum Castel Sant’Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel), and eventually a statue of St. Michael was placed at the spot where the archangel stood.

That’s not the only place where St. Michael is said to have appeared. While many sacred places boast visits of the Archangel, one is legendary. It’s not a single shrine, but seven ancient sites, six of which claim apparitions of St. Michael. When linked together, they create a straight geographic line of roughly 1,242 miles, starting at Skellig Michael in Ireland and ending at Mount Carmel Monastery in Haifa, Israel. This line is referred to as the Sword of St. Michael, and has captured the imagination of the faithful for centuries—many of whom have seen it as a representation of the apocalyptic battle with which St. Michael pummeled the evil spirits.

Next to Mary, there’s probably not a better saint we can pray to for protection and assistance than this warrior-archangel-saint who continues fighting the fallen angels on our behalf. Even before the pandemic, Pope Francis recommended we pray to St. Michael, and St. Padre Pio suggested the same thing to everyone who sought his advice.

So, pull out your Rosary and pray to Mary, then pray to St. Michael to defend and help you with your struggles. He’s already in battle, and his sword is drawn. Why not ask him to put it to good use?

His Feast Day, which he shares with Archangels Gabriel and Raphael, is September 29. He’s the patron saint of paratroopers, police officers, the military, mariners, and grocers.

[1] Tobit 12:15 and Rev. 8:3-4

[2] Jude 1:9

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