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Icon of St. Michael Archangel
from San Pietro al Monte - Latin inscriptions.
Eastern Rite: Feasts Nov. 8
(synaxis), Sept. 6 (miracle at Chonae)
Western Rite: Feasts Sept. 29
(main feast), May 8 (appearance on Mt. Gargano in Italy), Oct. 16
(appearance in Gaul to St. Aubert of Avranches near Mont S.-Michel)
St. Michael was greatly
venerated in the West as a whole and in England in particular. Near
England, off the northern coast of France, St. Michael appeared to St.
Autbert of Avranches in the 8th c. and commanded him to build a
monastery on the un-buildable, scarcely reachable island called today
Mont S.-Michel. At low tide, the island is reachable by a causeway; at
high tide, the English Channel waters cover the causeway and make it
truly an island. The Archangel also assisted the confused workmen with
the laying out of foundation lines, by means of a miracle. On the
Cornish coast, there is a parallel foundation called also St. Michael's
Mount. The laws of Anglo-Saxon England commanded all the people, on
three days before
St. Michael's feast (Michaelmas), to fast strictly and to go barefoot
to the churches, confessing their sins, receiving shrift (absolution),
praying more than usual, and giving alms to the poor. These customs are
still enshrined in our Western Rite. In the old Roman Liturgy,
including that preserved at Old Sarum, St. Michael is called upon by
name in every Liturgy. In requiem services he is invoked to be with the
souls of the faithful departed, giving them an escort to the kingdom of
God.
Old English liturgical books
give the following Sequence or pre-Gospel hymn at Liturgy on St.
Michael's day: "As the exceeding glorious festivities of Michael are
renewed, all the joyous structure of the world is thereby beautified,
the nine distinct hosts of pneumati (spirits) made by Thee. But, as
Thou wilt, Thou makest them flames of fire as Thou dost the
radiantly-shining stars. For these Thy created beings are the primaeval
ones, whereas we are the last to be made, albeit in Thine image... The
Angelic lower order and Archangelic battle-troops, the host of
Principalities, the high-heavenly Virtue, and sweet-singing Power, the
godly dominion-wielding spirits and Thrones divine, ethereal Cherubim
and fiery Seraphim. ... To that place our King is leading the hundredth
sheep, the tenth drachma, us begotten by the Word. ... Let us pray ...
that ... our incense may be acceptable to God round the altar of gold,
so that we, then in celestial glory, may chant together:
alleluya."
From the complete Old Sarum Rite Missal, (c)
1998 St. Hilarion Press
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