St Michael the Archangel is usually depicted with either a sword or a lance, frequently shown impaling the Devil. As the Archangel of battle and defender of Heaven, Michael is the patron of exorcists; indeed, all who struggle against dark and demonic forces. Michael ranks among the seven Archangels and is one of the three Angels mentioned by name in Holy Scripture. He is believed to be the Archangel who told the Virgin Mary of her approaching death. Michaelmas, September 29th, is the feast of St Michael the Archangel (also the Feast of Saints Gabriel, Uriel and Raphael); also known as the Feast of the Archangels, or the Feast of St Michael and All Angels. The seven Archangels are Michael, Jophiel, Chamuel, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Zadekiel.
Christian tradition gives to St Michael four offices: (1) To fight against Satan. (2) To rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death. (3) To be the champion of God's people. (4) To call away from earth and bring men's souls to judgement ("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).
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