Next Monday is the Feast of the Archangels, celebrated as Michaelmas Day in many parts of the world, from Ireland to South Africa (HT: Jenn). Michaelmas also lends its name to the first academic term of the year at many schools in Britain, and at our very own homeschool.

A little primer on Michael and the Archangels:

Michael - the warrior, protector

Patronage: Against temptations; against powers of evil; officers; radiologists; sailors; the sick; security forces; soldiers; against storms at sea; swordsmiths; those in need of protection

Symbols: Angel with wings; dressed in armour; lance and shield; scales; shown weighing souls; millstone; piercing dragon or devil; banner charged with a dove; symbolic colors orange or gold.

Gabriel - the messenger

Patronage: Ambassadors; broadcasting; childbirth; clergy; communications; diplomats; messengers; philatelists; postal workers; public relations; radio workers; secular clergy; stamp collectors; telecommunications

Symbols: Archangel; sceptre and lily; MR or AM shield; lantern; mirror; olive branch; scroll with words Ave Maria Gratia Plena; Resurrection trumpet; shield; spear; lily; symbolic colors, silver or blue.

Raphael - the guide, healer

Patronage: Blind; bodily ills; counselors; druggists; eye problems; guardian angels; happy meetings; healers; health inspectors; health technicians; love; lovers; mental illness; nurses; pharmacists; physicians; shepherds; against sickness; therapists; travellers; young people; young people leaving home for the first time

Symbols: Staff; wallet and fish; staff and gourd; archangel; young man carrying a staff; young man carrying a fish; walking with Tobias; holding a bottle or flask; symbolic colors, gray or yellow

Prayer:

Heavenly King, You have given us archangels to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth. Saint Michael is our protector; I ask him to come to my aid, fight for all my loved ones, and protect us from danger. Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News; I ask him to help me clearly hear Your voice and to teach me the truth. Saint Raphael is the healing angel; I ask him to take my need for healing and that of everyone I know, lift it up to Your throne of grace and deliver back to us the gift of recovery. Help us, O Lord, to realize more fully the reality of the archangels and their desire to serve us. Holy angels, pray for us. Amen.



Eileen had a wonderful Michaelmas Story on her blog waaaay back in 2005. There are crafts and some absolutely scrumptious-looking recipes. And you’ve got all weekend to gather up your ingredients. Charlotte created these fabulous colouring pages of St. Michael, St. Raphael, and St. Gabriel. And last year, I posted this article about Michaelmas.

Jenn offered this poem taken from Celtic tradition. It would make a wonderful verse to print on a placecard for a celebratory tea.


Michael the Victorious

Thou Michael the Victorious
I make my circuit under thy shield.
Thou Michael of the white steed
And of the bright, brilliant blade!
Conqueror of the dragon,
Be thou at my back.
Thou ranger of the heavens!
Thou warrior of the King of all!
Thou Michael the victorious
My pride and my guide!
Thou Michael the victorious
The glory of mine eye.

Alice presented The Chaplet of St. Michael from the EWTN site:

The Chaplet of St. Michael

O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be
to the Father, etc.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following
nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]

1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of
perfect charity. Amen.

2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin
and run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.

3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Thrones may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere
spirit of humility. Amen.

4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Dominions may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and
overcome any unruly passions. Amen.

5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and
temptations of the devil. Amen.

6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into
temptation. Amen.

7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of
obedience. Amen.

8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all
good works in order that we may attain the glory of Heaven. Amen.

9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Angels may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal
life and conducted in the life to come to Heaven. Amen.

Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels:
St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.

Concluding prayers:

O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the
heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from
all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your
gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus
Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a
merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most
glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make us
worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none
of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be
conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits
of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.



Here are some super fun craft ideas to make with your children:
Earth Schooling presents this Dragon Puppet project, Morningsar Village has a pattern for adorable dragon kites, and Knitty (one of my all-time fave sites) has this pattern for a sweet little dragon named Norberta.

Have a wonderful Michaelmas celebration - and go ahead and have that second helping of cake. It doesn’t count you know - it *is* a feast day!

May St. Michael defend you in all you do, and God Bless your homeschool year! Don’t forget to come back for next week’s fair in honour St. Francis. For a complete list of upcoming fairs through November, see this post.

Posted: 09|25|08 at 9:11 pm. Filed under: Desk Notes, Cathoic Home Education Fair.
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