So despite our hiatus last year due to moving and a housewarming party, we were able to resume Michaelmas celebration this year. I got to tell Finn the story of St. Michael, with the help of a little picture of the archangel we got for his room. ("There's the dragon. He's stepping on his head," says Finn.) We had roast chicken(still no goose!), carrots, stuffing, pie, and a jolly good time. (I highly recommend adding spiced cider to your Michaelmas celebration, because it is both celebratory and seasonal, especially with a little rum for the grown ups to insure you "drink to the point of hilarity.")
When we started our tradition of feasting on St. Michael's day, I mentioned the cultural importance of the day all over Europe and the personal namesake connection (Finn's and my own) to St. Michael as reasons for making it a family tradition. I also wanted to get more involved in the liturgical year as a family. But I recently heard a sermon that reminded me why Michaelmas, in particular, aside from fun traditions and historic cultural importance, is a feast to which we should return with gusto:
St. Michael the archangel is a saint of humble and courageous love whom children and adults alike should remember, admire, and emulate. His feast, furthermore, reminds us of his story, one in which the forces of evil are real, but are also vanquished by the good. In other words, it is the kind of true tale we need in our times.
If you're like me, and a little rusty on your ranking of heavenly beings, you might not know that archangels are only the second from the bottom in the nine tiers of angels. Yet when the greatest, fairest angel, Lucifer, spoke his foul, "I will not serve," the archangel Michael rallied the host of heaven to fight for God. He acknowledged himself a servant of God, and his humble love for God outflowed in courageous action. His greatness is in loyal service, but he is a fierce warrior for his Master, the God of the universe. His great love for God makes him the great defender against evil, against "the wickedness and snares of the Devil." His power comes from God and is at the disposal of all God's children.
To tell the story of St. Michael is to remember there is a great force of darkness, the force of pride, self-will, and self love that seeks to nullify the goodness of God and the love of his servants. That battle that raged in.heaven rages still and, as Dostoevsky said, "the battlefield is the human heart." But just as the servant love of the archangel summoned the hosts to cast out Satan from heaven, so St. Michael still stands at our aid to protect the Christian who serves his Lord. Evil is real. It prowls our world. It seeks our destruction. But equally real are the armies of the God of hosts. We know how the battle will end. As I told Finnian, St. Michael always wins.
I remember quite vividly how, when I couldn't sleep, my mother would remind me that God sent his angels to watch over me. I would imagine them like a wall of wings around my bed. It is more than childish imaginings and simple comfort, however. The servants of God are still here for me, my guardian angel, St. Michael, and all the saints, to help me battle not just darkness, but the dark part within myself that will not serve God. Their love, their courage, their humility, and their devotion are examples for me and a strong armor against the devils without and within.
Today is: The feast of St. Jerome
Finn is: having an awesome day since he saw a real live construction truck up close
Gigi is: moving all over, psyching herself up to crawl
Mama is reading: Catherine of Siena by Sigrid Undset
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