On Anglican calendars, 29 September is a date to honor the role of St. Michael and All Angels in the divine plan for salvation. In Scripture and Christian tradition, angels play several roles, one of which is to assist believers in their struggle against evil. In particular, the Archangel Michael is known as the defender of God's people from the attacks of the devil and his evil forces (Daniel 12:1).
The harsh realities of worldly life are certainly reminders of our need for supernatural assistance from Michael and the great host of holy angels. Each day, Christians struggle with human weakness and temptation, and the daily news brings new reports of natural disasters, diseases, political corruption and violence, crime, and general moral decline. Some of the bad things are natural consequences of a fallen world, but as Scripture reminds us (Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:7), our struggles are not merely against flesh and blood. The devil and his evil forces constantly seek to tempt and destroy us. Therefore, we always depend on divine aid through the grace of the crucified and risen Christ applied by the working of the Holy Spirit. And one way that God helps us is through the watchful protection of His angels who assist believers in the battle against evil.
These worldly realities make the Prayer Book collect for St. Michael's Day especially meaningful for believers:
O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so, by thy appointment, they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
