Per Christum Catholic Blog

It is almost Michaelmas (Friday, Sept. 29th), also called the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. It was one of my favorite days in my Episcopal youth and seemed to be a favorite with most Anglican parishes in those days. There was usually a “sung celebration” of Holy Communion that often began (at least in the parishes I attended) with the glorious hymn “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones”, one of the few hymns in the Protestant repertoire that actually directly invokes the angels and archangels, the prophets, martyrs, and apostles, and…can you believe it?!…the Holy Virgin herself!! Although the Catholic Church still has the Feast of the Archangels, not much is made of it and most Catholics will take no notice Friday unless they are daily Mass attenders. Sad, it’s a glorious day and feast.

A little history: The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels originated in AD 400s and quickly became a very important day in popular Christianity. During the Middle Ages in the West it was a BIG feast indeed since Michael the Archangel was the patron of all knights and particularly of the Crusaders.

In Great Britain and other European nations Michaelmas was one of the four “quarter days” when rents and bills came due and also the beginning of university terms. It is an ancient custom to eat roast goose on Michaelmas because, well, a flying goose suggested an angel on the wing! It was customary to pay part of your rent or bills with a goose. (Just try that now!)

An English proverb has it: “Feast on goose on St. Michael’s Day, ‘twil keep all poverty at bay.” I don’t know about the truth of that saying, but doing something to honor the Holy Angels on their special day might just keep the Old Serpent at bay!

Almighty God, You have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and of mortals: Mercifully grant that, as Your holy angels always serve and worship You in Heaven, so by Your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

- collect for Michaelmas