Possibly one of the most popular of saints, the Archangel St Michael. His name means : “Who is like God”.He is probably best known as the healer of the sick, as the ultimate warrior, and as the guardian of the church.

We remember his battle against the former angel, then known as Lucifer, who later became Satan. Michael commanded God’s army, overcoming the forces of evil, and throwing Lucifer out of heaven because of his sin of pride. Lucifer considered himself equal to God, and instead of worshipping Him, wished to be equally worshipped alongside Hiim.
This story is referenced in the Bible, the books of Ezekiel, Isaiah and of Revelation. In 1667, John Milton wrote his epic poem Paradise Lost, describing Michael’s command of God’s army, against the rebel forces of Satan.

Even today, some Christians pray to St Michael as an intermediary, for spiritual defence against evil: for protection against physical and mental danger :or strength during temptation: for a peaceful death and for safe passage of the soul into heaven after being allowed a last chance of redemption. Later, on judgement day, Michael serves as advocate, evaluating a person’s life—good against bad! He is sometimes therefore depicted with a set of scales.

His feast day has been celebrated since the fifth century. He was referenced four times in the old testament dating back to the third and second century BC, and has been part of Christian teaching since early days. 700 churches in England were dedicated to him. Cemetery chapels were often named for him and masses were often held to honour him on behalf of the deceased. ,

Michael was depicted by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with a small book, showing the names of the blessed and a larger book, displaying the names of the damned. The beautiful Michaelmas Daisy/
Aster blooms around 29th September. Just as St Michael protects against darkness, so too does this flower fight off the fading light and the coming cold of winter. Michael was considered to be a guarantor of rain, so became the patron saint of agriculture. Nowadays he is also considered to be the patron saint of grocers, mariners, police officers and military personnel.

St francis of Assisi fasted and prayed each year from the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) until St Michael’s Day (29 September) This season became known as St Michael’s Lent. As harvests were usually gathered in by this time, the season of Michaelmas during the middle ages, was celebrated with
feasting and with fairs. It was a time associated with hiring new servants,
buying and selling land and repaying debts.

Sometimes called “Goose Day,” it was the day when geese were bought and sold ready for Christmas fattening. In the 15th century, it was thought that if you ate goose on this day, you would not lack money all year! Michaelmas Day was the last day that
blackberries could allegedly be eaten . Why? Legend has it that as Lucifer was thrown out of heaven, he fell on a prickly bush, which he cursed. Forever afterwards, he renews the curse each year by spitting, stamping and urinating on each blackberry bush, making the fruit unfit to eat -BE CAREFUL!