Who is St Michael?

St Michael the Archangel is the patron of St Michael’s Parish, Dorrington, and is honoured in the Catholic Church as a powerful defender of God’s people. His name means “Who is like God?” — a rhetorical question that proclaims the greatness and sovereignty of God above all.

 

St Michael appears in Sacred Scripture, most notably in the Book of Revelation, where he leads the heavenly army in the battle against evil. For this reason, he is known as a protector and guardian, often invoked for strength, courage, and spiritual protection.

 

Devotion to St Michael has long been part of the life of the Church. The well-known Prayer to St Michael was composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1886 and was traditionally prayed after Mass for many years. It remains a powerful and widely used prayer today, especially in times of personal or spiritual challenge.

 

Many Catholics also know of the Chaplet of St Michael, a devotional prayer that honours St Michael and the nine choirs of angels, seeking their intercession and protection.

 

As the patron of our parish, St Michael reminds us to remain faithful, to stand firm in the face of difficulty, and to place our trust in God.