🛡️This feast celebrates the dedication of a basilica in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel, making it the principal commemoration in his honor. Prince of the heavenly hosts, his name, which means "Who is like God?", was the battle cry in the victory against Lucifer and the rebellious angels. He continues to be our protector in the combat against the infernal powers, being especially invoked to assist souls in their final battle. To him is attributed the famous reflection, which is the very essence of his mission: "When the proud dragon, in his rebellion, cried out: 'I will be like the Most High,' the Archangel Michael, in defense of God's honor, replied: 'Who is like God?'. Hence his name, Michael."
🎵Introit (Ps 102:20 | ibid., 1)
Benedícite Dóminum, omnes Angeli eius... Bless the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength, who do His word, hearkening to the voice of His orders. Ps. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all that is within me bless His holy name. ℣. Glory be to the Father…
📖Epistle (Rev 1:1-5)
In those days, God signified the things which must shortly come to pass, and signified them, sending His Angel to His servant John, who has given testimony to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever he has seen. Blessed is he who reads and hears the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written in it, for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, the First-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth, who has loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood.
✝️Gospel (Mt 18:1-10)
At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus calling unto Him a little child, set him in the midst of them, and said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. And he that shall receive one such little child in My name, receives Me. But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of scandals! For it must needs be that scandals come, but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal comes. And if your hand or your foot scandalize you, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And if your eye scandalizes you, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. See that you despise not one of these little ones! For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
🤔Reflections
📜The revelation that the Angels of the little ones "always see the face of the Father" is a testament to the immense dignity of each soul. The angels who attend to God are the same ones who guard us, showing the union between heavenly contemplation and earthly service. The condition for entering the Kingdom is to become like a child, for humility is the very virtue that allows the angels themselves to remain in God's presence, unlike the pride that cast Lucifer down. Therefore, by imitating the simplicity of children, we partake in the same virtue that sustains the angels in glory. The vision of God's face does not prevent the angels from assisting us; they are simultaneously in the divine presence and at our side, for the charity of God is infinite and knows no distance (St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew; St. Gregory the Great, Homilies on the Gospels; St. Augustine, Sermon 78).
🔄While the gospels of Mark (9:33-37) and Luke (9:46-48) also narrate the disciples' dispute over who was the greatest and Jesus' subsequent lesson with a child, Matthew's gospel adds crucial elements for today's feast. Only Matthew includes the explicit warning, "unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven," the terrible metaphor of the millstone for those who cause scandal, and, most importantly, the revelation about Guardian Angels: "their Angels in heaven always see the face of My Father." This last passage is unique to Matthew and theologically grounds the doctrine of personal angelic guardianship.
✉️The writings of Saint Paul deepen the themes of the gospel. In Philippians (2:3-8), he exhorts to humility, presenting Christ Himself as the model, who "emptied himself" and became a servant, echoing Jesus' call for us to become "little ones." The warning about scandal is detailed in 1 Corinthians 8, where Paul warns of the danger of causing a "weak brother" to stumble. More directly, the Epistle to the Hebrews (1:14) defines angels as "ministering spirits, sent to serve for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation," perfectly complementing the image of guardian angels serving the "little ones" mentioned in the gospel.
🏛️The doctrine of the Church confirms and elucidates the reality of angels described in the Scriptures. The Fourth Lateran Council dogmatically affirmed that God, from the beginning of time, simultaneously created both the spiritual (angelic) and the corporeal creature. The Roman Catechism, in turn, explicitly teaches that Divine Providence has entrusted each human being to the care of a particular angel. This truth is deepened by theological tradition, consolidated by works such as The Celestial Hierarchy, which describes the order and function of the nine choirs of angels, explaining that their mission to guard and enlighten humanity flows from their unceasing contemplation of God, thus connecting the majesty of the Archangel Michael with the angelic care for each of the "little ones."
🧐See English version of the critical articles here.
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