Tuesday, September 29, 2026

It is the 29th of September 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

Let’s talk about Angels. No, not them… a 100-loss season is rough.

Today, the 29th of September is a day historically connected to St. Michael the Archangel- one of the few named messengers in the Bible and has, in time, developed into a feast day remembering all of the “Malak” (that’s Hebrew) or “Angelos” (that’s Greek), and they both mean “messenger”.

Historically, today is one of the “quarter days” in the British Isles- Michaelmas, Christmas, Lady Day, and Midsummer Day mark the beginning of the four seasons, and so Michaelmas- in late September- marks the end of the harvest season and the coming colder seasons (this side of the equator).

When you didn’t need to know the exact date, the Kalends along with the Nones and the Ides of a month were enough- and for others, only the quarter days of the year were needed, as this was when you were paid, paid rents, started semesters, etc…

Of course, we all know that proverb “Eat a goose on Michaelmas Day,
Want not for money all the year”. Well, maybe not. But it is an actual proverb and in the UK today is a day for feasting on the first goose of the season (the fattened one will be ready for the next quarter day: Christmas). Tradition has Queen Elizabeth eating goose on Michaelmas when she heard that the Spanish Armada was defeated and vowed to eat Goose on this day in remembrance of that for perpetuity.

So what is it about St. Michael in particular that makes him so prominent on the calendar and in the imagination of the church? The first answer is: Scripture holds him out as singular. In Daniel 10, Michael is called the “Great Prince,” and the book of Jude calls him an “Archangel” (you know, when he was disputing with the devil over the body of Moses…that super clear part of the Bible).

In Revelation 12:7 we read about the war “in heaven” with Michael and “his Angels” fighting the great dragon. This verse alone has created striking imagery for centuries. Michael, as leader of the Angels in a heavenly war, has made him a favorite patron saint for soldiers, knights, and guards. From the 4th century we have churches dedicated to Michael, sometimes alone, sometimes with the whole heavenly hierarchy. With the spread of the legends of St. George, it is not uncommon to find Gregory and Michael imagery blend together.

It was after the Second Vatican Council that Michael came to share today, his feast day, with the other Angels: Raphael and Gabriel. These are the three named Angels- and the three found in Scripture (depending on your Scripture). Gabriel is, of course, the Angel of the Annunciation, appearing first in Daniel and then in Luke’s gospel, speaking to both Mary and Zechariah. For this reason, Gabriel is associated with messengers, broadcasters… podcasters. And then there is Raphael- known very well to all my Protestant friends as appearing in Scripture… err…. In Tobit. Deuterocanonical but very popular, and Raphael helps Tobit on his quest. Any mention of these three named Angels will often give a tip of the hat to Uriel. Uriel shows up in traditional sources as the fourth archangel, but he is only referenced in the book of Enoch and Second Esdras and not as well attested to or popular as the others.

The Roman Catholic Church observes today as the feast day for the named angels, whereas the Anglican Church has observed today as a feast day for St. Michael and All Angels.

The Orthodox, always on some other date, observe a feast or “Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers”. This sounds cooler. It also contains an important teaching point. Angels are created, non-corporeal beings. They are spirit. When we die, we do not transition to another species… Angels are Angels, and we continue to be humans, yet with incorruptible, heavenly bodies. Sorry to ruin the plot to It’s A Wonderful Life and the Bishop’s Wife… and Ghost, and Wings of Desire, and City of Angels. And All Dogs Go to Heaven (there’s a theological teaching point there for another time).

Regardless and irregardless- the Angels in Scripture are God’s messengers. We do well on the day set aside for those named Angels to remember the God who sends messengers, our forever-proclaiming God- today we remember St. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel and all the Angels.

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and Philippians 1:

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 29th of September 2026 brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man whose body is like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches… he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man whose Angels really did play like bodiless powers… well, wait till the year after the next one… I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.