For centuries the church has celebrated St. Michael day, giving thanks to God through Jesus Christ for the service of Michael the archangel. According to Scripture, he is the chief angel who led the heavenly armies in the battle to defeat Satan and the rebel angels (Revelation 12).

In the past couple of centuries, the commemoration was expanded to include “All Angels”—we recognize the service all angels render to the children of God (Psalm 91:11-12, Matthew 18:10). Martin Luther concluded his morning and evening prayers: “…let your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.”

The Scriptures teach us that angels serve many other purposes. Of course they, like us, praise and glorify God their Creator (Psalm 103:20). The angel Gabriel delivered divine good news to Mary (Luke 1:26ff). Another angel appeared to Joseph to reassure him of God’s good plan (Matthew 1) and then warn him of Herod’s evil plan (Matthew 2). Jesus teaches us that the angels in heaven rejoice when sinners repent (Luke 15:8-10).

All of these vocational duties—protecting God’s children, delivering divine messages, praising, rejoicing…they all point us back to Jesus. After all, he is Lord and God even of the angels (Hebrews 1:3-14). They do his bidding and so bring him glory.

So we give thanks to God through our Lord Jesus Christ for the ministry of his angels. But we also praise him with the angels. In our Communion liturgy, we pray: “…therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you and saying: Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth!” Yes, our voices blend with the praises of the angels as we welcome Jesus in this special way. And then we receive the very body and blood that conquered Satan once and for all (Revelation 12:11).