Today's saintAll livesSeptember saints

Image 1 of 1: Saint Michael the Archangel, Ignacio de Ries

Saints and feasts

The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Michael

Commonly Called Michaelmas Day

Michaelmas honors St. Michael and all the holy angels for their worship, fidelity, and protection. Their unseen service leads the Church to gratitude and deeper trust in God.

Sources

The life below remains the existing Butler-based reading, with its edition citation. The profile preserves the feast date and source title already listed in the library. Additional personal dates and historical details are shown only when separately documented.

Traditionally patron of: Germany
The 1911 article records this patronage of St Michael, whose basilica dedication is commemorated in this entry.
Joint principal patron of: The Diocese of Uruguaiana in Brazil, together with Our Lady under the title Nossa Senhora Conquistadora
Pius XII’s 1957 declaration expressly calls Michael equally principal with Our Lady under this title. The patronage belongs to the entire Diocese of Uruguaiana, rather than all Brazil. The November 15 feast permitted by the letter concerns the Marian patronage and is not substituted for Michael’s commemoration here.

Butler sourceButler's Lives of the Saints, Volume III (July-August-September), September 29, The Dedication of the Basilica of St Michael the Archangel, Commonly Called Michaelmas Day, Christian Classics 1990, pp. 677-680.

The Catholic Encyclopedia (1911)Henry Parkinson, Patron Saints, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XI, Robert Appleton Company, 1911. Modern transcription of the original article.

Pius XII, Consueverunt (1950)Pius XII, Consueverunt omni tempore, April 26, 1950, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 42 (1950), p. 595, opening catalogue of patronages previously assigned by Pius XII.

Pius XII, Amore subigens populos (1957)Pius XII, Amore subigens populos, June 7, 1957, published in Acta Apostolicae Sedis 50 (1958), pp. 195-196. The declaration on p. 196 confirms Our Lady under the title Nossa Senhora Conquistadora as principal patron of the entire Diocese of Uruguaiana in Brazil, with Michael the Archangel expressly equally principal.

The reading

ⓘ Butler source

Butler's Lives of the Saints, Volume III (July-August-September), September 29, The Dedication of the Basilica of St Michael the Archangel, Commonly Called Michaelmas Day, Christian Classics 1990, pp. 677-680.

At Michaelmas, the Church gives thanks for St. Michael and all the holy angels who worship God, defend His people, and carry out His commands. Scripture presents Michael as a heavenly champion whose strength comes entirely from fidelity to God.

The Western feast is linked with the dedication of a basilica of St. Michael on the Salarian Way near Rome and was established by at least the sixth century. Its prayers reach beyond the memory of one church building to honor the faithful service of all the angels.

The feast reminds Christians that God's providence includes unseen servants as well as the visible helps He gives His Church. Catholics honor the angels, ask their help, and thank God for their protection, but worship belongs to God alone. Every angelic victory points back to His power and glory.

Historical note

This is a feast of St. Michael and all the holy angels rather than a biography. Its Western observance is associated with a basilica dedication on Rome's Salarian Way.

Carry this reading into prayer

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

An existing traditional prayer connected with this saint or commemoration.

Pray now →

Keep reading

Nearby saint lives

Move through the calendar without leaving the saint library. These nearby feast-day lives help keep the reading trail connected.

Previous feast

St. Wenceslaus of Bohemia

September 28

Next feast

St. Jerome

September 30

Browse September saintsBrowse all saint livesGo to today's feast
More prayers, novenas and litanies

More devotions

Continue in prayer

Choose a connected devotion or a clearly labeled general prayer.

Connected novena

Novena to St. Michael the Archangel

Open the prayers and source notes, then choose when to begin.

Open the novena

Connected litany · Private devotion

Litany of the Holy Angels

A related traditional litany for private devotion.

Open the litany

Keep learning

What is prayer?

Read question 1099 and its complete answer in the Baltimore Catechism.

Read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5