WHY DO PEOPLE WEAR SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL NECKLACES?

WHO IS SAINT MICHAEL?

St. Michael the archangel is know because he is:

• The leader of the army of God

In the New Testament, in the Book of Revelation, the Archangel Michael leads God's armies against Satan's forces, where during the war in heaven he defeats Satan.

• The Angel of death who supervises death and carries the soul of the deceased to heaven

It is Saint Michael who escorts the faithful in their final hour and to their own day of judgment, interceding before Christ.

• The one who helps faithful people on Judgment Day weighting human’s souls for good and bad deeds

In Matthew 16:27, Jesus Christ says that angels will accompany him on Judgment Day, when all people who have ever lived will receive consequences and rewards based on how they lived their lives: “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”

• The guardian of the Church

St. Michael, with his angels, fought the victorious battle against Satan and the rebellious angels, who they cast into hell. For this reason he is venerated as the guardian of the Church.

“Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it. “- Rev. 12:7-9

Lately, in a 2007 address, Pope Benedict XVI urged the bishops he was ordaining to take Michael as a model in making room in the world for God, countering denials of him and thus defending man's greatness, and in acting as "true guardian angels" of the Church.

WHAT IS SAINT MICHAEL THE PATRON SAINT OF?

Saint Michael us the patron saint of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police officers, and military personnel.

These young men and women risk their lives every day on the job and unfortunately that means that they face life and death circumstances more regularly than most civilians could understand.

St. Michael is there to support their journey but also to watch over them as they walk that line between this life and the next each day and work to go home to their families and friends. The prayer to St. Michael has become popular among law enforcement officers, although it was never made official by the Catholic Church for mass. It may not be listed in the texts, but its impact is real and it was also recited after low mass for many years. Although it is not a part of the texts, the prayer has been approved by the church for use and it is often seen on prayer cards and framed in people’s homes as a reminder of the weight of protection that it carries.

Rather than the framed prayer, some people use other decorative pieces in their homes to represent the power and impact of St. Michael in their lives. The Archangel Michael Cross WOOD CARVED is a nice way to keep that strength as a focal point in the home.

Remember that the job of police officers and other members of the law enforcement field is a challenging one and they can use all of the comfort and resilience of their faith that they can muster. Wearing a medal like this can make a huge impact on their level of clarity and focus throughout the day. It stands as a reminder that they are not alone in the job that they are doing and they are not only protected by their training, equipment, and brothers and sisters in uniform. They are also protected by their faith in God and their relationship with the archangel himself. The scriptures tell us of St. Michael the Archangel strength and our beloved police officers are strong too, but they are human. They will have days when they feel weak or tired or frustrated, and those will be the days that they are glad they have a piece of St. Michael to carry with them and prayer to help still their hearts.

CONNECTING WITH ST. MICHAEL