St Michael is one of the seven archangels, or “seven spirits”, who stand before the throne of God (Revelation 1:4). His name means “Who is like God?” and he is traditionally considered to be the military leader of the angels.
In one of his sermons, Pope Benedict XVI unpacked the biblical figure of St Michael in more detail. He said: “We find him in Sacred Scripture above all in the Book of Daniel, in the Letter of the Apostle St Jude Thaddeus and in the Book of Revelation. Two of this Archangel’s roles become obvious in these texts. He defends the cause of God’s oneness against the presumption of the dragon, the “ancient serpent”, as John calls it… Michael’s other role, according to Scripture, is that of protector of the People of God (cf. Daniel 10:21; 12:1).”
St Michael has long been a popular figure in Christian art. He is often portrayed as a soldier, wearing armour and wielding a sword. St Michael is also often pictured in the act of defeating the Devil, who is symbolised by a red dragon. Sometimes, he is also shown holding a pair of scales, to underline his role in the Last Judgement.
These images are all inspired by the book of Revelation, which contains a series of mysterious visions seen by St John. Revelation 12:7-8 describes a scene where “war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated.” There are also visions in the book of the Devil being chained by a powerful angel and of the heavenly courtroom of the Last Judgement (20:1-3, 11-15).
This stained glass image of St Michael the Archangel is by Joseph E. Nuttgens. Dating to around 1944, it’s found within St Teresa’s, Beaconsfield. In this beautiful window, St Michael is pictured as a military man, alongside England’s patron saint, St George.
The choice of the two saints is due to the window being a memorial to soldiers who fell during the Second World War. As a symbol of St Michael’s authority, he is also seen holding an orb, which is a detail drawn from Byzantine art. The strong details and vivid colours are typical of Nuttgens’ Arts & Crafts style, examples of which can be found throughout the church.
See the full image:
Detail of St Michael:
Where to find this work of art
St Teresa’s, Beaconsfield
Read the relevant passage
Daniel 12:1
On a similar theme
- From the Old Testament: St Gabriel the Archangel is also introduced in the Book of Daniel.
- From the New Testament: St Michael’s opposition to the Devil is described in the Letter of St Jude.
Lo & Behold 