Typically, those we honor with the formal title of “Saint” are humans who have undergone the canonization process.
The Church looks at a potential saint’s life, examines his virtues, and reviews his miracles, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide the process of discernment. Usually, a holy person will first be declared Servant of God, then Venerable, then Blessed, then finally, Saint. We know that canonized saints are in heaven, capable of interceding for us on Earth.
But we also call St. Michael and the other archangels “saints.” Why? How can the Church consider St. Michael a saint if he does not have a human life to review?
Angels are spiritual beings created by God, distinct from humans. Their sainthood does not derive from a canonization process but from their role as messengers and servants of God and the choice they made to be faithful to Him in the face of Satan’s rebellion. They exemplify the virtues of obedience, love, and humility in their faithful service to God.
As regards St. Michael in particular, his role in the protection of God’s Church is presented to us throughout Sacred Scripture. St. Michael is one of the few angels recognized by name in the Bible and is honored as the preeminent warrior against evil, the protector of the Church, and the guide for souls to heaven. He is venerated as a powerful intercessor, reflecting the Church’s understanding of sainthood as a declaration of holy intercession.
In the Book of Revelation, he leads God’s armies against Satan’s forces and casts the rebels out of heaven. This battle highlights the virtues of courage, fidelity, and steadfastness, which align with the Church’s understanding of saintly qualities.
Moreover, we also inherit our veneration of St. Michael from the tradition of the Church. This veneration predates many formal canonizations, having a prominent place in Catholic prayer and liturgy since the early Church.
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