St. Michael and His World
This was one of two volumes by Mike Aquilina I received the same day. I literally flipped a coin to see which I would read first, and started the second as soon as I finished this one. That other volume is ‘The Church Fathers For Our Time’. To date I have read 16 volumes form the pen of Aquilina, and have at least that many on my ‘to be read’ list. I have yet to read anything from his masterful pen that was not well worth the read and this is another excellent read. Over the years I have read several volumes about Saint. This one is a most excellent offering. It is a follow up to St. Joseph and His World and St. Patrick and His World which are both worthy reads as well. But back to the volume at hand.
The description of this book states:
“The great wings of the Archangel Michael overshadow all human history. He is mentioned in three books of the Bible, but the Church Fathers and ancient rabbis saw him in many other places, unnamed, hidden in plain sight. In St. Michael and His World, Mike Aquilina explores the biblical record alongside its interpretations from antiquity, unveiling a history - from creation to the end - in which St. Michael is a constant and active presence.
But this is not a book about mythology or pious legend. Drawing on Scripture, rabbinic texts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, patristic writings, Coptic tradition, and Islamic sources, Aquilina traces how the Church's greatest archangel has captured the imagination of believers across two millennia. From Daniel's visions to the vision that inspired Pope Leo XIII to revive his devotion in the modern age, St. Michael emerges not as a distant heavenly abstraction, but as a figure central to how Christians have understood spiritual warfare, divine providence, and the cosmic struggle between good and evil.
For those seeking to understand the invisible warfare that shapes human history, or for those simply curious about one of the Bible's most enigmatic figures, St. Michael and His World offers both scholarly depth and the kind of compelling storytelling that makes history come alive. It is a book for anyone who has ever prayed "St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle" – and wants to know the full measure of the one they were calling upon.”
About the author we are informed:
“Mike Aquilina is a popular author of Church history, especially the study of the early Church Fathers. He is executive vice-president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a research center based in Steubenville, OH. He is a contributing editor of Angelus News and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He hosts “The Way of the Fathers,” a podcast produced by CatholicCulture.org. Aquilina is the author or editor of more than seventy books, including St. Joseph and His World, also published by Scepter.”
The chapters in this volume are:
Introduction
1: Sources for the “Life” of an Angel
2: What Is Michael?
3: St. Michael in the New Testament
4: Between the Testaments
5: Michael Among the Rabbis
6: Michael in the Age of the Fathers
7: The Special Case of the Copts
8: St. Michael in Islam
9: St. Michael in the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages
10: The Eclipse of Devotion
11: The Revival
Bibliography
I highlighted a number of passages while working through this book some of them are:
“He cuts a swashbuckling figure against the Roman skyline. Michael stands armored and tall as he sheathes his sword atop the ancient monument now named for him: Castel Sant’Angelo.”
“But, according to later accounts, Pope Gregory looked up and saw the archangel Michael looming above the monument, sheathing his sword. It was a clear sign that the plague was over. It was a clear sign, too, that hell’s outpost in the city had been exorcised. Hadrian’s demons had been driven out by the Prince of the Angels.”
“And in the eleventh century the people of Rome raised a wooden statue of the archangel on the very top of the tomb. The statue has had many successors, first in marble and now in majestic bronze. From the ninth century onward, the “castle” has borne the name of the “Holy Angel” rather than the debauched emperor.”
“Michael appears in significant places in the Bible, both the Old Testament and the New. He plays a starring role in the books produced “between the testaments”—the pseudepigrapha of Second Temple Judaism. He plays a prominent role in the fevered imaginings of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the library discovered at Qumran in Israel in the mid-twentieth century. Michael makes his appearances in the Talmud, the earliest records of Rabbinic Judaism. He appears in the works of the Apostolic Fathers, the first Christian authors after the generation of the apostles.”
“Thus, for Jews and Christians in the ancient world, devotion to St. Michael was a matter of consequence, and it remained so for believers in the ages that followed.”
“The title is cheeky, but the purpose is serious. For his world encompasses our own, and his life is bound up with our lives, collectively and individually.”
“Writing a biography of any flesh-and-blood figure is demanding. Writing a biography of an angel, however, is harder still. An angel is a pure spirit and has no material body. He leaves no footprint, carries no identification, maintains no bank account, pays no utility bills. He writes no letters and receives no postcards. He has no DNA.”
“Our evidence for the life of Michael is actually extensive. For a figure without a footprint, he has left a deep impression. Across centuries and cultures—especially, though not exclusively, among believers formed by biblical religion—he has been an object of fascination, devotion, and theological reflection.”
“The Book of Daniel presents Michael as the great prince who stands guard over God’s people (Dn 10: 13; 12: 1), whereas the Epistle of Jude and the Book of Revelation depict him as the leader of the heavenly hosts in their conflict with Satan (Jude 9; Rv 12: 7–9).”
“Scripture does not give us a cult of Michael fully formed, but it gives us the person and mission that make such a cult intelligible and legitimate.”
“Used prudently, rabbinic sources help the historian distinguish what is pre-Christian inheritance from what is distinctively Christian development. They can illuminate the continuity and discontinuity between Jewish and Christian understandings of Michael, while always remaining subordinate to Scripture and tradition.”
“Closely united to Scripture is Apostolic Tradition, the living transmission of the Faith under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Although no explicit, detailed cult of St. Michael can be traced directly to the apostolic age, the early Church’s angelology reflects a continuity with Jewish belief purified and reoriented by Christ.”
“Michael is consistently presented not as an independent divine power but as a servant of God, acting always in Christ and subordinate to Christ. This theological framework is an authoritative lens through which later sources must be read.”
“Patristic references to St. Michael—whether in homilies, biblical commentaries, or polemical works—are especially valuable when they are widespread, consistent, and integrated into doctrinal teaching.”
“Claims of private revelation associated with St. Michael occupy the lowest rung of authority. Even when approved by the Church, such revelations do not belong to the deposit of faith and demand no assent beyond prudent acceptance.”
“A Catholic history of devotion to the archangel Michael is neither credulous nor reductionist. It respects the Church’s hierarchy of truths and sources, allowing Scripture and liturgy to speak with full authority, the Fathers with venerable weight, and popular traditions with sympathetic but critical attention.”
“If the Old Testament lays the foundations for biblical angelology, the New Testament brings it into sharper focus. The Gospel narratives open with a flurry of angelic activity, as heaven seems to lean close to earth at the dawn of the messianic age. Angels announce the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, appear in dreams to Joseph, sing to the shepherds, and guide the Magi. The invisible world presses visibly upon history.”
“Michael’s power is real, but it is derivative. He conquers not by his own might but by fidelity to divine command. In this way, Jude presents Michael as a pattern for Christian spiritual warfare: confident, courageous, and utterly submissive to God.”
“By the end of the Second Temple period, devotion to Michael was already well developed. He was guardian, mediator, warrior, lawgiver, and intercessor. Far from being a late Christian invention, Michael stood at the heart of Jewish spirituality centuries before Christ. The New Testament did not invent Michael or inflate his role—it revealed his mission in its fullness.”
“The Church Fathers did not invent a new Michael. They recognized him. They discerned his role in Scripture, traced his activity through salvation history, and bore witness to his continuing and powerful ministry in the Church.”
“In Coptic Christianity, devotion to St. Michael was not an ornament of theology but part of the fabric of daily life. His feasts structured the year; his image guarded churches; his name filled prayers, sermons, and stories. Through many centuries of persecution, foreign domination, and cultural change, the archangel has stood as a symbol of divine protection and ultimate victory.”
“Whether standing armored above the dragon or silently distributing God’s mercy through rain and harvest, Michael exists for one purpose alone—to proclaim, in wordless fidelity, that there is none like God.”
“One of the most striking features of medieval devotion to St. Michael is geographical. His shrines rise not in valleys or city centers, but on heights—mountaintops, rocky promontories, and remote islands.”
“To medieval Christians, the symbolism was clear. Michael was the sentinel of the heavenly city, standing between order and chaos, heaven and earth. From the heights, he guarded what lay below.”
“Michael’s monasteries were often situated at liminal places—on borders, near coasts, or atop mountains—where the natural world itself suggested vigilance. The archangel’s presence sanctified these margins, marking them as places claimed for God.”
“Its significance should not be exaggerated. Yet neither should it be dismissed entirely. Across widely separated regions, Christians repeatedly chose similar kinds of places—high, remote, exposed—for sanctuaries dedicated to the same heavenly guardian.”
“The dedication to St. Michael was deliberate. Skellig Michael is a place of thresholds—between land and sea, safety and danger, time and eternity. It is a place where vigilance feels natural and necessary.”
“In this renewal, we see not merely nostalgia but a rediscovery of the cosmic horizon of Christian faith in its most ancient and classic form. We receive a reminder that the battle is real, the help of heaven is near, and the story of angelic devotion is far from finished.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. It is very well written. It is engaging and entertaining. Aquilina does an excellent job so highlighting what might be legend and why, and what comes from various traditions. The chapter on ‘St. Michael in Islam’ was particularly insightful. With each new chapter I was more deeply engrossed in the material and how Mike presented it. The only thing I would have loved would have been a chapter on popular devotion to Saint Michael today and coverage of the Saint Michael Chaplet and Saint Michael’s Lent.
This is an excellent volume and has eclipsed many I have read about this saint and his times. This volume and series are ones I recommend often.
This is another excellent volume. Anyone from a high school level or on could easily engage with it. It would be a wonderful addition to any home, school, or church library. I can easily recommend this and the companion volumes, and hope that Mike continues the series with more books. I can easily highly recommend this book!
For reviews of other books by Mike Aquilina click here.
Other posts about Saint Michael:
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Books by Mike Aquilina:
A Year with the Angels: Daily Meditations with the Messengers of God
A Year With The Church Fathers: Patristic Wisdom for Daily Living
Angels of God: The Bible, the Church and the Heavenly Hosts
Companion Guide to Pope Benedict's 'The Fathers'
Faith of Our Fathers: Why the Early Christians Still Matter and Always Will
Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist
Good Pope, Bad Pope: Their Lives, Our Lessons
Love in the Little Things: Tales of Family Life
Ministers & Martyrs: The Ultimate Catholic Guide to the Apostolic Age
Praying in the Presence of Our Lord: With St. Thomas Aquinas
Roots of the Faith: From the Church Fathers to You
Sharing Christ's Priesthood: A Bible Study for Catholics
Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols
Sweet Gridlock: Selected Love Poems
Terms and Conditions: Assorted Poems
The Apostles and Their Times
The Church and the Roman Empire
The Fathers of the Church Bible
The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers
The Mass of the Early Christians
The Resilient Church: The Glory, the Shame, & the Hope for Tomorrow
The Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church
The Way of the Fathers: Praying With the Early Christians
The Witness of Early Christian Women: Mothers of the Church
Understanding the Mass: 100 Questions, 100 Answers
Why Me? When Bad Things Happen
Yours Is the Church: How Catholicism Shapes Our World
A Year with the Angels: Daily Meditations with the Messengers of God
A Year With The Church Fathers: Patristic Wisdom for Daily Living
Angels of God: The Bible, the Church and the Heavenly Hosts
Companion Guide to Pope Benedict's 'The Fathers'
Faith of Our Fathers: Why the Early Christians Still Matter and Always Will
Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist
Good Pope, Bad Pope: Their Lives, Our Lessons
Love in the Little Things: Tales of Family Life
Ministers & Martyrs: The Ultimate Catholic Guide to the Apostolic Age
Praying in the Presence of Our Lord: With St. Thomas Aquinas
Roots of the Faith: From the Church Fathers to You
Sharing Christ's Priesthood: A Bible Study for Catholics
Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols
Sweet Gridlock: Selected Love Poems
Terms and Conditions: Assorted Poems
The Apostles and Their Times
The Church and the Roman Empire
The Fathers of the Church Bible
The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers
The Mass of the Early Christians
The Resilient Church: The Glory, the Shame, & the Hope for Tomorrow
The Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church
The Way of the Fathers: Praying With the Early Christians
The Witness of Early Christian Women: Mothers of the Church
Understanding the Mass: 100 Questions, 100 Answers
Why Me? When Bad Things Happen
Yours Is the Church: How Catholicism Shapes Our World
...
Books co-written by Mike Aquilina:
A Pocket Catechism for Kids - Fr. Kris Stubna
Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth - Dion DiMucci
Keeping Mary Close: Devotion to Our Lady through the Ages - Fr. Frederick Gruber
Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians - Scott Hahn
Praying the Psalms the Early Christians - Christopher Bailey
Saint Monica and the Power of Persistent Prayer - Mark W. Sullivan
Seven Revolutions: How Christianity Changed the World and Can Change It Again - James Papandrea
Something More Pastoral: The Mission of Bishop, Archbishop, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl - Ann Rodgers
Take Five: Meditations John Henry Newman - Fr. Juan Velez
Take Five: Meditations Pope Benedict XVI - Fr. Kris Stubna
Take Five: On the Job Meditations With St. Ignatius - Fr. Kris Stubna
Talking to Youth About Sexuality: A Parents' Guide - Fr. Kris Stubna
The Ancient Path: Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a New Life Today - John Michael Talbot
The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The Doubter's Novena: Nine Steps to Trust the Apostle Thomas - Christopher Bailey
The Feasts: How the Church Year Forms Us as Catholics - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The Grail Code: Quest for the Real Presence - Christopher Bailey
The Great Life: Essays on Doctrine and Holiness in Honor of Father Ronald Lawler, O.F.M. Cap. - Kenneth Ogorek
The Holy Land: A Guide for Pilgrims - Fr. Dave Halaiko
The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions - Regis J. Flaherty
The Mass: The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The World's First Christmas: Jubilee 2000 - Regis J. Flaherty
Weapons of the Spirit: Selected Writings of Father John Hugo - David Scott
What Catholics Believe: A Pocket Catechism - Fr. Kris Stubna
Books co-written by Mike Aquilina:
A Pocket Catechism for Kids - Fr. Kris Stubna
Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth - Dion DiMucci
Keeping Mary Close: Devotion to Our Lady through the Ages - Fr. Frederick Gruber
Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians - Scott Hahn
Praying the Psalms the Early Christians - Christopher Bailey
Saint Monica and the Power of Persistent Prayer - Mark W. Sullivan
Seven Revolutions: How Christianity Changed the World and Can Change It Again - James Papandrea
Something More Pastoral: The Mission of Bishop, Archbishop, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl - Ann Rodgers
Take Five: Meditations John Henry Newman - Fr. Juan Velez
Take Five: Meditations Pope Benedict XVI - Fr. Kris Stubna
Take Five: On the Job Meditations With St. Ignatius - Fr. Kris Stubna
Talking to Youth About Sexuality: A Parents' Guide - Fr. Kris Stubna
The Ancient Path: Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a New Life Today - John Michael Talbot
The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The Doubter's Novena: Nine Steps to Trust the Apostle Thomas - Christopher Bailey
The Feasts: How the Church Year Forms Us as Catholics - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The Grail Code: Quest for the Real Presence - Christopher Bailey
The Great Life: Essays on Doctrine and Holiness in Honor of Father Ronald Lawler, O.F.M. Cap. - Kenneth Ogorek
The Holy Land: A Guide for Pilgrims - Fr. Dave Halaiko
The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions - Regis J. Flaherty
The Mass: The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The World's First Christmas: Jubilee 2000 - Regis J. Flaherty
Weapons of the Spirit: Selected Writings of Father John Hugo - David Scott
What Catholics Believe: A Pocket Catechism - Fr. Kris Stubna
...
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