Reflection on Commemoration of St. Michael and all Angels
Commemoration of Michael and All Angels
Reflection by Chad Fothergill
29 September 2020
Since the fifth century, the church has observed a commemoration for an archangel named Michael who, in the book of Revelation, protects God’s people in the midst of danger. Or, as the LSM community sings in Carl Schalk’s setting of Luther’s Morning Prayer, “your angel keep me safe from harm.”
Scripture also tells us that angels are quite musical, forming choirs that number in the thousands! We are invited to join their song around eucharistic tables: “with all the choirs of angels,” chants the presider, “with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn.” In response, the gathered assembly sings the Sanctus:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth
are full of your glory.”
When Martin Luther crafted texts and melodies for the people to sing in their own language at worship, he turned to the vision of the prophet Isaiah who saw six-winged angels singing these words. Luther’s version of the Sanctus (CW 267; ELW 868; LBW 528; LSB 960; TLH 249) has been sung for nearly five centuries, often in the context of the eucharistic liturgy. It’s a fitting chorale for today’s commemoration, and we invite you to sing along with this recording from one of our 2019 liturgies.
Isaiah in a vision did of old
the Lord of hosts enthroned on high behold,
whose splendid train was wide outspread until
its streaming glory did the temple fill.
Above God’s throne the shining seraphim
with sixfold wings did rev’rence unto him.
With two each seraph hid his glorious face,
and two about his feet did interlace,
and with the other two he soared on high,
and one unto another thus did cry:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!
His glory filleth all the earth!”
The beams and lintels at their crying shook,
and all the house was filled with billowing smoke.
Text: Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. Martin Franzmann, 1907–1976, © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.