Sep 28, 2008

The Feast of Archangel San Miguel...Who is like the Lord? Ask YOURSELF that question tomorrow, September 29th!


I live at one of the hundreds of towns named after San Miguel the Archangel in Latin America...for the whole of September we've been holding special masses and celebrating and honoring San Miguel with special activities at the pueblo center and with parades, contests and LOTS of daily processions and FIREWORKS!


The entire month his sculpted image has moved in procession (with drums and fluets) each day/night from one home to another to be honored and visited by neighbors (refreshments too)...


...today we've been having the BIGGEST celebrations for San Miguel, on the eve of his feastday, tomorrow, which started with a early morning parade, complete with fancy stepping horses and fancy stepping bands and many homemade floats...there is lots of drinking, lots of dulces, cotton candy, nuts and treats and there was even a special Rodeo type affair featuring a cattle showing with fierce Bulls and prize winning Cows...the place is wild with colorful and happy activities and it will continue through tomorrow (which in this town will be a WHOLE DAY of a holiday too)...there are many special foods to eat including TAMALES, and hot cider for everyone! It's very festive here in Central America on feastdays. I especially like it because my favorite Santo, and no-nonsense Angel, has always been San Miguel...San Miguel whom I truly believe defends me and the likes of me!

Wikipedia about San Miguel/Saint Michael

"Michael (Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל‎, Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; Greek: Μιχαήλ, Mikhaíl; Latin: Michael or Míchaël; Arabic: ميخائيل‎, Mikhā'īl) is an archangel, one of the principal angels in Christian and Islamic tradition. He is viewed as the good Angel of Death (as opposed to Samael, the evil Angel of Death), and as the field commander of the Army of God. He is mentioned by name in the Book of Daniel[dubious – discuss] and the Book of Revelation 12:7. In the book of Daniel, Michael appears as "one of the chief princes" (Daniel 10:13) who in Daniel's vision comes to the angel Gabriel's aid in his contest with the angel of Persia Dobiel, and is also described there as the advocate of Israel and "great prince who stands up for the children of your (Daniel's) people" (Daniel 10:21, 12:1).

The Talmudic tradition rendered his name as meaning "who is like El (God)?". In recent years, a popular mistake has become to translate the name as "One who is like God." It is, however, meant as a question: "Who is like the Lord?" The name was said to have been the war-cry of the angels in the battle fought in heaven against Satan and his followers.

Much of the late Midrashic detail about Michael was transmitted to Christianity through the Book of Enoch, whence it was taken up and further elaborated. In late medieval Christianity, Michael, together with St George, became the patron saint of chivalry, and of the first chivalric order of France, the Order of Saint Michael of 1469. In the British honours system, a chivalric order founded in 1818 is also named for these two saints, the Order of St Michael and St George. St Michael is also considered in many Christian circles as the patron saint of the warrior. Police officers and soldiers, particularly paratroopers, regard him as their patron saint. He is also a patron of Germany[1] and one of the patron saints of the city of Brussels[2], Belgium.

Roman Catholics refer to him as "Saint Michael the Archangel" and also simply as "Saint Michael". Orthodox Christians refer to him as the "Taxiarch Archangel Michael" or simply "Archangel Michael". The New Age Movement often refers to Michael as "Creator God Michael of Nebadon", Hatton, Aton, or simply Christ Michael."



and from Padre Mickey:

"...We don't need to worry about Guardian Angels, or whether angels are real or not; what we need to worry about is how we treat each other, about how we treat those who are the least among us. We need to worry about helping others learn of the Good News of forgiveness of sins and that God loves everyone and want relationship with everyone. We need to tend to the sick, to pray for each other, and to love each other. Then we can join with the angels in heaven and sing God's praises, because we will be doing God's will, just as the angels do.

Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen"

Padre Mickey's Dance Party/Feast of St.Michael

and from James...

Saint Michael and All Angels, and you, too, Jane

The Three Legged Stool

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have always called him San Miguel. He sat on my kitchen window sill for a couple of years. San Miguel, fight for us! All of us!

David G. said...

Hey Leo,

Why aren't I listed on you're site anymore?

Am I too disturbed for your readership?

Leonard said...

David,

You disturbed?

Your link took us to a "closed" blog...I tried it several times and couldn't get in...glad to see you didn't exclude me/us from all your colorful extravaganzas...it's back up.

David G. said...

Sorry but I guess I pushed the wrong button that time, ..it is corrected.

Too much Champagne that night...lol.

Bonnie said...

Hi Leonardo--May Michael, Archangel and all the heavenly host protect, defend and watch over us today and every day. And here is the only hymn (283)I could find devoted to his feast day: (v. 1 and 2)

Christ, the fair glory of the holy angels, maker of all things, ruler of all nations, grant of they mercy unto us thy servants steps up to the heaven.

Send thine archangel Michael to our succor; peacermaker blessed, may he banish from us striving and hatred, so that for peaceful all things may prosper.

P.S. Did you get my email?

Leonard said...

Bonnie,

No, no e-mail...I await! So glad to see you hope all is well.

Anonymous said...

Bonnie,

Just in case any of you are around at the time, I want that hymn sung at my funeral.

"Send thine archangel Michael to our succor; peacermaker blessed, may he banish from us striving and hatred, so that for peaceful all things may prosper."

Anonymous said...

But Bonnie, really, the spellcheck thing.....LOL..... make that, "peacemaker", s'il Vous plait.

:)

Bonnie said...

Leonardo--I'll bet that is the second one that hasn't made it. But really on the 1st on I think I sent it to the wrong address. Someone got an eyeful on that one. It was Sarah Palin in a flag bikini holding an ak47. YUK! Hence the comment, we will not be singing "Keep your eye on the grand old flag."

The other one was about the good news I wanted to share with you and I sent that last week. I shall try again.

P.S. to Scott. I left you a comment yesterday too and I think blogger ate it.