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| A ruined chapel of St. Michael in England; such chapels were often built on the top of a hill, being in the aerial domain. A fine practice, where possible, is to make a journey to a local summit on or around Michaelmas and offer prayers, the Eucharist, or the Litany of the Angels. |
Below are the Psalms,
Antiphons, Lessons, Collect and other resources for keeping the annual Feast of
the Angels in the Episcopal Calendar. When offered as a complete cycle, the
Anglican Daily Office allows those of us who are not monastics to engage in a
rich life of prayer—based in the Sacred Scriptures and the ongoing tradition of
the Ancient & Undivided Church. By using the Prayer Book’s observance of
the Calendar fully, along with a few additions from the Anglican tradition
(especially the currently-out-of-print “Prayer Book Office” by Howard Galley), the
Church graciously invites us into a balanced and holy Rule of Prayer suitable
for a lifetime’s growth in the knowledge and love of the Lord.
Learning to pray the
Daily Office is one of the greatest gifts in Anglicanism. It allows for a deep
integration of prayer, Scripture, study, practice, and ministry. When we learn
to become recollected in God, there is no false opposition of prayer v. action:
all is one symphony of consecrated service to God and neighbor. Truly, God is
“all in all” for the heart schooled in prayer!
[As with most other
Feast Days, if St. Michael’s Day falls on a Sunday, it is normally observed on
Monday; the First Evensong being said on Sunday evening. The form of the Office given here
is that of Rite II].
At First Evening
Prayer (Eve of the Feast); BCP p. 115
Psalms:
Antiphon (antiphons
are said before and after a Psalm or Canticle)
The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, and he
will deliver them.
Psalm 34
Antiphon
The angel stood at the altar of the temple, having in his
hand a golden censer, hallelujah.
Psalm 150
First Reading
Daniel 12:1-3
First Canticle
Antiphon
Angels and Archangels Thrones and Dominions, Principalities
and Powers, Virtues of the heavens, O praise the Lord of heaven, alleluia.
Canticle: 13 (A Song
of Praise/Benedictus es, Domine), BCP p. 90
Second Reading
Revelation 5:1-14
followed by silence
A Third Reading – from the early Church
From a homily on the Gospels (Homily 32, 8-9: PL
76, 1250-1251) by St. Gregory the Great
You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function
rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been
spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message.
Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels;
and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels.
And so it was that not merely an angel but the archangel Gabriel was sent to
the Virgin Mary. It was only fitting that the highest angel should come to
announce the greatest of all messages.
Some angels are given proper names to denote the service
they are empowered to perform. In that holy city, where perfect knowledge flows
from the vision of almighty God, those who have no names may easily be known.
But personal names are assigned to some, not because they could not be known
without them, but rather to denote their ministry when they came among us.
Thus, Michael means “Who is like God”; Gabriel is “The Strength of God”; and
Raphael is “God’s Remedy”.
Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed,
Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one
can do what God does by his superior power. So also our ancient foe desired in
his pride to be like God, saying: I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my
throne above the stars of heaven; I will be like the Most High. He will be
allowed to remain in power until the end of the world when he will be destroyed
in the final punishment. Then, he will fight with the archangel Michael, as we
are told by John: A battle was fought with Michael the archangel.
So too Gabriel, who is called God’s strength, was sent to
Mary. He came to announce the One who appeared as a humble man to quell the
cosmic powers. Thus God’s strength announced the coming of the Lord of the
heavenly powers, mighty in battle.
Raphael means, as I have said, God’s remedy, for when he
touched Tobit’s eyes in order to cure him, he banished the darkness of his
blindness. Thus, since he is to heal, he is rightly called God’s remedy.
Second Canticle
Antiphon
The heavenly hosts extol the son of the Most High; to him
Cherubim and Seraphim continually cry, Holy!
Canticle: Song of Mary
(Magnificat), BCP p. 119
Collect
(Contemporary
language)
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.
At Morning Prayer
Opening Scripture
Major Saints’ Days
(BCP p. 77)
At the Invitatory
Antiphon for Major
Saints’ Days (BCP p. 82)
Invitatory Psalm:
Either Venite or Jubilate, BCP pages 82/83
Psalm
Antiphon
You have made man but little lower than the angels; you have
put all things under his feet.
Psalm 8
First Reading
Job 38: 1-7
First Canticle
Antiphon
Truly I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the
angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Canticle: Song of
Zechariah (Benedictus), BCP 92
Second Reading
Hebrews 1:1-14
Second Canticle
Te Deum laudamus, BCP
p. 95
Collect
As at First Evening Prayer
At Noonday (BCP p. 103)
Psalm
Antiphon
Bless the Lord, you angels of his, you mighty ones who do
his bidding.
Psalm 103
or the following
Antiphon
Let all the angels of God worship him.
Psalm 97
Short Reading
Revelation 8:3-4
Collect
As at First Evening Prayer
[Here, or at other
offices & times of prayer, may be said the Litany of the Angels]
At Second Evening
Prayer, BCP p. 115
Psalm
Antiphon
You make the winds your angels, and flames of fire your
servants, hallelujah.
Psalm 104
First Reading
2 Kings 6: 8-17
First Canticle
Antiphon
In the presence of the angels, I will sing your praise, O
Lord.
Canticle: Song of Mary
(Magnificat), BCP p. 119
Second Reading
Mark 13: 21-27
Second Canticle
Antiphon
My eyes, O Lord, have seen your salvation
Canticle: Song of Simeon
(Nunc dimittis), BCP p. 120
Collect
As at first Evening Prayer
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