Sacred Calendar
The Roman year ordered for memory, penance, feasts, saints, and the daily pilgrimage of the faithful.
Calendar standard
Pre-1955 Roman usage
The calendar follows the universal Roman year under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X, with the Roman Martyrology preserved as a distinct daily witness.
The day is presented for prayer, recollection, study, and perseverance in the City.
Daily observance
Today in the City of God
The Church keeps this day in holy time. The Pilgrim's Companion gathers the feast, daily quote, Martyrology, meditation, prayer, and related chapters into one daily path through the City.
Choose a date
Daily observance
Dedication of St. Michael, Archangel
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Season: Time after Pentecost
The day is set within the Roman year so its feast, Martyrology, daily quote, prayer, and reading path may be received together without blurring their proper sources.
Today's pilgrimage
Dedication of St. Michael, Archangel
Rank: Double of the First Class
Color: white
Quote for the day
St. John
“Michael and his angels fought with the dragon.”
Apocalypse 12:7, Douay-Rheims
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - September 29
AN Mount Gargano, the commemoration of the " blessed archangel Michael. This festival is kept in memory of the day, when under his invocation, was consecrated a church, unpretending in its exterior, but endowed with virtue celestial. — In Thrace, the birthday of the holy martyrs Eutychius, Plautus, and Heracleas. — In Persia, under king Sapor, the holy martyr Gudelia. After having converted many to the faith, and refused to adore the sun and fire, she was subjected to numerous torments. Then having the skin torn off her head, and being fastened to a post, she deserved an eternal triumph. — In the same country, the holy martyrs Dadas, a blood relation of king Sapor, Casdoa, his wife, and Gabdelas, his son. After being deprived of their dignities, and subjected to various torments, they were for a long time imprisoned and finally put to the sword. — In Armenia, the holy virgins, Ripsimus and her companions, martyrs, under king Tiridates. — At Auxerre, St. Fraternus, bishop and martyr. — At Pontecorvo, near Aquino, St. Grimoaldus, priest and confessor. — In Palestine, St. Quiriacus, anchoret.
Highlighted saint
St. Michael the Archangel
Defender in battle and guardian of divine order.
St. Michael is honored as the archangel who stands for God's rights against rebellion.
His feast teaches that the spiritual life is warfare under divine order. Peace is found not by ignoring evil, but by resisting it beneath God.
Virtue to practice
Militant humility under God.
Error to resist
The proud peace that refuses to resist rebellion against divine order.
For the pilgrim in exile
Call on St. Michael for courage without pride. The Catholic fights best when he knows he is under command.
Imitate today
- Resist temptation promptly.
- Pray for protection against spiritual enemies.
- Choose God's honor over false peace.
Sources
- Apocalypse 12:7-9, Douay-Rheims.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, September 29.
From Matins
Michael and the humility of heavenly strength.
Matins - Second Nocturn - Dedication of St. Michael, Archangel
Pope St. Gregory the Great, Homily on the Gospels
“None is able to do as God doeth.”
Doctrine taught
- The Breviary honors St. Michael by teaching the order of the angels and the ministry by which God governs and defends His servants.
- St. Gregory explains that Michael is sent when something mighty is to be done, so that his very name teaches that no creature can do what God does.
- Against the ancient enemy who desired to be like the Most High, St. Michael stands as heavenly strength wholly submitted to God.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask St. Michael for militant humility. The Catholic defense of truth must never imitate pride, but must fight under God and for God's rights.
Sources
- The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. IV, Autumn, Second Nocturn for the Dedication of St. Michael, lessons iv-vi.
- Bute 1908 is used here as an accessible pre-Pius X Breviary witness and is cited distinctly from the 1936-1937 Benziger / Burns Oates edition.
Breviary Witness
Who is like unto God?
Matins - Dedication of St. Michael, Archangel
Breviary witness
- The Breviary office of St. Michael places the faithful under the order of heaven and the defense of God against proud rebellion.
- Angelic strength is not independence from God, but perfect service beneath His command.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask St. Michael for militant humility. The Catholic defense of truth must begin with submission to God.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for September 29, Dedication of St. Michael.
- Apocalypse 12:7-9, Douay-Rheims.
Gospel of the day
Their angels always see the face of my Father.
Dedication of St. Michael, Archangel - Matthew 18:1-10
“See that you despise not one of these little ones.”
What Our Lord teaches
- Heaven is not indifferent to humility, innocence, or the protection of little souls.
- The angels serve the order of God, and St. Michael teaches the Church to resist proud rebellion.
Virtue to practice
Defend the vulnerable and practice the humility that makes the soul teachable.
Error to resist
The proud spirit that treats dependence, childhood, and obedience as weakness.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask St. Michael for courage, but also for littleness. The strongest souls are not those who never kneel, but those who know before Whom they kneel.
Sources
- Matthew 18:1-10, Douay-Rheims.
- Traditional Roman Gospel for St. Michael.
Meditation
The Church Made Public
Pentecost teaches that the Holy Ghost does not create private religious enthusiasm detached from doctrine, worship, and authority. He gathers, sends, teaches, and strengthens the visible Church. The remnant must therefore seek fire without disorder and zeal without novelty.
Related paths
Walk the day through the City.
Today's chapters
Read with the feast.
Prayer
The day should become prayer.
O Lord, pardon my faults, raise my heart from discouragement, and teach me to begin again under Thy mercy.
Thought for the pilgrim
The pilgrim is formed by returning to God again and again.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
Make a brief examination of conscience before sleep and end the day with an act of contrition.
Source notes
Universal Roman Calendar under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X
Fasting and abstinence according to the laws observed in 1952
Daily quotations and pilgrimage excerpts should come from Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, traditional popes before 1958, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, or received liturgical texts.
The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, published by John Murphy Company; the local 1916 text is displayed and traceable to its source lines.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Liturgical Calendar, pp. xvii–xxviii.