Collect for St. Michael and All Angels (1928 BCP)
Collect for St. Michael and All Angels (1928 BCP) gives the collect and appointed readings for the feast of St. Michael and All Angels in the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer. The feast, traditionally called Michaelmas, is kept on September 29 and belongs to the Prayer Book's sanctoral propers.
Appointed collect
O EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so, by thy appointment, they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Appointed Epistle
The 1928 BCP appoints Revelation xii. 7 as "For the Epistle."
THERE was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Appointed Gospel
The 1928 BCP appoints St. Matthew xviii. 1 as the Gospel.
AT the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Liturgical meaning
The collect joins heavenly worship and earthly protection: angels serve God in heaven, and by God's appointment succour and defend the faithful on earth. Its petition is not directed to angels, but to God, asking him to order angelic ministry for the defence of his people.
The appointed Epistle presents Michael and his angels in the apocalyptic conflict of Revelation 12, where the victory is finally grounded in "the blood of the Lamb." The Gospel from Matthew 18 connects the feast with humility, the care of Christ's "little ones," and the saying that their angels behold the face of the Father in heaven.
Historical note
The Michaelmas collect entered the classical Anglican Prayer Book tradition from older Western liturgical sources and was retained in the American 1928 BCP. Procter and Frere note that the Prayer Book propers for Michaelmas preserve the old association of the day with angelic ministry, heavenly order, and the protection of God's people.
See also
- Book of Common Prayer (1928)
- Collects Epistles and Gospels (1928 BCP)
- Church Calendar (1928 BCP)
- Holy Communion (1928 BCP)