What Is Saint Michael the Archangel Patron Saint Of?

A bulletin of the Holy See Press Office calls Saint Michael the Archangel patron and protector of the Italian State Police and the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps. The Catechism names him in the Church’s liturgy with Gabriel, Raphael, and the guardian angels. The Bible calls him an archangel and a chief prince. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Michael is Jesus. That is a different claim, quoted on its own page.

Key Points

• The 5 October 2025 bulletin (1) says the Pope celebrated the Eucharist “on the occasion of the memorial of Saint Michael Archangel, patron and protector of the Italian State Police and the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps, on 29 September.”
• Catechism 335 (2) says the Church “celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).”
• Jude 9Jude 1:9 · King James VersionYet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.Jude 1:9 · King James VersionOpen source (3) calls him “Michael the archangel.” Revelation 12:7Revelation 12:7 · King James VersionAnd there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,Revelation 12:7 · King James VersionOpen source (4) says “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.” Daniel 10:13Daniel 10:13 · King James VersionBut the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.Daniel 10:13 · King James VersionOpen source (5) calls him “Michael, one of the chief princes.”
• Catechism 331 (2) says Christ “is the centre of the angelic world” and that the angels “are his angels.”
• Is Jesus Michael the Archangel? quotes the Jehovah’s Witness teaching. Hebrews 1:5Hebrews 1:5 · King James VersionFor unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?Hebrews 1:5 · King James VersionOpen source (6) asks to which of the angels God said, “Thou art my Son.”

Whom Does the Church Name as Patron?

This afternoon, in the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens, the Holy Father presided over the Eucharistic Celebration for the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps, on the occasion of the memorial of Saint Michael Archangel, patron and protector of the Italian State Police and the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps, on 29 September.

The homily on that bulletin calls him “your patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel,” speaking to the gendarmes, and closes, “Saint Michael, the Archangel who combats evil in God’s name.” The date in the bulletin is the memorial of 29 September, celebrated at this Mass on 5 October 2025.

Those sentences name two bodies: the Italian State Police and the Vatican Gendarmerie. They do not name grocers, sailors, or a general list of trades. This page does not add a patronage the bulletin does not state.

What Does the Catechism Say?

Paragraph 335:

In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the Roman Canon’s Supplices te rogamus. . .[“Almighty God, we pray that your angel…”]; in the funeral liturgy’s In Paradisum deducant te angeli. . .[“May the angels lead you into Paradise. . .”]). Moreover, in the “Cherubic Hymn” of the Byzantine Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).

Paragraph 334 says “the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels.” Paragraph 330 says angels are “purely spiritual creatures” with “intelligence and will,” “personal and immortal creatures.” Paragraph 331 says they belong to Christ “because they were created through and for him,” and “still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan.” The paragraph quotes Hebrews 1:14Hebrews 1:14 · King James VersionAre they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?Hebrews 1:14 · King James VersionOpen source: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Is Praying to Saints in the Bible? is the wider question of asking the saints to pray. The Catholic hub lists the Church’s doctrine pages.

What Does the Bible Say About Michael?

Jude 9Jude 1:9 · King James VersionYet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.Jude 1:9 · King James VersionOpen source (3): “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” Daniel 10:13Daniel 10:13 · King James VersionBut the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.Daniel 10:13 · King James VersionOpen source (5) calls him one of the chief princes who came to help. Daniel 12:1Daniel 12:1 · King James VersionAnd at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.Daniel 12:1 · King James VersionOpen source calls him “the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people.” Revelation 12:7Revelation 12:7 · King James VersionAnd there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,Revelation 12:7 · King James VersionOpen source (4): “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.”

The verses call him an archangel, a chief prince, and a leader of angels in a war against the dragon. They do not call him the Son.

Is Michael Jesus?

Catechism 331 says the angels are Christ’s angels, created through him and for him, sent as ministering spirits. Hebrews 1:5Hebrews 1:5 · King James VersionFor unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?Hebrews 1:5 · King James VersionOpen source (6): “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?” Christians confess that Jesus is God the Son, not one of the angels. Is Jesus God? is that confession.

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that before his life on earth Jesus was Michael the archangel. Their publications are quoted on Is Jesus Michael the Archangel?. The Catholic sentences on this page are about an archangel named in the liturgy and called patron of two police bodies. They are not that identification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Saint Michael the Patron Saint Of?

The Holy See bulletin names him patron and protector of the Italian State Police and the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps. The Catechism names him, with Gabriel and Raphael, among the angels the liturgy remembers. A longer list of trades is not in these two texts.

When Is the Memorial?

The bulletin dates the memorial to 29 September and records a Mass for the gendarmerie on 5 October 2025.

Are There Female Archangels in These Texts?

Catechism 335 names Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and the guardian angels. It does not name a female archangel.

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