A day after voting between two saints with elegant names, we're back to more mundane monikers. Anna and Michael. There is nothing mundane about these two contestants, however, as prophet faces archangel in a matchup you will only find here at Lent Madness. Is it fair to put an angel in the bracket against a mere mortal? We're not sure. But as the familiar expression goes, "All's fair in love and Lent Madness."
Speaking of those elegantly named saints, Eglantyne Jebb easily defeated Seraphim of Sarov 73% to 27% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen.
Today is the last battle of a full week of saintly thrills and spills. We'll see everyone bright and early on Monday morning with an exciting agricultural matchup between Isidore the Farmer and Phocus the Gardener. TGIL, everybody! (Thank God It's Lent).
Anna the Prophet
Like many women in the Bible, Anna doesn’t have a lot of scriptural context to sketch a complete biography. However, the simple fact that Anna is given a name and title speaks to the importance of this woman. Known as Anna the Prophet, she is recognized as the widow who was with Simeon in the temple when Jesus was presented by Mary and Joseph shortly after his birth.
Saint Luke (2:36–38) tells us: “There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
As a Jewish prophet, Anna led a life of devotion to God through daily prayer, worship, and work at the temple. Anna is honored as a saint for her recognition of Christ as the Messiah during his presentation in the temple. Both Simeon and Anna were transformed by their encounter with Jesus, which led to the creation of the Song of Simeon that we sing to this day. Also known as the Nunc Dimittis, the Song of Simeon is a traditional canticle often used in Compline and Evensong.
Although we don’t know much about the details of her life, Anna’s presence and witness offer several important lessons. She teaches us about the importance of prayer and fasting to prepare for the coming of our Lord. She models for us the importance of patience, since much of a faithful life is spent waiting. Her diligence assures us that the practices of prayer, fasting, preparation, and patience will give us a reward far greater than anything we can imagine. Anna teaches us that our faithful practices allow us to participate in the coming of Christ.
Anna’s feast day is celebrated on February 3.
Collect for Anna the Prophet
Almighty and life-giving God, we give thanks for the witness of Anna the Prophet who recognized our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during his presentation in the temple. We give thanks, O Lord, for the teachings of Anna that show us the path to glory can be found through prayer, fasting, preparation, and patience; in Christ’s name. Amen.
Michael the Archangel
The word angel means messenger from God. Archangels are considered the chief angels in the hierarchy of angels, although most of this hierarchy is human construct. The full name of Michael translates to “Who is like God?”—an obviously rhetorical question. Michael is mentioned in the holy texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Michael is described in the Bible as a helper and defender of God’s holy people, the one who cares for the dead (Michael even argues with the devil over Moses’ body in the book of Jude). Most notably, Michael is portrayed as fighting and defeating the dragon in the Book of Revelation. Michael is frequently depicted as a warrior angel, holding a sword and a shield and standing astride a defeated and subdued dragon.
While Michael has been invoked in prayer through the centuries as the defender and protector of the people of God, the warrior image is a more modern concept. In the early centuries of Christianity, the faithful venerated Michael as a defender and protector, not through violence and war but through healing. Churches, shrines, and holy places dedicated to Michael began appearing in the fourth century as places of healing. Many of these holy places were built around hot springs in Greece and Asia. Michael’s protection extended from life to death, as Michael guarded the souls of the dead against evil and guided them to God as they came into the kingdom of heaven.
Only as Christianity became associated with political and military might did the image of Michael shift to an archangel clad in armor and leading armies in the name of Christ. By the Middle Ages, Michael and George became the patron saints of chivalry, a code of conduct associated with knighthood and military service.
Michael is given credit for redirecting a river to save a church; standing with a sword over the tomb of Hadrian, thus protecting Rome from a devastating plague under the papacy of Gregory the Great; and appearing to the Bishop of Avranches in 708 with directions to build a church on the rocky islet now known as Mont Saint-Michel in France. Michael is also considered to be the domesticator of horses; legend holds that Michael taught Saint Florus and Saint Laurus to listen to the language of horses so they could be helpers to humanity.
Collect for Michael the Archangel
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.
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303 comments on “Anna the Prophet vs. Michael the Archangel”
I thought I was going to vote for Anna, but Michael is the patron of law enforcement as well as the military. So in memory of my father, who was a Coastie veteran and a law enforcement officer who really believed that "to serve and protect" included everyone, I voted for Michael.
Michael will forever be a heavy John Travolta with wings holding a puppy (or just eating pie). That's a tough image to beat, but that story of Anna really touched me. I voted for her!
Both are worthy Saints but I voted for Anna as hers is a powerful witness—I used to attend evening prayer weekly and loved the Nunc Dimittis.
General Eisenhower, fully aware of the historic significance of the lore surrounding Michael the Archangel defeating Lucifer in the battle of good and evil, worshiped at Mont St. Michel after taking the Normandy beaches in WWII in preparation for his march towards Berlin. Locals firmly believe that the protection of St. Michel aided the Allies in their quest to defeat Nazi Germany.
Had to vote for Michael since our church is St. Michael and All Angels!
Love them both for different reasons. . . heads, it's Anna, tails, it's Michael (cue the drum roll!)
And it comes up Michael! We are blest either way!
Oh, THANK YOU, Mama J! You showed me how to decide!
And after another drum roll, a French 2-franc coin came up tails, so I will indeed vote for Michael! And we are indeed blessed with either one proceeding to the next round.
Pile ou face? Pile!
If a saint is a holy person, meaning set apart for the service of God, it is right to choose Anna. She must have had the gift of discernment, as the Spirit revealed to her that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. I can only imagine how many babies she witnessed being dedicated, year after year after year. I also can imagine how this event changed her life and witness in her remaining years. Michael is an archangel; that's recognition enough!
Michael has a role in Louise Penny's latest, Glass Houses, so he gets my vote.
Mandy B
Oh my, brackets this year are so tough!
I voted for Anna today. My previous votes went to the more action-oriented saints, but there is such a need in our lives for prayer and quiet contemplation. Plus, my daughter is named for her great-grandmother Anna, so there it is!
You just never know what the Internet will reveal. On YouTube, search for “mysterious line st michael” to find a video about seven shrines to the Archangel situated in a straight line that runs from Ireland to Israel. Ignore (a) the fact that the source is “UFOmania,” (b) the weird conjectures, and (c) the LOL pronunciations caused by the use of a robotic voice to read a written text (!), and enjoy the shrines.
I’m going to take your word for it, Davis! Reminds me of Charing Cross and the other crosses in England that King Edward i put up along Eleanor’s funeral procession. Not a straight line, but there was a plan!
One of those is Sagra San Michele, atop an isolated peak not far from Turin. At the foot of the road to the shrine is a restaurant that my wife and I visited on September 29, 1987 — I’m pretty sure it was the Ristorante Della Sacra that exists today. We stopped for lunch and were told, apologetically, that they could only offer us a set meal “perché è San Michele.” The place was crammed with feasting families, but they made room for us.
It was the lunch of our lives: fifteen courses, all delicious! The dollar was strong at the time, and when they told us the cost at the end it was so reasonable that I had to ask whether it was for one {no) or two (si). I’ve always wanted to go back and may yet manage it.
I tell you this, not as a mere diversion but because this is my chance finally to thank St. Michael for that lunch. On the basis of the bios I would probably have chosen Anna, but today I cast my ballot on three levels: as a vote, as an ex voto, and as a prayer to St. Michael to watch over the Italian people as they vote in their national election on Sunday.
While I’m a bit wary of voting against an arch-angel, I’m hoping he’s big enough to understand. Anna appeared to have done much as a “mere” human. Much more achievable for me to model.
Michael is cool and all, but doesn't one need to be human to be a saint? God is God and angels are angels but humans can be...well, decidedly unsaintly!
Two very worthy saints. Since my daughter loves and has a rescue horse which she had trained to be ridden I must vote for Michael.
I thought about this one more than I did with the other stumper with J. Westley. Anna led the life I would aspire too. There has always been turmoil and "battles" in my life. Contemplation- something I catch between brushing my teeth and bed. Wanted to vote for Anna but my vote was for Michael. His strength.
lol, next year in Round One of Lent Madness: a briefly mentioned biblical figure versus: God the Father. Make it happen, SEC!
It seems a bizarre to me to include an angel, but what is Lent Madness for if not to stretch our minds and hearts? Michael as angel in three religions and as a protector and healer made me vote for him. I am surprised to have done so.
Horses not withstanding, my vote has to go to Anna, for those years of patient prayer and devotion, and for her joyful recognition of the infant Christ and proclamation of him as redeemer.
I was raised and confirmed at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Austin, so I already knew I'd vote for Michael (even though I love the story of Anna the Prophet!), but then the image of Michael standing over Hadrian's Mausoleum to save medieval Rome from plague sealed the deal for this Latin teacher.
Michael is not human, that does seem unfair. And today's events make me nervous about venerating anyone who has become associated with, through no fault of their own, military type demeanor. We need more patience, prayer and devotion. So - Anna for me.
Agree!
Since Michael is noted in “holy texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam” he gets my vote as one who today can promote commonality.
Love Anna, but went with Michael
Anna for being such a keen observer. Michael sounds like a non-human workaholic, which is not a good role model for me.
had to go with anna, because this resonated with me: "She models for us the importance of patience, since much of a faithful life is spent waiting." patience has never been my strong suit, but i find more value in it as i get older.
Michael is, for me, more like a mythical figure to be conjured up and used as a model for beating up some bad ole dragons ! Just joshing with you. Seriously, Anna is the model most of us lowly sinners need to be more serious about preparing for Lent and Christ's ultimate sacrifice. She is the model for prayer, fasting, patience, waiting and being diligent. These are the acts of the faithful that stymie many of us. It is Anna who lets us know who Jesus is-not a figure of mystery but the one who will be our ultimate salvation.
Anna recognized Christ. I am voting for her. Michael has status, and much of it well-deserved, but I am saddened by the indiscriminate killing of dragons.
“No animals were harmed in the making of this hagiography” it isn’t!
"Much of it well deserved" ha ha. Dragons get their due at Chinese new year but any land beast with scales gets severe treatment in the western imagination. Perhaps if Michael were lauded as killing cancer we would view his battling more favorably. But I appreciate your droll defense of the dragon even though I suspect the creature at issue is not the domestic Hogwarts version but something shapeless, smoky, and fire dealing, something dark and terrifying creating havoc and panic, something an angel would vanquish for us.
Surely this is the same dragon identified with Satan in Rev. 12:9 and 20:2. Just as you describe it.
Angels are the closest things we have to real life super heroes. They always look out for us so I am going to look out for one og them when given the opportunity. My vote is for Michael!
I totally cry foul! Michael is an Angel. Maybe the Archangel. He is not human and has not overcome human foibles to be a Saint. I think he should be DQ'd and the Exec Committee should be chastised for allowing this ringer into the bracket. Your halo must be earned, not given to you!
Michael the Archangel all the way.
When I was young, I dreamt of a mighty angel, strong and implacable and holding a child. No idea what if anything it means, maybe my dinner disagreeing with me. But I've always remembered it vividly, and here's my first chance to vote for an angel.
Can't vote for Michael.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.
They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
Right!