San Miguel Arcangel de Manila - Manila's Forgotten Protector

San Miguel Arcangel de Manila

In a highly secured district of San Miguel in Manila, where the famed Malacañang Palace, the historic residence turned office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, there is a church near the famed palace where once one of the center of pilgrimages of Old Manila. That church is the National Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel where the Archangel was then known as one of old Manila's Great Protectors.

The monument of St. Michael the Archangel at
the left side of the facade of the Shrine

The Prince of the Heavenly Host

St. Michael the Archangel is popularly depicted as the armored Angel with his sword or sphere trampling Satan at his feet for He was appointed by God to defeat Satan. He is also depicted holding a banner and shield to further emphasize his role as the head of the Archangels. Saint Michael the Archangel is the leader of all angels and of the army of God. This is what the title "Archangel" means, that he is above all the others in rank.

St. Michael has four main responsibilities or offices, as we know from scripture and Christian tradition: The first is to combat Satan, The second is to escort the faithful to heaven at their hour of death, The third is to be a champion of all Christians, and the Church itself. And the fourth is to call men from life on Earth to their heavenly judgment.

In Daniel, St. Michael is mentioned twice. The first time as one who helped Daniel, and the second time he is mentioned with regard to the end times of the world when he will stand for the "children of thy people." His next mention comes in the Epistle of St. Jude, where St. Michael is said to guard the tombs of Moses and Eve and has contended with Satan over the body of Moses. The final mention is in Revelation, where St. Michael and his angels, do battle with the dragon. There are other scriptures where St. Michael is implied, but not mentioned by name, such as the angel; who defends the gate to Paradise, who defends against Balaam, and "who routed the army of Sennacherib."

In the history of the Catholic Church, there were six reported apparitions of St. Michael that gained much fame that helped to the popularity of the devotion to him: The apparition to Pope St. Gregory the Great to end the plague that claimed the lives of many in Europe, The apparitions in Monte Gargano in Italy and in Mexico, the apparitions to St. Joan of Arc and most recently to Servant of God Antónia d'Astónaco of the Discalced Carmelites where he gave to the latter the insturctions for the chaplet to be prayed in his honor. Today, St. Michael is invoked for protection, especially from lethal enemies. He is also the patron of soldiers, police and doctors.

The National Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel

The Abode of the Protector 

San Miguel Church was constructed in 1630 by the Jesuits in Paco, Manila (formerly known as Dilao) as an act of gratitude by a Spanish governor-general who had miraculously escaped death on a military campaign. From the 17th up until the early 18th century, there was an increase of Japanese arrivals in that area, where they established a community.

In 1611, the Jesuits and the local Catholics accommodated the Japanese Christians who were persecuted under the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was Blessed Justo Takayama, a feudal lord, who led a group of approximately 300 Japanese Christians to the Philippines in 1614. According to some sources, the parish was named after Saint Michael, because most of the Japanese who arrived were of the samurai or warrior class.

The church was damaged in the 1645 Luzon earthquake, and during the British Occupation that was part of the Seven Years' War. The church was rebuilt in 1913 at its present site through the generous assistance of Doña Margarita Roxas de Ayala.

The church served as the pro-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Manila while Manila Cathedral was being rebuilt from 1946 to 1958 following its destruction in World War II. It was elevated to the rank of National Shrine in 1986. The church follows a European Baroque architecture, and features its symmetrical bell towers. The mighty monument of San Miguel that stands on the churchyard was donated by businessman and church volunteer Antonio L. Cabangon. The 12-foot statue of St. Michael the Archangel has become a landmark within the environs of Malacañang Palace. It was created by known Filipino sculptor, Florante “Boy” Caedo. The Church was once the center of the devotion to the Divine Mercy when it was introduced in the 1970's .

Fiesta Mass in honor of San Miguel Arcangel in Tridentine Rite

The miracles

One of the most known miracles of San Miguel in Manila was when Governor General Sebastian Hurtado de Concuera's campaign to battle against the Moros during an expedition in Mindanao in 1631 was a success and it was attributed to San Miguel Arcangel and vowed to build a chapel in honor of San Miguel. The vow was fulfilled with the establishment of a provisional chapel of nipa and bamboo in Extramuros was replaced by Corcuera with a structure of harder material.

During the Battle of Manila 1945 in the Arrabal de San Miguel de Manila, the Makapili (Filipinos who are allies of the Japanese conquerors) fires started in two cigarette factories and were threatening the church and the rest of the district when the parish priest Fr. Vicente Reyes, thought of rushing to the altar and fetching from there the image of San Miguel Arcangel, Patron of the district. The Image was put in position on the patio to face the huge advancing tide of flame. Suddenly the fire reversed its direction, a new wind turning it away from the church. Not only the church was saved but also such historic spots of San Miguel Brewery, the Aviles row of Old Mansions, and Malacañang Palace.

The Processional image

The devotion

Though the devotion gained popularity during the golden days of old Manila, as decades passed by, the devotion came to oblivion due to the changes of the environment surrounding the Shrine. Despite the decline of popularity, those who keep the memory of the devotion continues to visit the shrine. The people of Manila should be grateful for the protection that St. Michael gave to Manila and it is evident with the historical documents that states such miracles and protection.

Mondays are observed as the devotional day dedicated to St. Michael and the Archangels and novenas in their honor are done on this day. The fiesta dedicated to St. Michael is celebrated every September 29, the Liturgical Feast of Archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. however, they celebrate the fiesta on the Sunday after the Liturgical Feast day.

Like in all fiestas in the country, novena masses is celebrated and sacraments of baptism and confirmation are also given. The highlight of the movable fiesta in Manila is the procession of the image of St. Michael and the Archangels with an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of the Angels at the end of the procession.

As we end this blogpost dedicated to San Miguel Arcangel de Manila, here is the famed prayer to St. Michael that was composed by Pope Leo XIII to invoke his protection from all kinds of evil:

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

San Miguel Arcangel de Manila, Ipanalangin mo kami!

Reference:

Joaquin, Nick (1990), "San Miguel de Manila : memoirs of a regal parish", Weekly Graphic Magazine Pub. Co, Makati City.
Macas, Trisha (2014). "A glimpse of the forgotten National Shrine of St. Michael and the Archangels". GMA News Online. GMA Network News.
"St. Michael the Archangel" (2010), Retrieved on September 5, 2017 from http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=308.