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 have always held Anna in high esteem, but I could not vote for her against, Michael, who protects us all daily. Not sure that a saint should be competing with an angel.
How did an angel, albeit a mighty one, slip into Lent Madness? Have we already run out of mortal saints?
With all the events in today's world, we need the strength and defense of Michael, the Archangel. Watch over us< Michael!
Ditto, Gillian. A blessed place!!
Maybe it is unfair to pit an angel against a mortal, and I love Anna. But when I read that the taming of horses is attributed to Michael, I have to go with the horse guy.
I voted for Michael because he/she (I don't want to say "it") was an activist angel, providing protection, messages and healing. The fact that I was married in St. Michael and All Angels Church, and the fact that he/she made that bishop build one of my favorite places on earth, Mont-Saint-Michel, I have to vote for St. Michael. That's not even thinking about how I want him/her on my side as a guide when I finally die.
Thank you for honoring the gender ambiguity of the divine with your comment. 🙂
The SEC has had a lapse in judgement i think. Angel in the saints match up is like NBA team in March Madness.
Well stated!
What a great contest! I have a big ol' spot in my heart for both of these saints. I've been reading a lot about Anna lately for a study of Luke at our church (St. DUNSTAN, by the way--ahem, SEC!!). It's interesting that while Luke gets so much credit for having women in his writings, he often silences them and reminds his readers that quiet, adoring, and obedient women are more pleasing to God. Anna is a prophet, but he silenced her.
Nevertheless, we at least got her name! And that really speaks to her good work of prayer and faithful presence in the worshipping community. And she recognized God in the Babe! There is an order of more, shall we say, mature women in our diocese, the Society of St. Anna the Prophet, who are dedicated to a ministry of prayer and service to the elderly and youth. http://annasisters.org/
But I love St. Michael as well. When I first became an Episcopalian 28 years ago, our parish (St. Bartholomew--ahem, SEC!) had its Old English Festival every year on the feast of St. Michael and All Angels. I have fond, fond memories of our evensongs, and our anthems and hymns about all the heavenly host. It was all new to me then, and, well, heavenly! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTK4dE-_OP4. (St. Michael gets verse 2! Listen and picture clouds of incense, verger, acolytes, choir and candles---heaven!
Uh oh, forgot to close those parentheses!
Sept. 28 baby here, but middle name Anne. Michael is cool and a big deal but patience and perseverance is maybe the harder job. And little old ladies CAN rule. Voted for Anna.
Lovely story, Davis! I didn’t know they were in Italy, too! I only knew about those in England.
I'm with you. Perhaps she also represents the voice of the marginalized, the silent ones.
Well, then, since I am in my 70's , I think a vote for Michael would be appropriate , said the older and wiser! Ha ha ha ha!!!
This is a tough one for me. Love them both. Will have to mull these bios over & re-read them. An aged female widow prophet who immediately recognized Christ as the Messiah and starts praising him or an archangel who defended God's people ..................... keep going back & forth. Will return later to vote
How can I not vote for Michael, the one who proposed the building of the ethereal Mont Saint-Michel in France? As a lover of horses, I also favor Michael for telling humans to listen to horses so they could be our helpers. Yea Michael!
I love your handle, by the way. I may have to change my name.
"They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still..."
I'm for Michael. Very close race. I wonder if I can get the Russians to "help" Michael win this election. 🙂
A tough choice, as always. Since some angels are venerated as saints in both East and West, and since Mt.-St.-Michel is one of my favorite holy places in France, I'm strongly pulled in his direction. On the other hand, the brief mention of Anna the Prophet in the Gospel of Luke has its own poignancy and resonance thanks to her proximity to Simeon and the Nunc Dimittis, which may have been the first canticle I heard as I drew near to the Episcopal Church. On the third hand, I like the way Michael invites us to active furtherance of God's kingdom, so in the end Michael had my vote.
I went with Michael. The reason that wont get me in trouble with the politiccally correct crowd is that Michael does a lot more in the Bible than Anna.
Politically correct or incorrect, we all serve one God in Christ Jesus.
I'm agreeing with Buff here, I thought this was about Saints. I'm confused about Michael now - was he supposed to have been a human? I'm going with Anna - I want my saints to be human.
Ah, politically correct or incorrect, we all serve one God in Christ Jesus!
Kudos to the bloggers today for these beautiful essays. At present, the lady and the angel are neck and neck.
Again, I do not understand all of the male versus female match ups.
Michael versus someone that we barely know anything about....and it is 50-50?
I am not sure angels have gender in the humans do!
This is going to be a nail-biter!
I voted for Anna because the lovely bio of her really helped me see how Anna is indeed the poster Saint for the season of Lent. With her life, she sets the pattern for a holy Lent and one that indeed leads us to be ready for the coming of Christ into our lives on the glorious morning of Easter!
My Mother's favorite NT lady, I'm voting for Anna the Prophet also for my bestie,
Rev. Anna the Preacher, UMC minister (Ret.) I've always loved the story of Anna
for her devotion & reward and so proud of my Anna who can preach too.
Michael taught them "to listen to the language of horses so they could be helpers to humanity". That worked for me.
Never underestimate the power of an old lady filled with the Holy Spirit! Plus, she’s my and my daughter’s patron. So, Anna has my vote!
Anna got my vote roday. This was a tough one but her devotion and seeing Jesus presented at the temple swung it to her.
Went with Anna today.
My children went to a wonderful Episcopal day school called Saint Michael's. Every year, a few weks after school started, the kids put on a fabulous St Michael pageant. In chapel the kids sang a little prayer one of the founders had arranged:
Michael Archangel
Holy Saint Michael
Be thou our shield against darkness and sin
O prince most glorious
Michael Archangel
Guard us for Jesus' sake
Outside and in.
How is Michael as warrior a "more modern concept" when that is precisely how he is portrayed in both Daniel and Revelation? Even if war against Satan (in Revelation) doesn't count, surely war for Israel against the angels of the enemy nations (in Daniel) must?
Had to go with Michael the Archangel...just because of the "domesticator of horses"...my passion. Although I do see the argument that "humans become saints", but Michael has always been portrayed as the "defender" and we humans need more defending
Hadrian's Wall has haunted my dreams for many years, so I had to visit it when touring the UK .. thus my vote for Michael today!
The patience and the vision of Anna! To wait and serve in the temple for some 50 years, waiting for the promised Messiah, and to recognize him, as an 8-day-old infant? Would I had such patience and discernment. And Michael, I'm sorry, had his/her halo from the start. (Also gets a movie this month--Wrinkle in Time--does NOT need a mug.)
Her quiet patience did it for me. And that she's a prophet, reminding me of the Godly Play introduction to the stories about prophets: Prophets are people who come so close to God, and God comes so close to them, that they know what God wants".
I would vote for Anna even if I weren't agnostic about the existence of angels. Lots of people are citing Michael's slaying of a dragon... well, I know for a fact there's no such thing as dragons. Dragon being a metaphor in that case, surely Anna slayed dragons too!
This month? Hooray!