Discourse on the Angels or Spirits of Empires

...toward idols. The other, on the contrary, urged that they must persist in Persia: both because the Persians might learn the worship and religion of the true God from the Jews, and also because the Jews would become better through adversity. This refers to a traditional interpretation of the "Prince of Persia" mentioned in Daniel 10, where angels are depicted debating the fate and location of the exiled Jewish people. The Scholastic thinkers Scholasticism was a method of critical thought practiced by academics (the Schoolmen) in medieval and early modern universities, combining logic, metaphysics, and theology. interpret this passage in this way. Martin Becanus, a Theologian of the Society of Jesus, in his Scholastic Theology, volume 1, part 1, treatise 3 on the Angels, chapter 6, page 388, etc. Martin Becanus (1563–1624) was a prominent Flemish Jesuit theologian known for his works on dogma and controversy. And so, these same writers hold it as certain that Michael presided over the Synagogue of the Jews in the Old Testament.

And they prove this from that very chapter of Daniel: There is no one who helps me in all these things, except Michael our Prince. Daniel 10:21. The author uses this to establish Michael's specific jurisdiction over the Hebrew people. They endeavor to deduce the same from the deeds of this same Michael, mention of which is made in four places in Scripture.

First, in Daniel, in the chapter already frequently mentioned: where he is said to have pleaded the cause of the Jews, so that they might be liberated from the Babylonian captivity.

Second, in the same Daniel, chapter 12, where it is predicted he will come in the time of the Antichrist and fight for his people.

Third, in the canonical Epistle of Jude, where it is recorded that he contended over the body and burial of Moses. They say the Devil wished to bring that body into the open to invite the Jews to idolatry A common Jewish and Christian legend suggesting that the Devil wanted to reveal Moses's grave so the people would worship his remains; Michael hid the body to prevent this sin., but Michael opposed him to cut off the occasion of sin from the people.

Fourth, in Revelation, chapter 12, where his battle with Lucifer is described, which had been predicted earlier in Daniel.

They believe all these things prove that Michael had the care and protection of the Jews. Furthermore, they assert that this same Michael now presides over the Christian Church: and they attempt to demonstrate this from various apparitions of Saint Michael, through which they maintain he has made himself visible by many miracles, partly in the Western and partly in the Eastern Church.

Hence so many basilicas are seen erected to him throughout the world. Of these, the principal one is deservedly that in Apulia, on Mount Gargano; The Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano in Italy is the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the archangel Michael, dating back to the late 5th century. if, as they believe, it was built by Michael himself. The second is in Rome, on the Mount of Hadrian, original: "monte Adriani," the site of the Castel Sant'Angelo. According to legend, Michael appeared atop the mausoleum of Hadrian in 590 AD to signal the end of a plague. built by Pope Boniface; because Michael was seen there (as a sign of the plague ceasing) returning his drawn sword into its sheath...