Some Catholic feast days take a little explaining before the children are interested.
The Feast of the Archangels is not one of them. 😂
We have Saint Michael standing on satan’s head, Saint Gabriel bringing the greatest announcement in human history, and Saint Raphael traveling in disguise, fighting a demon, helping a marriage, and healing blindness with a fish. Like, c’mon.
There are swords, shields, scrolls, lilies, walking staffs, sacred art, Scripture, and blackberry cobbler. Honestly, the Church has basically handed us the makings of a very good homeschool day.
The Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels, is celebrated every year on September 29. It is a wonderful opportunity to teach children what the Catholic Church actually believes about angels while also enjoying some of the old traditions associated with Michaelmas.
And no, celebrating does not require completing fourteen crafts, baking bread from scratch, and staying up until midnight trying to make a paper Archangel stand correctly.
Choose a few ideas that fit your family. Read one story. Pray one prayer. Make one good thing to eat. That is enough to begin bringing the rhythms of the Church into your home.
I have also created a free Archangels Printable Pack with coloring pages, prayers, Scripture activities, and hands on projects for several different ages. Look no further for FREE Catholic Printables for Kids to celebrate the Feast of the Archangels!
A Quick Guide to Celebrating the Feast of the Archangels
The Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels, is celebrated on September 29.
Catholic families can celebrate by:
Our FREE Archangels Printable Pack includes the St. Michael prayer print and copywork, coloring pages, three crafts, and the directions for a quick Michaelmas meal that’s so easy, you’ll feel like you’re cheating.
What Is the Feast of the Archangels?
September 29 is officially the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels. The readings at Mass include either Daniel 7 or Revelation 12, Psalm 138, and John 1, where Jesus speaks of the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.
The feast is also traditionally called Michaelmas, which basically means the Mass of Saint Michael. The older name places particular emphasis on Saint Michael, but the current Roman calendar honors Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael all together on the same day.
Before jumping straight to the swords and coloring pages, it is worth taking a few minutes to explain what angels actually are.
The Catechism teaches that angels are real, spiritual, non-corporeal beings. They are personal and immortal creatures with intelligence and will. The word “angel” describes what they do as God’s servants and messengers. It is not the name of a species of chubby baby with wings. People also do not become angels when they die. Human beings and angels are different creatures, both created and loved by God. It’s important to explain this to children at a young age since there is so much misinformation about angels in books and media today.
The Church celebrates the three Archangels whose names are given to us in Scripture: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. This does not necessarily mean that only three Archangels exist. Raphael identifies himself in Tobit as one of seven angels who stand before God. However, the Church specifically cautions Catholics against assigning names to other angels beyond the three revealed in Scripture. We do not need to invent a fourth Archangel because someone on the internet thought the name sounded cool.
Why Are the Archangels Called Saints?
They are called saints because the word “saint” comes from the Latin sanctus, meaning “holy.” It does not only refer to a human being who has gone through the Church’s formal canonization process.
Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are holy angels who remained faithful to God. That is why Catholics appropriately call them Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Raphael, even though they were never human beings.
This is also an important thing to note to your children so they learn from an early age how to defend their faith when met with false narratives and popular protestant talking points.
Who Are the Three Archangels?
Each Archangel helps reveal something about God’s work. Saint Michael protects and defends. Saint Gabriel announces God’s word. Saint Raphael guides and heals.
They are not superheroes acting through their own independent powers. They are servants of God, and everything they accomplish points back to Him.
Saint Michael the Archangel
Saint Michael is the Archangel most children recognize immediately. I mean, let’s be real here. He is traditionally shown wearing armor, holding a sword or shield, and defeating a dragon or standing on satan’s head. That’s pretty memorable!
His name means, “Who is like God?”
The answer, of course, is no one.
That makes Saint Michael’s name a lesson in humility as much as courage. Satan’s rebellion says, in effect, that he will not serve God. Michael’s answer reminds us that no creature is equal to the Creator.
In the Book of Daniel, Michael is described as a prince and guardian of God’s people. In the Letter of Jude, he contends with the devil but leaves judgment to the Lord. In Revelation 12, Michael and his angels battle against the dragon, and the dragon does not prevail.
This is an important distinction to make with children. Saint Michael is not God’s equivalent of a comic book hero, and satan is not an evil god locked in an equal match against Him. Satan is a fallen creature. God is the Creator. The victory belongs to God, and Michael faithfully serves Him.
Symbols of Saint Michael:
- Sword
- Shield
- Armor
- Dragon
- Scales
- The words “Who is like God?”
What children can learn from Saint Michael: Courage does not come from believing we are powerful enough to handle everything ourselves. Christian courage begins by remembering who God is, obeying Him, and trusting that evil will not have the final word.
Saint Gabriel the Archangel
Saint Gabriel is God’s messenger in several important moments of Scripture.
He appears in the Book of Daniel to help explain Daniel’s visions. In the Gospel of Luke, Gabriel announces the coming birth of Saint John the Baptist to Zechariah. He is best known for appearing to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Annunciation and telling her that she would conceive and bear Jesus, the Son of the Most High.
Pope Benedict XVI called Gabriel the messenger of God’s Incarnation. Through Gabriel, God asks for Mary’s free “yes,” and Mary receives His word with faith and obedience.
Gabriel’s story is not simply about delivering information. It is about bringing the word of God faithfully and helping prepare the way for Christ.
Symbols of Saint Gabriel:
- Lily
- Scroll
- Trumpet
- A hand raised in greeting
- An image of the Annunciation
What children can learn from Saint Gabriel: We are called to listen for God’s voice, speak truthfully, carry the Good News to others, and respond to God with trust. Gabriel points us toward Mary’s faithful yes and, ultimately, toward Jesus.
Saint Raphael the Archangel
Saint Raphael appears in the Book of Tobit, one of those books that makes children wonder why we are not reading the Bible stories more often.
Raphael travels with the young Tobiah while keeping his true identity hidden. He guides him on a dangerous trip, helps him confront a demon, assists in his marriage to Sarah, and provides the means through which Tobit’s blindness is healed.
At the end of the story, Raphael reveals that God sent him in response to prayer. His name means “God heals.”
Saint Raphael is often shown holding a walking staff or standing beside Tobiah, who carries the fish used in the story. He is associated with travelers, healing, marriage, and God’s providential guidance.
Symbols of Saint Raphael:
- Walking staff
- Fish
- Traveling clothes
- Medicine or a small vessel
- Tobiah walking beside him
What children can learn from Saint Raphael: God is at work even when we cannot see the whole plan. He provides guidance, companionship, protection, and healing, sometimes through very ordinary steps taken faithfully.
How to Celebrate the Feast of the Archangels With Kids
You do not need to complete every idea on this list. In fact, please do not turn a feast day into a new way to feel behind. 😅
Choose ONE way to pray, ONE way to learn, and ONE way to celebrate around the table.
Everything else is optional.
1. Attend Mass for the Feast of the Archangels
The best way to celebrate any feast in the Church is through the liturgy.
When September 29 falls on a day when you can reasonably attend Mass, begin there. Look at your parish schedule and make it part of your homeschool day if you are able.
When weekday Mass is not possible because of naps, appointments, work schedules, neurodivergent children, or the simple reality that sometimes loading everyone into the van takes longer than the Mass itself, read the day’s readings together at home.
The Church’s readings for the feast direct our attention beyond the angels themselves and toward the glory and kingship of God. That is exactly where a faithful celebration should lead us.
2. Read an Archangel Story
You do not have to read every passage about every Archangel in one sitting.
- For a very short lesson, read the Annunciation in Luke 1:26–38.
- For children who are especially interested in Saint Michael, read Revelation 12:7–12.
For a longer family read aloud, begin the Book of Tobit several days before the feast and follow Raphael and Tobias through the entire story.
Older children can look up each Archangel and record where he appears in Scripture. Younger children can listen while coloring an Archangels coloring page or holding simple figures of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
You can also grab a copy of my two favorite books about the Archangels.
MUST-HAVE BOOKS
3. Pray the Saint Michael Prayer
The traditional Saint Michael Prayer is an obvious addition to family prayer on September 29.
Talk briefly about the words before asking children to memorize them. Saint Michael does not protect us through some power separate from God. The prayer asks for his assistance while repeatedly acknowledging that the victory and authority belong to God. The Vatican continues to publish the traditional prayer and recalls Saint John Paul II’s encouragement not to forget it.
You can also pray this very short family invocation:
Saint Michael, defend us.
Saint Gabriel, help us receive God’s word.
Saint Raphael, guide and heal us.
Holy Archangels, pray for us.
Amen.
4. Set Up a Simple Archangels Display
Create a small feast day display on your prayer table or homeschool shelf.
Place a Bible in the center to remind the children that what we know about the Archangels comes from God’s revelation. Add a candle and an image of the three Archangels.
Then include one symbol for each:
- A sword or shield for Saint Michael
- A lily or scroll for Saint Gabriel
- A walking stick or fish for Saint Raphael
Your children can help find the objects and explain what each one means. It is simple, memorable, and does not require glitter to be embedded in your carpet until the Second Coming.
5. Complete an Archangels Coloring Page
Coloring pages give younger children something purposeful to do while you read aloud from Scripture.
Use a group Archangels coloring page to introduce all three together. You can then give each child an individual Saint Michael coloring page, Saint Gabriel coloring page, or Saint Raphael coloring page according to the story you are reading. (These four coloring pages are included in our Archangels Printable Pack!)
Look for artwork that uses the traditional symbols of each Archangel. Children should be able to tell who is who instead of coloring three nearly identical winged people and hoping for the best.
6. Study Sacred Art Featuring the Archangels
Choose one traditional painting and spend five quiet minutes observing it before reading any information about it.
Ask:
- Which Archangel do you think is shown?
- What symbols helped you recognize him?
- Where does your eye go first?
- What colors did the artist use?
- What does the artwork teach us about God?
- Is anything symbolic rather than literal?
For a comparison study, place an image of Saint Michael beside an image of the Annunciation and an image of Raphael accompanying Tobias. The National Gallery of Art has public domain works depicting Saint Michael, Gabriel, and Tobias with the angel that may be used to support a sacred art lesson.
This is an especially good activity for older children who have outgrown simple crafts but still benefit from something visual. We included a public domain image of The Annunciation in our Archangel Printable Pack for you to use for this.
7. Thank Someone Who Protects, Communicates, or Heals
Help children connect the work of the Archangels with people who serve others.
In honor of Saint Michael, thank a police officer, firefighter, soldier, or first responder.
In honor of Saint Gabriel, thank someone who faithfully teaches or communicates the truth.
In honor of Saint Raphael, thank a doctor, nurse, caregiver, counselor, or family member who has helped during an illness.
The goal is not to suggest that these people are angels. It is to recognize human beings whose work reflects protection, truthful communication, or healing, and to practice gratitude.
8. Share a Special Michaelmas Meal
Food is often the easiest part of liturgical living for children to remember.
They may forget the exact date, the name of the painting, or which chapter you read, but I guarantee you that they will remember that you ate blackberries and cake while talking about the day Saint Michael defeated the devil!
Feast day traditions are one of the ways Catholic culture becomes part of family life rather than something children only encounter inside a church building. This is why liturgical living is so important to me and why I offer these Liturgical Printable Packs for FREE!
Traditional Michaelmas Food Ideas
Michaelmas has accumulated a number of regional food traditions. These are obviously just cultural customs rather than requirements of the Church, so choose the ones that sound enjoyable and ignore the ones that require you to locate a goose at the last minute.
Roast Goose or Roast Chicken
Roast goose was traditionally eaten for Michaelmas in Britain and parts of Europe. Carrots and other autumn foods were also associated with the feast and the end of the harvest season.
Most of us do not have a goose quietly waiting in the freezer. A roast chicken with carrots, onions, potatoes, or apples is a perfectly reasonable family version.
Saint Michael’s Bannock
A Michaelmas bannock, sometimes called a struan, is a traditional bread associated with Saint Michael’s Day in Scotland and the Hebrides. Historical versions used grains from the harvest and were connected with family and harvest customs.
You can bake a traditional version, use a simplified bannock recipe, or simply purchase a round loaf of bread and call it a day.
Pssst.. No one is checking.
Saint Michael’s Waffles
In France, thin waffles called gaufres were traditionally sold near churches on Saint Michael’s Day. A waffle breakfast or breakfast for dinner is therefore both easy and connected to an actual Michaelmas tradition.
This may also be the tradition most likely to receive unanimous family approval.
Angel Hair Pasta
Angel hair pasta is not an ancient Michaelmas tradition, but it is simple, inexpensive, and very obvious to children. Angel hair. Get it? 😂
Serve it with butter and Parmesan, a tomato sauce, or garlic and olive oil. Add bread and fruit, and dinner is finished.
Blackberries
An old bit of Michaelmas folklore says that when the devil fell from Heaven, he landed in a blackberry bush and cursed or spat upon the berries. This is folklore, not Catholic doctrine, but it led to the custom of eating or gathering blackberries before Michaelmas and not picking them after that feast day!
Use blackberries in:
- Blackberry pie
- Blackberry cobbler
- Blackberry crumble
- Blackberry muffins
- Blackberry pancakes
- Blackberry smoothies
- Angel food cake topped with blackberries
Michaelmas Drink Idea: Blackberry Fizz
This simple blackberry drink works for children and takes about five minutes.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
- 1 or 2 tablespoons honey or sugar
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 4 cups sparkling water or lemon sparkling water
- Ice
Directions:
Mash the blackberries with the honey or sugar. Stir in the lemon juice. Strain the mixture when you want a smoother drink, or leave the berries in when your children are not offended by pieces of fruit existing in fruit drinks.
Divide the blackberry mixture among the glasses, add ice, and top with sparkling water.
For an even easier version, add a splash of blackberry juice to lemonade or sparkling water.
Archangels Feast Day Dessert Ideas
Angel Food Cake With Blackberries
This is the easiest symbolic dessert. Use a homemade cake, a bakery cake, or the suspiciously perfect one from the grocery store. Top it with whipped cream and blackberries.
Blackberry Cobbler or Pie
A blackberry dessert connects directly with the old Michaelmas folklore and feels appropriately late summer or early autumn.
Devil’s Food Cupcakes
Some families serve devil’s food cake or deviled eggs and add small decorative swords to represent Saint Michael’s victory over satan. This is a playful modern tradition rather than something required or ancient.
Children will almost certainly understand the symbolism immediately.
Waffles With Berries and Whipped Cream
Waffles can be the meal and the dessert, which may be one of Michaelmas’s greatest contributions to tired homeschool mothers.
A Simple 30 Minute Archangels Celebration
When you need something very simple, use this plan:
First 5 minutes: Light a candle, make the Sign of the Cross, and introduce Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
Next 10 minutes: Read Luke 1:26–38, Revelation 12:7–12, or a portion of Tobit.
Next 10 minutes: Complete an Archangels coloring page, Saint Michael shield craft, or any of the other pages or activities from our FREE Archangels Printable Pack.
Final 5 minutes: Pray the Saint Michael Prayer and ask Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael to intercede for your family.
Serve a special meal or dessert later.
That is a perfectly good feast day celebration and an easy Catholic homeschool lesson. You do not need to manufacture an entire themed unit every time a feast appears on the calendar.
TL;DR and FAQs About the Feast of the Archangels
When Is the Feast of the Archangels?
The Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels, also known as Michaelmas, is celebrated on September 29 each year.
What Is Michaelmas?
Michaelmas is the traditional English name for the Mass celebrating Saint Michael. Today, the Roman calendar celebrates Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael together on September 29.
How Many Archangels Are There?
The Catholic Church celebrates the three Archangels named in Scripture: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Raphael identifies himself as one of seven angels who stand before God, but Scripture does not give us the names of the others. The Church discourages assigning names to angels beyond Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
Are Angels People Who Died?
No. Angels and human beings are different kinds of creatures. Angels are purely spiritual beings. Human beings are a unity of body and soul. People do not become angels after death.
Why Is Saint Michael Shown Fighting a Dragon?
Revelation 12 describes Michael and his angels battling against the dragon, who is identified with the devil and Satan. Christian art uses this scene to portray Saint Michael’s faithful service to God and the defeat of evil.
What Is a Traditional Food for Michaelmas?
Traditional foods include roast goose, carrots, bannock or struan bread, French waffles, and blackberries. Modern family celebrations often substitute roast chicken and include angel food cake or angel hair pasta.
Free Archangels Coloring Pages and Printable St. Michael Activities
Want to make this easy?
I created a FREE Archangels Printable Pack so you don’t have to spend the night before the feast opening twelve tabs, sorting through crappy AI coloring pages on Etsy, trying to remember where you saved a Saint Michael craft on Pinterest, or wondering whether you own any books about the Archangels.
The free pack includes:
- Quick Facts: The Archangels
- Learn About the Archangels
- Michaelmas Dinner Ideas
- Archangel Coloring Pages (group and one for each angel)
- Name Tracing, Letter Tracing, etc for each Archangel
- St. Michael’s Shield Craft
- St. Gabriel’s Happy Mail
- St. Raphael Fish Craft
- Angels: Fact or Fiction? quiz page
- Saint Michael Prayer Pages (copywork and art print)
- Sacred Art: The Annunciation
- Extra resources like links to books and toys
Over 25 pages with everything you need for this feast day! Done. ✅
You do not need to recreate a monastery, bakery, and religious education classroom in your kitchen just to raise children who know and love the faith.
Read the story. Say the prayer. Color the picture. Eat the cake.
These small practices build a Catholic culture in our homes and remind our children that Heaven is real, the Church is their family, and God has given them powerful friends and intercessors.
That is what Homeschooling for Heaven™ is all about!
