The law designates Sept. 29 as a day to honor St. Michael, alongside the holy archangels Gabriel and Raphael, with a particular focus on St. Michael
Newsroom (29/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) Brazil has officially added St. Michael the Archangel’s feast day to its national calendar, following the enactment of Law No. 15.219, signed by Acting President Geraldo Alckmin and published in the official government gazette on Sept. 25. The law designates Sept. 29 as a day to honor St. Michael, alongside the holy archangels Gabriel and Raphael, with a particular focus on St. Michael, revered in the Catholic Church as the protector and defender of the faith.
The legislation underscores the cultural and spiritual significance of St. Michael in Brazil, stating, “The date established by this law aims to pay tribute to St. Michael the Archangel, recognizing his historical importance and relevance to the Catholic faith of the Brazilian people.” The presidency’s website further highlighted St. Michael’s role as “a symbol of protection and defense of the faith,” noting his patronage of Brazil’s military police and several cities, including Uberaba, Nova Iguaçu, São Miguel do Oeste, and São Miguel do Iguaçu.
A Deeply Rooted Devotion
St. Michael’s feast day is widely celebrated across Brazil with Masses, processions, and religious festivals, reflecting a longstanding devotion in the country. The inclusion of Sept. 29 in the national calendar carries symbolic and cultural weight, formalizing a devotional practice already deeply embedded in Brazilian society. Authorities emphasized that the recognition incurs no budgetary impact, serving solely to honor this widespread tradition.
In recent years, devotion to St. Michael has gained further momentum, particularly through practices like St. Michael’s Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and fasting from Aug. 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to Sept. 29. Thousands of faithful participate in this devotion, with many joining online broadcasts led by Friar Gilson Azevedo of the Carmelite Messengers of the Holy Spirit and the Hesed Institute.
A National Pilgrimage
Adding to the significance of this year’s feast day, a statue of St. Michael the Archangel from the Mount Gargano shrine in Italy has been on a pilgrimage across Brazil since late July. The statue has visited all five regions of the country, drawing devotees in a spiritual journey set to culminate on Sept. 29. On Aug. 12, during a solemn session in the National Congress, the pilgrim statue was presented, and St. Michael was proclaimed the spiritual commander of the Brazilian nation, a gesture underscoring his enduring role in the country’s religious and cultural identity.
As Brazil marks Sept. 29 with renewed reverence, the official recognition of St. Michael’s feast day affirms the archangel’s place as a unifying symbol of faith and protection for millions across the nation.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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