| Description: | Today, September 29th, is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels.
It is also known as Michaelmas, as well as the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, Uriel and Raphael, the Feast of the Archangels, or the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels is a minor Christian festival observed in some Western liturgical calendars on 29 September. Michaelmas has been one of the four quarter days of the financial year. The Serbian Orthodox Church observes the feast, whereas most Eastern Orthodox Churches do not. The Greek and Romanian Orthodox honor the archangels on 8 November instead.
In Christian angelology, the Archangel Michael is the greatest of all the Archangels and is honored for defeating Satan in the war in heaven. He is one of the principal angelic warriors, seen as a protector against the dark of night, and the administrator of cosmic intelligence. Michaelmas has also delineated time and seasons for secular purposes, as well, particularly in Britain and Ireland as one of the quarter days - as in dividing the four quarters (sections) of the year.
The hymn uploaded is named "Xavier." It was composed by Francis Henry Champneys (1848-1930), the son of William Champneys, Canon of St. Paul’s, and later Dean of Lichfield. Francis was educated at Winchester College and Brasenose College, Oxford (MA & MB 1875, MD later). An amateur musician, he studied under John Goss (organist of St. Paul's Cathedral), held various musical positions from 1880 to 1913. He was made a Baronet in 1910.
The text was written by The Rev. Richard M. Benson was a clergyman of the Church of England, and was one of the "Cowley Brothers." He spent some time in 1870-71 in the United States, laboring with zeal and success in several dioceses.
The score is attached below, as well as photo of Father Benson, and several examples of St. Michael and the heavenly angels and archangels.
The FULL TEXT is given in the First Comment. |
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