The whole idea of an angel, albeit an archangel, being venerated like a
saint has *always* bothered me. A large part of the appeal of the cult of
the saints was, to my mind, that because they had been mortal folks once,
that they would have more sympathy for your problems. Of course this is
a gross symplification, but the adoption of an angel seems to reflect a
rather different attitude.
Does anyone know when this practice began? And why is Michael the only
angel who received such attention? Is there any evidence that people
expected Michael to interceed for them in the same manner as the saints?
Is there much work on the perception of angels before, say, the
fourteenth century? I know that the theological dogma evolved, but what
about the popular perception? Any ideas?
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Omittamus studia, dulce est desipere, : Nicole Morgan Schulman
et carpamus dulcia, iuventutis tenere! : [log in to unmask]
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