Brazil adds St. Michael the Archangel’s feast day to national calendar

Statue of St. Michael the Archangel in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies on Aug. 12, 2025. / Credit: Kayo Magalhães/Chamber of Deputies of Brazil

Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sep 29, 2025 / 14:17 pm (CNA).

St. Michael the Archangel’s feast day was officially incorporated into Brazil’s national calendar following the enactment of a law approved by acting President Geraldo Alckmin and published on Sept. 25 in the official government gazette.

The date established is Sept. 29, the day on which the Catholic Church celebrates the holy archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, and in particular St. Michael, venerated as the protector and defender of the faith.

“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,” Law No. 15.219 states.

The website of the presidency of the republic noted that St. Michael is “a symbol of protection and defense of the faith, and patron saint of the military police and various Brazilian cities, such as Uberaba, Nova Iguaçu, São Miguel do Oeste, and São Miguel do Iguaçu.”

A deeply rooted devotion in Brazil

St. Michael is celebrated in Brazil with Masses, processions, and religious festivals in various regions. The institution of the date in the national calendar, the authorities explained, has a symbolic and cultural character, has no budgetary impact, and officially recognizes a devotional practice already widespread in Brazilian society.

In recent years, the practice of St. Michael’s Lent has grown, which begins on Aug. 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and concludes on Sept. 29. Thousands of faithful participate in this devotion, especially through online broadcasts led by Friar Gilson Azevedo of the Carmelite Messengers of the Holy Spirit and the Hesed Institute.

A national pilgrimage

Since late July, a statue of St. Michael the Archangel from the Mount Gargano shrine in Italy has been on a pilgrimage through Brazil. The statue has traveled through the five regions of the country and will conclude its journey on Sept. 29.

On Aug. 12, during a solemn session in the national congress, the pilgrim statue was presented, and St. Michael was proclaimed spiritual commander of the Brazilian nation.

This story was first published by ACI Digital, CNA’s Portuguese-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by ACI Prensa/CNA.