Sisters of Aquinas Perform Ancient Chant Honoring St. Michael the Archangel

A rare and moving performance of a 9th-century chant venerating St. Michael the Archangel has drawn widespread attention from both religious scholars and the faithful. Presented by the Sisters of Aquinas, the hymn carried with it centuries of tradition, invoking one of Christianity’s most prominent protectors in a solemn and deeply spiritual setting.

An Ancient Chant Revived

The chant, performed in a dimly lit chapel adorned with stained glass depictions of St. Michael, echoed with haunting beauty as the sisters sang the centuries-old verses. Few chants in Christian history have been preserved with such reverence, and this particular form, rooted in medieval devotion, has a long history of association with liturgical indulgences.

The lyrics express profound adoration of Christ as the "life-spring of the soul," while also situating the Archangel Michael at the center of divine guardianship and celestial harmony. The performance was enhanced by accompanying religious art, including golden icons and stained glass windows that cast vivid reds and blues onto the floor as the hymn reverberated through the chapel.

The Sisters of Aquinas emphasized that this was not simply a musical offering, but an act of devotion that connects the living faithful to generations past who relied upon St. Michael’s intercession.

The Historical Significance of St. Michael

St. Michael the Archangel has held a unique and enduring place in the Christian tradition. Revered as the leader of heavenly armies, his role as protector of the faithful has emphasized themes of justice, purity, and spiritual defense against evil. Since as early as the 5th century, he has been venerated across Europe, the Middle East, and later throughout the Americas, often appearing in art, sculpture, and sacred music.

Feast days dedicated to him, particularly Michaelmas on September 29, have been marked by prayers, hymns, and chants such as the one performed by the Sisters of Aquinas. These devotions were historically connected to indulgences—spiritual benefits granted by the Church under certain conditions. The chant performed carries a tradition of granting 200 days of indulgence for each recitation, with the possibility of a plenary indulgence for those who pray it daily over the course of a month.

Such associations underline not only the religious power that medieval communities attributed to music but also the sense that worship itself was a bridge between heaven and earth.

The Power of Sacred Music in Tradition

Music has always played a central role in the life of monastic communities. Gregorian chants, which emerged in the early Middle Ages, were designed to lift prayers directly toward heaven, unrestricted by worldly distraction. The performance last week echoed that same ethos.

Unlike modern hymns, chants follow minimalist rhythms and tones, often delivered in unison. This creates a ritualistic sound that promotes contemplation and meditation, offering listeners a heightened sense of focus and transcendence.

The Sisters of Aquinas’ rendition was celebrated not only for its precision in preserving a centuries-old cadence but also for its spiritual resonance. Scholars note that each musical phrase in traditional chant carries theological meaning—a balancing of light and darkness, ascent and descent, which mirrors the great cosmic battle that St. Michael himself symbolizes.

A Legacy of Art and Devotion

The performance was complemented by images of St. Michael vividly rendered in religious art. Paintings and stained glass illuminated the Archangel standing triumphant over the serpent, a depiction familiar to churchgoers across Europe and the New World. Images of St. Michael vanquishing the dragon appear in cathedrals from Paris to Mexico City, uniting Catholic communities across continents through shared devotion.

The artistic integration at this event demonstrated how medieval communities once understood worship as a multi-sensory immersion. Color, light, melody, and prayer combined to offer a foretaste of the heavenly kingdom. This, many attendees noted, is part of what makes the revival of ancient chants so evocative: it restores aspects of worship that transcend mere words.

Historical Comparisons and Regional Devotion

The spiritual veneration of St. Michael has varied significantly across regions. In Western Europe, particularly in France and Italy, pilgrimage sites such as Mont-Saint-Michel and Monte Sant’Angelo have served as centers of devotion for over a millennium. The Italian sanctuary is among the oldest shrines dedicated to the Archangel, dating back to the 5th century.

Meanwhile, in Eastern Europe, Orthodox Christians have long incorporated Michael into their liturgies, placing emphasis on his role as defender during times of war and upheaval. The chant sung by the Sisters of Aquinas reflects a Western devotional style but echoes universal themes of angelic guardianship recognized across Christian traditions.

In the Americas, devotion to St. Michael grew strongly with Spanish and Portuguese missionaries, who carried chants, prayers, and images of the Archangel as part of their evangelization. Today, many communities—particularly in Mexico and Central America—celebrate festal processions and recite ancient hymns still linked to European chant traditions.

Economic and Communal Impact of Religious Music

Beyond its spiritual influence, the revival of sacred chants has had notable cultural and economic implications. Monastic recordings of Gregorian chants, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries, have generated international interest, often topping classical music charts and attracting tourists to abbeys and monasteries.

Events such as the Sisters of Aquinas’ performance attract not only members of the faithful but also music enthusiasts and historians, contributing to local economies through cultural tourism. In regions where monasteries are central attractions, historic chants become important economic drivers, supporting preservation efforts of both music and architectural heritage.

Furthermore, scholars argue that the global renewal of interest in chants reflects society’s growing desire for meditative and transcendent music amid the distractions of contemporary life. This renewed attention has elevated ancient hymns from purely religious contexts into broader cultural appreciation, reinforcing their artistic value.

Public Reaction and Spiritual Resonance

The recent chant in honor of St. Michael left attendees describing the experience as both solemn and uplifting. Some faithful reported feelings of deep peace during the hymn, while others expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in a tradition otherwise rarely accessible outside monastic communities.

For many, the chant offered a connection to centuries of belief, grounding modern faith in the strength of tradition. One observer described it as “a reminder that sacred music is timeless, untouched by cultural fashion.”

Social media attention surrounding the event also suggests a growing global interest in traditional forms of worship, with viewers sharing recordings and reflections on the enduring relevance of ancient Christian heritage.

A Living Tradition

The performance by the Sisters of Aquinas demonstrates that medieval spirituality continues to find expression in the modern world. Far from being a relic of the past, the chant honoring St. Michael shows how ancient practices remain alive in cloisters and communities that value heritage and continuity.

While historical Christianity associated such devotions with indulgences and spiritual benefits, their lasting power may lie as much in emotional and cultural resonance as theological promise. The enduring presence of chants like the one performed underscores a universal truth: music retains the ability to transport listeners, connecting them to a past that feels both distant and yet intimately close.

The Sisters of Aquinas’ offering of a 9th-century hymn, accompanied by shimmering stained glass and sacred art, carried the voices of their order into the heart of enduring devotion, proving that the story of St. Michael the Archangel remains as vibrant today as it was over a thousand years ago.