Question regarding St. Michael's "Prince of the Heavenly Host"

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Random question that popped into my head this morning, felt like finding out for sure. One of St. Michael’s most prominent titles is “Prince of the Heavenly Host.” I was just wondering whether Heavenly Host refers to the angelic choirs (which I admit makes the most sense), or if it refers to his place as the guardian of tabernacles around the world, which was why I previously interpreted it as Prince of the Heavenly Host, literally, guard of the physical Eucharist?

Just thoughts I had.
 
He essentially “first” among all angels.
His name literally means “he who is like unto God”, pretty high praise for a created being.
His “mission” so to speak, is the safeguarding of all humans.
 
Kurisu35712 said:
Random question that popped into my head this morning, felt like finding out for sure. One of St. Michael’s most prominent titles is “Prince of the Heavenly Host.” I was just wondering whether Heavenly Host refers to the angelic choirs (which I admit makes the most sense), or if it refers to his place as the guardian of tabernacles around the world, which was why I previously interpreted it as Prince of the Heavenly Host, literally, guard of the physical Eucharist?

Just thoughts I had.
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Take care not to confuse ‘host’, meaning a great crowd (in St. Michael’s case, of angels - the ‘heavenly Host’), and the word Host used for the Blessed Sacrament, meaning a victim.

The title applied to St. Michael is referring to the army of angels, not the tabernacles all over the world, lovely image though that is.

I feel I should also clarify that the Real Presence is a sacramental one, not a physical one. The Real Presence is not subject to decay, and does not take up space as a physical entity does, and is able to be present in all places simultaneously over the world, which a physical entity cannot do. The ‘accidents’ - taste, texture etc. are physical, but the Real Presence, the ‘substance’ is not physical.
 
Glomung said:
His name literally means “he who is like unto God”, pretty high praise for a created being.
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I thought it meant “Who is like God”, not in the sense that he is like God but more in the form of a question “Who is like God?” I always imagined Michael asking this rhetorically to the Devil as he battled him and tossed him out of Heaven.
 
Kurisu35712 said:
Random question that popped into my head this morning, felt like finding out for sure. One of St. Michael’s most prominent titles is “Prince of the Heavenly Host.” I was just wondering whether Heavenly Host refers to the angelic choirs (which I admit makes the most sense), or if it refers to his place as the guardian of tabernacles around the world, which was why I previously interpreted it as Prince of the Heavenly Host, literally, guard of the physical Eucharist?

Just thoughts I had.
Click to expand...
Why not both?? God Bless, Memaw
 
paperwight66 said:
Take care not to confuse ‘host’, meaning a great crowd (in St. Michael’s case, of angels - the ‘heavenly Host’), and the word Host used for the Blessed Sacrament, meaning a victim.

The title applied to St. Michael is referring to the army of angels, not the tabernacles all over the world, lovely image though that is.

I feel I should also clarify that the Real Presence is a sacramental one, not a physical one. The Real Presence is not subject to decay, and does not take up space as a physical entity does, and is able to be present in all places simultaneously over the world, which a physical entity cannot do. The ‘accidents’ - taste, texture etc. are physical, but the Real Presence, the ‘substance’ is not physical.
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Paperwight is correct. The Heavenly Host is God’s army and Michael is like the Chief of Staff.
He is protector and defender of Israel. These are the angels that carry swords. If you have ever seen an angel so depicted, then they are of this class.
 
paperwight66 said:
Take care not to confuse ‘host’, meaning a great crowd (in St. Michael’s case, of angels - the ‘heavenly Host’), and the word Host used for the Blessed Sacrament, meaning a victim.

The title applied to St. Michael is referring to the army of angels, not the tabernacles all over the world, lovely image though that is.

I feel I should also clarify that the Real Presence is a sacramental one, not a physical one. The Real Presence is not subject to decay, and does not take up space as a physical entity does, and is able to be present in all places simultaneously over the world, which a physical entity cannot do. The ‘accidents’ - taste, texture etc. are physical, but the Real Presence, the ‘substance’ is not physical.
Click to expand...
Oh I think you have that wrong!! Jesus is really, truly, physically present in the Blessed Sacrament!!! Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Other wise how would it even be possible for us to "eat HIS Flesh and drink HIS Blood??? Study up on the Eucharistic Miracles and then tell me HE isn’t physically present!!! God Bless, Memaw PS, I’m sure St. Michael is there with the tabernacles too.
 
oliver927 said:
I thought it meant “Who is like God”, not in the sense that he is like God but more in the form of a question “Who is like God?” I always imagined Michael asking this rhetorically to the Devil as he battled him and tossed him out of Heaven.
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That is correct. “Who is like God?” was the battle cry of St. Michael, challenging the great pride of Lucifer.
 
Memaw said:
Oh I think you have that wrong!! Jesus is really, truly, physically present in the Blessed Sacrament!!! Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Other wise how would it even be possible for us to "eat HIS Flesh and drink HIS Blood??? Study up on the Eucharistic Miracles and then tell me HE isn’t physically present!!! God Bless, Memaw PS, I’m sure St. Michael is there with the tabernacles too.
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I know I have actually read before, though I can’t recall where, that there are angels that specifically… guard isn’t the right word, but I guess keep company with? the tabernacles around the world, as they do contain the Real Presence. As a result, it is only natural that angels would be guarding each and every one.

I think I’ve also read that St. Michael does guard the tabernacles around the world, not in a physical sense obviously, as angels are not physical beings.
 
Kurisu35712 said:
I know I have actually read before, though I can’t recall where, that there are angels that specifically… guard isn’t the right word, but I guess keep company with? the tabernacles around the world, as they do contain the Real Presence. As a result, it is only natural that angels would be guarding each and every one.

I think I’ve also read that St. Michael does guard the tabernacles around the world, not in a physical sense obviously, as angels are not physical beings.
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This website mentions this in the second paragraph, but I’d have to do more research to find a better source.
catholictradition.org/saint-michael5.htm
 
Kurisu35712 said:
Random question that popped into my head this morning, felt like finding out for sure. One of St. Michael’s most prominent titles is “Prince of the Heavenly Host.” I was just wondering whether Heavenly Host refers to the angelic choirs (which I admit makes the most sense), or if it refers to his place as the guardian of tabernacles around the world, which was why I previously interpreted it as Prince of the Heavenly Host, literally, guard of the physical Eucharist?

Just thoughts I had.
Click to expand...
You are confusing the title, it is: “Prince of the Heavenly Hosts”

He is the 4 star general in charge of the legions of Angels. Which are the Hosts of GOD we read in the Bible.

Host = The bread wafer that at consecration becomes the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus the Christ

Hosts = Multitude of people, soldiers. It comes from the Latin “exercituum”

The phrase “Lord of Hosts” comes from “Dominus exercituum” which you can find all over the Vulgata (the Latin Bible).

…
 
JerryZ said:
You are confusing the title, it is: “Prince of the Heavenly Hosts”

He is the 4 star general in charge of the legions of Angels. Which are the Hosts of GOD we read in the Bible.

Host = The bread wafer that at consecration becomes the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus the Christ

Hosts = Multitude of people, soldiers. It comes from the Latin “exercituum”

The phrase “Lord of Hosts” comes from “Dominus exercituum” which you can find all over the Vulgata (the Latin Bible).

…
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Thank you. That’s a stellar answer. Having the Latin is very helpful.

I didn’t necessarily think it referred to anything other than his status as General over the angelic choirs, but knowing for sure that it’s unrelated to his relation to the Eucharist is useful information.
 
Memaw said:
Oh I think you have that wrong!! Jesus is really, truly, physically present in the Blessed Sacrament!!! Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Other wise how would it even be possible for us to "eat HIS Flesh and drink HIS Blood??? Study up on the Eucharistic Miracles and then tell me HE isn’t physically present!!! God Bless, Memaw PS, I’m sure St. Michael is there with the tabernacles too.
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Yes.

This is what attracted me to the Catholic Church, the very presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I mean this was the most beautiful concept that I have ever heard of.
 
Sarcelle said:
Yes.

This is what attracted me to the Catholic Church, the very presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I mean this was the most beautiful concept that I have ever heard of.
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Jesus is the Bread from Heaven!
 
oliver927 said:
I thought it meant “Who is like God”, not in the sense that he is like God but more in the form of a question “Who is like God?” I always imagined Michael asking this rhetorically to the Devil as he battled him and tossed him out of Heaven.
Click to expand...
Yes, “Who is like God,” not “he who is like unto God.” Michael would be offended by the latter, as he was very offended by the effrontery of the Devil who wanted to suggest such a think about himself.
 
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