Prepare for Michaelmas at St. Michael's Abbey
In-Person
Event
Schedule

We are not called to fear the darkness! As a place of pilgrimage to St. Michael, our abbey stands as a beacon of strength. In the nine days leading to his feast, we invite you to join us in an important program of prayer and penance under St. Michael’s victorious banner. Together, let us march in spiritual battle against the evil threatening our society and the Church, trusting fully in the archangel’s powerful protection.

See the Schedule
Novena Day 1
Friday, September 20, 2024
Novena At Holy Hour

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Hour, during which the "Archangeli Michaelis," an antiphon honoring St. Michael the Archangel, will be chanted before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.

7:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required.

Novena Day 2
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Sacred Music Retreat:

They Sang a New Song: Sacred Music and the Angels

Dive into the rich musical tradition of our Faith with in-depth looks at Gregorian Chant, Polyphony, and Organ music. This retreat also features sung liturgy of the hours, Mass, Confessions, time for private prayer, a special blessing with relics of St. Cecilia (patroness of musicians), and even an organ recital!

8am - 4pm Pacific | RSVP required; seating is limited. To RSVP and to learn more about this (and upcoming retreats), please visit our Retreats Page.

Novena At Holy Hour

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Hour, during which the "Archangeli Michaelis," an antiphon honoring St. Michael the Archangel, will be chanted before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.

7:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Novena Day 3
Sunday, September 22, 2024
In the Battle of Death: St. Michael, Conductor of Souls to Eternal Light

Presented by Fr. Hugh Barbour, O.Praem.

6:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.
Rather attend via livestream? Sign up for our digital program here.

Novena At Holy Hour

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Hour, during which the "Archangeli Michaelis," an antiphon honoring St. Michael the Archangel, will be chanted before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.

7:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Novena Day 4
Monday, September 23, 2024
Novena At Holy Hour

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Hour, during which the "Archangeli Michaelis," an antiphon honoring St. Michael the Archangel, will be chanted before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.

7:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Novena Day 5
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Novena At Holy Hour

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Hour, during which the "Archangeli Michaelis," an antiphon honoring St. Michael the Archangel, will be chanted before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.

7:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Novena Day 6
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Novena At Holy Hour

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Hour, during which the "Archangeli Michaelis," an antiphon honoring St. Michael the Archangel, will be chanted before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.

7:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Novena Day 7
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Commander of the Army of the Lord: St Michael in Sacred Scripture

Presented by Fr. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem.

6:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.
Rather attend via livestream? Sign up for our digital program here.

Novena At Holy Hour

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Hour, during which the "Archangeli Michaelis," an antiphon honoring St. Michael the Archangel, will be chanted before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.

7:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Novena Day 8
Friday, September 27, 2024
Novena At Holy Hour

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Hour, during which the "Archangeli Michaelis," an antiphon honoring St. Michael the Archangel, will be chanted before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.

8:40am Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Defend Us in Battle: The Daily Struggle of Christian Life

Presented by Fr. John Henry Hanson, O.Praem.

6:30pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.
Rather attend via livestream? Sign up for our digital program here.

Novena Day 9
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Plenary Indulgence

A Plenary Indulgence can be received for praying in the abbey church during or after Vespers on the Eve of the Feast of St. Michael.

Novena At Holy Hour

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Hour, during which the "Archangeli Michaelis," an antiphon honoring St. Michael the Archangel, will be chanted before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.

8:40am Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Annual Benefactor Dinner

Abbot Eugene and the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey invite you to Michaelmas, a celebration in honor of our patron and in gratitude to the heroic generosity of our benefactors.

As we look with joy toward the fourth annual Michaelmas celebration, we are struck with an immense sense of gratitude for the incredible good that you have helped us accomplish, and with true excitement for all the work yet to be done.

This is an age of unusual darkness, and the call to take up our cross may seem especially daunting. But we need only to look to St. Michael for a reminder that the darkness we face can be overcome: that love is more powerful than selfishness, that truth is more brilliant than deceit, that Holy Mother Church remains the surest vessel through the storms we face, and that the gates of Hell will not prevail against Her.

4:00pm Pacific | Check-in begins
4:20pm Pacific | Rosary and veneration of relics from Mt. Gargano
5:00pm Pacific | First Vespers of St. Michael (Vespers is open to the public)
Annual Benefactor Dinner immediately following vespers. Pre-paid tickets are required for the dinner. Get your tickets for the Benefactor Dinner here.

Can't attend the dinner? Please consider supporting the Seminarians through a gift in honor of St. Michael. Make a gift here.

First Vespers of St. Michael

Join the Norbertine Fathers in the abbey church for vespers.

5pm Pacific | No RSVP required. Vespers is open to all. In the abbey church.

The Feast of St. Michael
Sunday, September 29, 2024
Plenary Indulgence

A Plenary Indulgence can be received for praying in the abbey church at any point on the Feast of St. Michael.

Solemn Mass for the Feast of St. Michael

Join the Norbertine Fathers for Holy Mass in the abbey church.

10am Pacific (only Mass of the day) | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Rosary & Relics

Pray the rosary with the Fathers, followed by a blessing and veneration of Relics of Mt. Gargano.

4:20pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

Michaelmas Vespers

5pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church. (This will also be livestreamed)

Experience the phenomenon of the sunlight shining through the Rose Window, highlighting the main altar during vespers.

Organ Concert in Honor of the Triumph of St. Michael

Following vespers, join us for a free organ concert featuring Lawrence Strohm in honor of the Triumph of St. Michael and the Holy Angels. See the program here.

5:45pm Pacific | No RSVP required. In the abbey church.

The Plenary Indulgence
Protocol Number 02619/2023-1043/23/I
Decree

The Apostolic Penitentiary, for the increase of religion among the faithful, and for the salvation of souls, in virtue of the faculties granted it in a most special measure by our Most Holy Father, the Lord Francis, by Divine Providence Pope, having attended to the petition recently brought to us from the Right Reverend Eugene J. Hayes, O.Praem. Abbot of Saint Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, of the diocese of Orange in California, kindly grants from the heavenly treasuries of the Church a plenary indulgence to be gained by each and every Christian, and which may be applied by way of suffrage also to the souls of the faithful detained in Purgatory, as long as being truly repentant, having confessed and been refreshed by holy communion, they devoutly visit the abbatial church itself in pilgrimage, and there are present at the solemn rites.

On the 29th of September, the solemnity the archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (i.e. from First Vespers on the 28th to midnight on the 29th) or at least for a period of time piously meditate there concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

The faithful who are impeded by old age, sickness, or some other serious cause are able to obtain the plenary indulgence if, having a detestation of any sin whatever, and intending as soon as possible to fulfill the three usual conditions (i.e. confession, communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff within twenty days), they join themselves spiritually to the celebrations and pilgrimages of the others, having offered to the merciful God their prayers, sufferings, and particular difficulties.

This Penitentiary earnestly asks that the fathers of the White and Canonical Order of Prémontré offer themselves with a prompt and generous spirit for the celebration of Penance so that access to obtaining divine pardon through the keys of the Church may be easier in a spirit of pastoral charity.

The present decree is to remain valid for seven years, notwithstanding anyone doing anything whatsoever to the contrary.

Given at Rome, from the halls of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the 29th of the month of September, the solemnity of the Archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, in the 2023rd year of the Lord’s Incarnation

Mauro Cardinal Piacenza, Major Penitentiary

Christopher Nykiel, Regent

A Digital Novena Program on the Abbot's Circle
Prepare for the Feast!

If you can't make these events in person, prepare for the upcoming feast day by partaking in a novena to St. Michael on the Abbot's Circle site. Join in prayer, tune into livestream presentations, and receive video lectures. Get more details here.  

Learn More