34 – St Michel…

Inside the abbey iii

QVIS VT DEVS, is the inscription beneath this polychrome statue – the one overlooking the altar in the transept crossing of the abbey. Accepting that it is probably from mediaeval times and that the inscription would be Latin we then get it as Quis Ut Deus – "who is like God". There is no doubt then that this is a depiction of St Michel. The name Michel or Michael can be broken down into its Hebrew components Mich El – which literally translates again as “who like God” – further identity confirmation if needed.

Two coincidences immediately came to my mind. The first is that I recognised this Latin phrase as the motto of the South African Midlands college school Michaelhouse. That in turn led me to discovering that the school was originally known as St Michael’s Diocesan College – a saintly association I had not made before. It’s probably not important, the school is not my personal alma mater, but I recently moved to live in this area of the country.

The second coincidence (of sorts) – my second (and family used) name is Michael. I started to understand better the unfathomably deep feelings of belonging I had felt during my visit to the Mont (and probably the hopes my mother had had for me at birth).

The motto is also frequently depicted on St Michel’s shield in artworks of his dragon slaying adventure, referenced in an earlier post. You will see too in the carving the scales and lance in hand – symbols of his exalted position in the hierarchy of angels – the scales being his to use during the judgement of souls, the lance his symbol of defender - the dragon's heart lies at his feet. Quis Ut Deus?