Before I start, I’d like to note a few things.
All scripture used is from the New International Version, as presented at BibleGateway.com. The only alteration I have made is to restore the name of the God of Israel and the inspiration for the words of this book, Yahweh, to its rightful place as it was written in the original Hebrew. This is because, “God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, Yahweh, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.” (Ex. 3:15) How can I argue with that?
I understand from the get go that I’m probably not going to change too many minds with this viewpoint. However, Yahweh has told us, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”(Isaiah 55:11) I am up against the traditions and the instructions of your fathers, yet I am to, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2) Notre Dame is, if I may say so, definitely out of season for the point I will try to make. I don’t want you to take my word for anything. You don’t have trust my interpretations of scripture: this is your right. You will not be judged on whether you trusted me but on whether you trusted Yahweh and His Messiah and the words which they have given to us. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
If you followed me through all that buildup, which I really doubt many people did, you’re probably wondering what in the world this is all about. What it is about is that I must strongly protest the article “Century-old statue protects College” that ran in the September 29 issue of the Observer. I will do so by detailing the ways in which this article ascribes protective powers to a statue, protective powers that rightfully only rest with Yahweh (and possibly the fire department) and responding with scripture’s instructions against such things.
As the article states, “After the fire, a statue was promised to St. Michael with all of the buildings placed under his care[…]” ”You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” (Ex 20:4) Yes, the “form of anything in heaven above” does include Michael. “Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.”(1 Samuel 12:21) Michael may not be useless, but he reports to Yahweh and acts as He commands. Why then would you seek to gain the archangel’s favor by going against the dictates of his Master? For that matter, why seek Michael’s favor at all? His Master, Yahweh Almighty, is hardly stingy with His. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
“The Great Archangel is one of St. Mary’s special patrons and his protection is invoked against fire and pestilence.” “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good." (Jeremiah 10:5) “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.”(Isaiah 45:20) Statues cannot save, regardless of who they depict, as Exodus 32:7-8 shows us. “And Yahweh struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.”(Ex. 32:35)
“To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?” (Isaiah 14:18) Well, this one apparently. Before you say it, yes I am fully aware of the meaning of the name “Michael,” However, putting “Who is like unto God” on a stone statue, one which apparently is being relied upon for protection against fire, is just not right. Who is REALLY like unto God? “No one is like you, O Yahweh; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.”(Jeremiah 10:4-6) Thank you Jeremiah, I couldn’t have said it better.
“Each occasion serves to prove that St. Michael watches over the sisters and students of St. Mary’s and continues to protect them from fire incidents, according to the document”
“Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'” (Ex: 32:7-8) Neither the statue nor Michael himself protects St. Mary’s from fire. In fact, all the near-misses shown in the documents are enough to make you wonder if ANYONE is.

“’It’s a very impressive statue,’ said Saint Mary’s Archive Director John Kovach.” Is it an impressive statue? Maybe, but that’s all it is.