Feast day: September 29
Sts. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael
The three archangels named in Scripture: Michael who leads heaven's armies, Gabriel who announced the Incarnation, Raphael who heals and guides.
On September 29 the Church honors together the three archangels named in Scripture — Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael — celebrating the angels, those purely spiritual creatures who stand before God and are sent as his messengers and ministers to the world. An archangel is an angel entrusted with some greater mission, and these three are given names that describe their roles.
Michael — whose name is a battle-cry meaning 'Who is like God?' — is the great defender, the leader of the heavenly host who, the Book of Revelation says, casts down the dragon, Satan, in the war in heaven. He appears in the Book of Daniel as the guardian prince of God's people, and the Church has long invoked him as protector against evil and as guardian of the dying and of the Church herself.
Gabriel — 'the strength of God' — is the angel of the Annunciation, sent to Mary to announce the birth of the Savior, and earlier to Zechariah to foretell the birth of John the Baptist; in Daniel he is the interpreter of visions. He is honored as the messenger of the great news of the Incarnation, and is a patron of communications.
Raphael — 'God heals' — is the angel of the Book of Tobit, who travels in disguise as the companion of young Tobias, guards him on his journey, wins him a bride, and restores the sight of his blind father, declaring himself at the end to be 'one of the seven who stand before the Lord.' He is invoked as a patron of travelers, of healing, and of happy meetings. Together the three remind the Church of the unseen world that surrounds and serves it.
Their names are job descriptions: Michael — 'Who is like God?'; Gabriel — 'God is my strength'; Raphael — 'God heals.'
Image: Guido Reni (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.
Source: newadvent.org/cathen/10275b.htm
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