In Honour of the Archangels

On September 29 the Catholic Church honours the Archangels Gabriel, Michael and Raphael in the new calendar, and the traditional calendar honours St Michael (Michaelmas Day). Saint Michael, being the patron of paramedics, holds a special place in my prayer intentions.

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Saint Michael is given by the Church the highest place among the angels, for she refers to him as the "Prince of the heavenly hosts." Here Saint Michael leads the angels in their heavenly battle against Lucifer and his legions of disobedient angels when Lucifer's pride caused him to rebel against God and seek His throne.


St. Michael answered the call of the rebel angels with his warrior's cry of fidelity to God, "Who is like unto God? I believe and I adore." The devil shudders with terror every time we call upon the name of this triumphant heavenly marshal.


Saint Michael never ceases to wage war against the devil. He has been honoured since the earliest times, and the Church recognizes the exalted power and dignity that God has bestowed on this heavenly warrior, the dragon-slayer; the defender of Christians; the helper of the dying; the champion of the Church.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, hast appointed the most glorious Archangel Saint Michael as Prince of Thy Church, make us worthy, we beseech Thee, to be delivered by his powerful protection from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of our death, but that we may be conducted by him into the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.


Saint Raphael is the angel of peace, health and joy, and is best known for his role as the heavenly guide that God sent Tobias on his long and perilous journey to recover the money his father, now old and blind, had lent to a friend. Here, Raphael appears to Tobias, with the salutation, "Joy be to thee always." The name Raphael signifies "Medicine of God," and indeed St. Raphael appears to be at the head of the angelic medical staff!


When Tobias was attacked by a great fish, Saint Raphael not only saved Tobias, but extracted the heart, gall and liver of the fish and later used it as a medicinal remedy.


Raphael secured a happy marriage for Tobias; a marriage that was truly made in heaven.


The Archangel Raphael, after the marriage of Tobias, left the young man with his new bride, and went himself to recover the money they had come to seek.


Upon returning from their journey, God's physician presents the gall from the fish that Tobias will use to anoint his father's eyes and cure his blindness. Saint Raphael is the angel sent in God's Providence to guide and guard, heal and save.

O Saint Raphael, Medicine of God, Angel of happy meetings, of peace and of joy, we beseech thee, cure our infirmities of soul and body in virtue of the Divine Blood, source of all healing graces.


Gabriel, the "Strength of God," as his name means, is God's ambassador. His greatest mission was to announce the Incarnation and God's mighty work of the Redemption. Here, Saint Gabriel kneels and speaks those timeless words which will be echoed for all eternity, "Hail, full of grace."


Notice the humility that Mary displays at the presence of the Archangel Gabriel. Yet, notice too, how Gabriel is crouched before Mary in his own act of humility as he absorbs the sanctity and dignity of this most holy and humble Virgin whom God has chosen to be the Mother of Jesus.


Gabriel's announcement of the birth of Jesus echoes through the hills of Bethlehem as all of heaven resounds with the glorious hymn, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among men of good will."


Gabriel, on another of his heavenly assignments, accompanies the Holy Family on their flight into Egypt.


Gabriel is the angel who comforted Our Lord in His agony in the garden. Jesus invited Peter, James and John into the garden to pray and watch with Him, but they slept, leaving Jesus to the comfort of an angel. Saint Gabriel strengthened Jesus, comforting Him with hope, peace, reverence and sympathy, giving him a heavenly chalice to drink from.

O Blessed Archangel Gabriel, we beseech thee, do thou intercede for us at the throne of divine Mercy in our present necessities, that as thou didst announce to Mary the mystery of the Incarnation, so through thy prayers and patronage in heaven we may obtain the benefits of the same, and sing the praise of God forever in the land of the living. Amen.