The Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels, 

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a Son of Man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. 

Traditionally, it is held that the rank of archangel comes between that of the angels and the principalities.  The word “archangel”, used only twice in the Scriptures, comes from a Greek word meaning “chief angel” or “ruling angel”.  We know the names of three archangels of the vast numbers of angels in this rank of the angelic hierarchy: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.  Previously, each was accorded his own feast day, but since the reform of the calendar after Vatican II, they are honored together on one day, that which formerly belonged to St. Michael alone.  The primary work of the archangels, as of all the angels, is to glorify Almighty God.  Secondarily, they are assigned to help humans to live the life of Faith, to practice the virtues, and to be saved so that we might glorify God in heaven with them.

The prayers of the Church invoke the choirs of angels and implore them to come to our aid, particularly at the end of our lives when we are most vulnerable to the temptation to despair.  The Archangel Michael, so strong in battle against Satan, delivers the holy soul who has just departed this world into heaven, safe from any hindrance of the devil and his cohort.  St. Michael is invoked during the traditional form of the Mass in the Confiteor (“I confess to Almighty God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and you, brethren, that I have sinned through my own fault, etc.”).  It is also thought that he is the angel spoken of in the Roman Canon when the priest prayers for God’s holy angel to take the Sacrifice on the altar to God’s altar in heaven.  Michael appears as the protector of God’s Chosen People in the Book of Daniel, and as the Church’s great protector in Revelation 12, 7-9.  

The Archangel Gabriel is best known for his appearances to Zechariah the priest in the Temple, announcing the birth of John the Baptist, and to the Virgin Mary, announcing the Conception and Birth of the Son of God.  Church writers from the Fathers onwards hold the opinion that it is Gabriel who speaks to St. Joseph in his various dreams.  Some have even held that he appeared as the star of Bethlehem, guiding the Magi to the newborn King.  He also appears in the Book of Daniel, explaining prophecies, as he would explain mysteries to Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph.

All that we know of the Archangel Raphael comes from the Book of Tobit.  He is instrumental in the safe travels of Tobias, his mission to recover money owed to his stricken father, the safe marriage of Tobias and Sarah after demons have killed her previous husbands, and the cure of Tobit’s blindness.  In light of these good works, Raphael is invoked as a patron of travelers and for healing.  Very memorably, at the end of the Book of Tobit, Raphael reveals himself with these words: “I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord” (Tobit 12, 15).  These “seven” include Michael and Gabriel.  They would seem to be the principal archangels who “stand before the Lord” interceding for the human race.

We marvel at those who stand before the Lord, “thousands upon thousands” ministering to him, and “myriads upon myriads” attending him.  Creation is so much more than the human race, and so much more than the measurable universe.  We inhabit but a tiny corner of it, a speck that will one day disappear.  Let us live lives worthy of heaven with the help of the Archangels so that we may one day stand before God with them.