The end of September has the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Raphael and Gabriel. The names mean:
Michael-Who is like God
Gabriel-Messenger of God
Raphael-Medicine of God
These are the 3 that are found in Scripture: Raphael in the book of Tobit, Gabriel in Luke and in Daniel, and Michael in Revelation!
One of my favorite prayers:
Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
October brings the Feast of the Guardian Angels!
We all are given a Guardian Angel when God creates our soul, to be with us and guide us and to be with us in Heaven! (We of course have to choose to go to Heaven to be eternally with God, He doesn’t force us)
I am very thankful to our Lord for my Guardian Angel…I can see many times in my life where my angel intervened to protect me! I am guessing that means there are many more times that I did not see all the ways my Guardian Angel protected me!
Always speak to your angel and thank him at the end of the day; ask for his protection while you sleep and cast your cares unto the Lord!
I love the Guardian Angel prayer:
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.
While Angels have become popular, I have noticed some thoughts on Angels and who they are that are incorrect. When someone dies, especially a child or young person I hear people say “they are now an angel”. No they are not, they are however hopefully a Saint! I have been asked what is the difference!
Here are the differences:
Angels were created before human beings (people) See Gen. 1-2 and the battle scene in Rev. Angels have never been people and people have never been angels. Now granted sometimes God allows us to see and angel and usually he allows them to be “seen” as a human person because that is how we relate. (I think with St. John Bosco, his would show up as a big black dog when he needed protection) But angels are pure spirit, without bodies. The word “Angel” means messenger. Above I listed the meaning of the 3 Archangels known to us.
No angel is ever Baptized and called a son or daughter of God, that is us human beings! (Heb. 1:5-14)
No angel receives our Lord in Holy Communion although they adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament!
The angels who were thrown out of heaven (See Rev. 12) were not given the gift of Reconciliation, although our guardian angel can remind us to go to the Sacrament.
We people, human beings, are made in the image and likeness of God. (Gen. 1:27) After our fall from grace (Gen. 1-2) God had a plan already to start paving the way to redemption. It was to us that Jesus gave the 7 Sacraments!
Some scripture verses on Angels: Ps. 91:11, Lk. 4:10, Lk. 15:10, these are only a few there are many more.
My you have a blessed October!