Today is the Feast of the Archangels Gabriel, Michael and Raphael. Why do we celebrate these angels? They are the 3 named in the Bible. There are more then 3 archangels but just 3 are named. Gabriel is the angel sent to Zachariah to announce the coming of John the Baptist and of course we know of his being sent to Mary in the town of Nazareth to ask and announce the coming of the Messiah! (just to name a couple of places he is mentioned) Michael is in the book of Revelation as the angel who leads the fight against the dragon and wins! Raphael is mentioned in the book of Tobit.
What do their names mean? Gabriel= God’s Strength, Michael=who is like God, Raphael=God’s healing. We all need God’s strength, we need God’s healing and we need Michael reminding us that no one compares to God! We need all of this daily…at least I do!
Where are the archangels in the 9 choirs of angels…they are number 7! When I was younger I always pictured them as number 1 because they are mentioned often and of course seem big. Yet the Seraphim and cherubim tend to be pictured as small. This reminds me that God’s ways are not my ways…a good thing! I look forward to the day when I will personally met all of them!
And of course we conclude with the pray to Michael the archangel;
Holy Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou O prince of the heavenly host by the power of God cast into hell Satin and all the evil spirits who prowl about the earth seeking the ruin of souls; amen.