THE three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, whose feast day is celebrated today in the Church, are the only angels named in Sacred Scripture and all three have important roles in the history of salvation.
St Michael is the “Prince of the Heavenly Host,” the leader of all the angels.
His name is Hebrew for “Who is like God?” and was the battle cry of the good angels against Lucifer and his followers when they rebelled against God.
He is mentioned four times in the Bible, in Daniel 10 and 12, in the letter of Jude, and in Revelation.
St Michael, whose forces cast down Lucifer and the evil spirits into Hell, is invoked for protection against Satan and all evil.
Pope Leo XIII, in 1899, having had a prophetic vision of the evil that would be inflicted upon the Church and the world in the 20th century, instituted a prayer asking for Saint Michael’s protection to be said at the end of every Mass.
Christian tradition recognises four offices of Saint Michael: (i) to fight against Satan (ii) to rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death. (iii) to be the champion of God’s people, (iv) to call away from earth and bring men’s souls to judgment.
St Gabriel, whose name means “God’s strength,” is mentioned four times in the Bible.
Most significant are Gabriel’s two mentions in the New Testament – to announce the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias, and the at Incarnation of the Word in the womb of Mary.
Christian tradition suggests that it is he who appeared to St Joseph and to the shepherds, and also that it was he who “strengthened” Jesus during his agony in the garden of Gethsemane.
St Raphael, whose name means “God has healed” because of his healing of Tobias’ blindness in the Book of Tobit.
Tobit is the only book in which he is mentioned. His office is generally accepted by tradition to be that of healing and acts of mercy.
“I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord” (Tob 12:15)
St Raphael is also identified with the angel in John 5:1-4 who descended upon the pond and bestowed healing powers upon it so that the first to enter it after it moved would be healed of whatever infirmity he was suffering.
Christians and angels cooperate “together in God’s salvific design,” Pope Francis said in 2017.
He said angels served God by accompanying all people on the path to salvation.
Each archangel has a specific role, he said – protection, annunciation, and guidance.
“Michael is the one who fights against the devil,” he said
“Gabriel is the bearer of good news, he said.
“Gabriel too accompanies us and helps us on our journey when we ‘forget’ the Gospel,” he said, noting the archangel’s message acts as a reminder that “Jesus came to save us.”
St Raphael, he said, “walks with us taking care of us on our journey and helping us not take the wrong step.”
Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to call upon the help of the archangels, and invoke their intercession.
“Michael: help us in our battle – each of us has a battle to fight in our lives; Gabriel: bring us news, bring us the good news of salvation; Raphael: take us by the hand and lead us forward without taking the wrong turning,” the Pope prayed.
“Always walking forward, but with your help.”
