The Archangels 

St. Mary’s of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

September 29, 2015

The three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the only angels named in Sacred Scripture and all three have important roles in the history of salvation.

Saint Michael is 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.

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 recognizes 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.

Saint Gabriel, whose name means "God's strength," is mentioned four times in the Bible. In Luke 1: 9 he introduced himself as "I am Gabriel, who stand before God." He announced the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias, and the at Incarnation of the Word in the womb of Mary.

"I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" (Tob 12:15)

Saint 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.

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.

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A PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS

Heavenly King, You have given us archangels 

to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth. 

Saint Michael is our protector; 

I ask him to come to my aid, 

fight for all my loved ones, 

and protect us from danger. 

Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News; 

I ask him to help me 

clearly hear Your voice 

and to teach me the truth. 

Saint Raphael is the healing angel; 

I ask him to take my need for healing 

and that of everyone I know, 

lift it up to Your throne of grace 

and deliver back to us the gift of recovery. 

Help us, O Lord, 

to realize more fully the reality of the archangels 

and their desire to serve us. 

Holy angels, 

pray for us. 

Amen.