The Archangels

Today is the feast of three of the seven archangels. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are the only angels specifically named in the Bible. Gabriel was the angel at the Annunciation and received Mary’s acceptance of God’s will to bear the Savior. Raphael appears in the book of Tobit and assists his son Tobias. He’s also thought to be the angel that appears in the Gospel of John to stir the pool where the first one lowered will be healed of his affliction.

Michael is the Prince of the Heavenly Host and is the leader of God’s army against Satan and all evil. This, I must admit, is my idea of an angel. The good angels have been in battle with the fallen angels since creation and personally, I’d rather be protected by an angel with armor and a sword, not a soft pink being with a cute halo and fuzzy wings. This statue of St Michael about to do away with Lucifer is the statue we have in the entry way of our apartment. We take him with us, figuratively, when we go and thank him when we come home safely.

There’s been evil in the world before Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and it just keeps getting worse. On this feast day – and every day – say this prayer to St Michael for protection and thank God that He provides such a powerful army to defend us. St Michael, pray for us. St Gabriel, pray for us. St Rafael, pray for us. Guardian angels, pray for us.

St 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 Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.