Sts Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels – 29 Sep
St Michael
Archangel. Leader of the army of God during the Lucifer uprising. Devotion is common to Muslims, Christians and Jews, and there are writings about him in all three cultures. Considered the guardian angel of Israel, and the guardian and protector of the Church. In the Book of Daniel (12:1), Michael is described as rising up to defend the Church against the Anti-Christ.
The feast of the Apparition of Saint Michael commemorates appearance of the archangel to a man named Gargan in 492 on Mount Gargano near Manfredonia in southern Italy. Gargan and others were pasturing cattle on the mountain; a bull wandered off and hid in a cave. An arrow was shot into the cave, but it came flying back out and wounded the archer. The cowherds went to their bishop who ordered three days of fasting and prayer to seek an explanation for the mystery. At the end of the three days Michael appeared to the bishop and requested a church built in the honour of the Holy Angels in the cave. If you find medals or holy cards with ‘relics‘ of Michael, they are probably rock chips from the cave, or pieces of cloth that have touched it.
St Gabriel
Archangel and messenger of God. One of the three angels mentioned by name in the Catholic Bible.
- Appeared to the prophet Daniel to explain the prophet’s visions relating to the Messiah. (Daniel 8:16-26; 9:21-27)
- Appeared to Zachary in the temple to announce the coming of Zachary’s son, John the Baptist, and to strike Zachary mute for his disbelief. (Luke 1:11-20)
- Appeared to Mary to let her know she’d been selected to bear the Saviour. (Luke 1:26-38)
St Raphael
Archangel. One of the three angels mentioned by name in Scripture, and one of the seven that stand before God’s throne. Lead character in the deutero-canonical book of Tobit in which he travelled with (and guarded) Tobiah, and cured a man’s blindness; hence his connection with travellers, young people, blindness, healing and healers. Traditionally considered the force behind the healing power of the sheep pool mentioned in John 5:1-4.
(catholicsaints.info)