Sept. 29 is the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. A few days later, on Oct. 2, the Church celebrates the feast of our guardian angels.
Psalm 91 says God has given his angels command over all of us to guard us in all our ways. (v 11) Jesus says guardian angels constantly look upon the face of God as they discharge their duties as our protectors. (Mt 8:10)
Unfortunately, the popular notion we have of angels is based on fantasy rather than Sacred Scripture. What they are not is delicate, androgynous creatures or chubby baby cherubs as they are often portrayed in works of art.
Angels are spirit beings whose primary function is to serve as mediators between God and human beings. The name itself, “angelos,” is Greek for “messenger.” That is why it is the custom to depict them as creatures with wings.
Since they are spirits, they take on a human or quasi-human form when interacting with human beings on God’s behalf. Thus, the Archangel Raphael appeared as a young man when he accompanied Tobiah on a journey. Presumably, the Archangel Gabriel took on a similar likeness at the Annunciation of the Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as at the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist to his father, Zechariah.
The depiction of angels in the Book of Ezekiel is quite a different matter. Identified there as cherubim, they appeared in human form, but with four faces and four wings. The faces were those of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. The sound of their wings was “like the roaring of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty. When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army.” (Ezek 1:24)
In the Book of Daniel, the Archangel Gabriel was sent to explain a vision the prophet had received of the end time. Daniel was so overwhelmed by his presence that he said: “When he came near where I was standing, I fell prostrate in terror.” (Dan 8:17)
Angels are far superior to human beings and awesome, powerful creatures indeed.
We do not know how many angels there are. Scripture simply says they are “innumerable.” (Rev 5:11) The Book of Daniel says there are “myriads upon myriads” (7:10), indicating there may be even billions of them.
However, insofar as archangels are concerned, there may be as few as seven. At least, that is what the Archangel Raphael suggested when he revealed his true identity to Tobit and his son, Tobiah. (Tob 12:15)
Taken as a whole, the story of the three archangels who have been revealed to us in Sacred Scripture reads like a great novel: epic battle, sickness, evil, marriage, new life.
Michael is called “great prince” and “guardian” of God’s people. (Dan 12:1) His name means “one who is like God.” He is the commander of the angelic army of heaven that drove Satan and his followers out of heaven after they had rebelled against God. (Rev 12:7) They were all defeated once and for all in a war of cosmic proportions.
The name Raphael means “God heals.” So Raphael cured Tobit of his blindness. He also made possible what was considered to be the doomed marriage of Tobit’s son, Tobiah, with Sarah. Before she married Tobiah, Sarah had been married seven times, but the demon Asmodeus killed off all seven of her husbands before the marriage could be consummated. Raphael rid her once and for all of that demonic scourge.
The name Gabriel means “God is my warrior.” He announced the coming of the forerunner of the Messiah, John the Baptist, and the birth of the Messiah himself, Jesus of Nazareth. At the Annunciation, he declared the virgin-mother of the Lord, Mary, to be resplendent with the presence of God, “full of grace.” (Lk 1:28) He also said the child would be named Jesus, which means “God saves.” (Lk 1:31)
The story of the three archangels revealed to us in Sacred Scripture is rich and varied. But their story does not end when we close the pages of the Bible. It is our story too. It is written in the drama of our lives where those angelic powers can be of great assistance.
When our health is in danger or our love for others falters, Saint Raphael, pray for us! When we need our heavenly Mother and her Savior-Son to come to our aid, Saint Gabriel, pray for us! When we feel overwhelmed by temptation, caught in the clutches of sin, or we fear that our lives, our nation and our world are overwhelmed by evil, Saint Michael, pray for us!
The guardian angels and archangels are on our side. Call on them often.
Father Edward Kolla is a retired priest of the Diocese of Camden.
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