In the Bible, the only archangels that are mentioned are Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
The angels are messengers of God who bring oracles to humankind about what God wishes for man.
An archangel is an angel of high rank.
We celebrate their feast day on September 29 every year in the Catholic Church.
| Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Feast Day | September 29 |
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels History
These three archangels are honoured by the Church with a feast on September 29 every year. Initially, in the early church days, each archangel had his own feast day.
St. Michael’s feast day was on September 29, St. Gabriel’s feast was on March 24, a day before the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, and St. Raphael’s feast day was on October 24.
These archangels are mentioned in various scriptures of the Bible.
St Michael the Archangel
Archangel Michael is mentioned in the following verses.
Revelation 12:7–12, where he battles with Satan and casts him out of heaven.
7 Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back,
Revelation 12:7–12
8 but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
9 The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
11 They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
12 Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them.
But woe to you, earth and sea,
for the Devil has come down to you in great fury,
for he knows he has but a short time.”
Daniel 10:13: Archangel Michael with the prince of Persia
13 but the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood in my way for twenty-one days, until finally Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia,
Daniel 10:13
Daniel 12:1: Archangel Michael, the prince and guardian who defends Israel against its enemies
1 At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since the nation began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.
Daniel 12:1
Jude 1:9: Here the author denounces heretics by contrasting them with Michael
9 Yet the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil in a dispute over the body of Moses, did not venture to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
Jude 1:9
St Michael the Archangel has the Following Four Roles
- The leader of God’s Army and the forces in heaven in their triumph over Satan.
- He is the angel of death who descends at the hour of death and gives each dying soul the chance to redeem itself before finally dying. Thereafter, he carries their souls into heaven.
- He weighs the souls of the faithful on his perfectly balanced scales.
- He is the guardian of the Church and also the special patron of the Chosen People in the Old Testament.
St Michael is the Patron Saint of
- Protector of the Jewish people
- Guardian of the Catholic Church
- Vatican City
St Gabriel the Archangel
Saint Gabriel is mainly mentioned in the Bible in the events surrounding the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Book of Daniel when explaining Daniel’s visions.
Archangel Gabriel is mentioned in the following verses.
Daniel 8:15-26: Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel to explain his visions
15 While I, Daniel, sought the meaning of the vision I had seen, one who looked like a man stood before me,
Daniel 8:15-17
16 and on the Ulai I heard a human voice that cried out, “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”
17 When he came near where I was standing, I fell prostrate in terror. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision refers to the end time.”
Daniel 9:21-27: Gabriel comes to give Daniel some understanding
21 I was still praying, when the man, Gabriel, whom I had seen in vision before, came to me in flight at the time of the evening offering.
Daniel 9:21-22
22 He instructed me in these words: “Daniel, I have now come to give you understanding.
Luke 1:18-20: Angel Gabriel announces Good News to Zechariah
18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
Luke 1:18-19
19 And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.”
Luke 1:26-28: Angel Gabriel announces Good News to Mary
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
Luke 1:26-28
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
St Gabriel is the Patron Saint of
- Ambassadors
- Clerics
- Diplomats
- Messengers
- Portugal
- Postal workers
- Radio broadcasters
- Santander, Cebu, Philippines
- Stamp collectors
- Telecommunication workers
St Raphael the Archangel
Saint Raphael is an archangel mentioned in the Book of Tobit in the Bible. He is also identified as the angel who, as stated in John 5:2-4, stirred waters in the Pool of Bethesda that the sick went for healing.
Archangel Raphael is mentioned in the following verses.
Tobit 12:11-15: Archangel Raphael reveals his identity to Tobit
12 Now when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed, it was I who presented the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and likewise whenever you used to bury the dead.
Tobit 12:12-15
13 When you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner in order to go and bury that dead man,
14 I was sent to put you to the test. At the same time, however, God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.
15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.”
After Tobit and his daughter-in-law Sarah prayed to God, Archangel Raphael guided his son Tobiah and returned home safely.
This resulted in three happy endings of the marriage of Tobiah and Sarah, the restoration of the family’s fortune, and the healing of Tobit’s blindness.
St Raphael is the Patron Saint of
- Catholic Studies
- Christian marriage
- Happy meetings
- Matchmakers
- Medical workers
- Nurses
- Physicians
- The blind
- Travelers
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