On the Feast of the Archangels

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:51

Throughout my life as a Christian, I have never thought it strange or out of place to ask God for the assistance of the angels. Although I may never know exactly what degree of angelic help heaven has offered, my faith tells me that it is great.  Today's Feast gives us an excellent opportunity to meditate on the great help, almost always unseen even by the most discerning eyes, which God sends our way.

Today we celebrate the Archangels: Michael, who takes up our cause against the forces of evil; also Gabriel, who visited the Virgin Mother of God to announce her blessedness, and Raphael, who acts as a healer and guide, whom we also have a biblical witness to in the beautiful Book of Tobit. Through them we celebrate the witness that is their work, which testifies that God’s goodness and providence is directed toward human beings and that he sends his mighty angels for our benefit.

As I was growing up, especially as a child, I was encouraged to believe in the presence of the holy angels. My mother would often quote the passage, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Throughout my childhood and into my teenage years I felt the inexpressible presence of angels in my midst. Certainly the New Testament is not without a plentiful witness to the presence and help of angels.

Little did I know on the day my youngest son Dominic was born that some day I would go through the anguish of discovering and coming to terms with his having autism. Naturally, I have looked to God for healing from before the time he was diagnosed. However, I must have intuited the need for angelic assistance—we gave Dominic the middle name “Raphael.”

There have been many times in my life that I believe the angels ministered giving me strength, and certainly I would never intend to give the impression that my life has not been without weakness along the way.  Nevertheless, I have a great advocate in heaven.

Really any time we celebrate a victory over evil we can attribute the help of Michael, and any time we feel that we have received a special message from God, it is not wrong to see in it the assistance of Gabriel. Certainly all of those most special eye-opening experiences, which in themselves heal the soul, have the angel Raphael guiding the way and removing the barriers from clear sight. The angels, scripture teaches, are ministering spirits. I take this to mean they both minister to us and help us in our ministry to others.

On this special Friday Feast day we have an opportunity to thank God for the many angels in our lives—I know I have my share, and I pray that they stay around a while and make themselves at home.

Comments

[CSR]

How wonderful. I've never thought of these three angels as being active in our lives as are each of our guardian angels, but if they are, too, then I have another few decades of thinking and thanking to do..

Had there come a new boy into this family, he'd have borne the name Gabriel, tho' it wouldn't have gone so well with the Irish lineage, but I nicknamed a spiritually adopted fetus "Gabriel." I won't know him on this side of the veil, but I hope he made it safely into the world.

And "Raphael" is mentioned in my dog's AKC name, because of the healing meaning.. which is too long to explain but intends a great respect and gratitude.

As for Michael, he scares me in the most wonderful way. I think we need to call upon him again at the end of every Mass.

[Gabrielle]

We gave our son a medal of St. Michael to wear before he went to Afghanistan. He's home safely now, and there's no doubt in my mind who protected him. He hadn't talked much about it until last night, when a few things came out. He had many close calls, one of which was a suicide bomber blowing up about 12 meters away from him. So we are very grateful to St. Michael the Archangel, and all our guardian angels.

[H]

Amen, amen and praise God.. whew.