Feast of Saints: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

The Gospel today is John 1:47-51 and is about the first disciples.

On this feast day Fr. Paul reminds us of the teaching from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catechism states (No 328): “the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. The witness of scripture is as clear and the unanimity of Tradition”.

It also states in the Catechism (No 329) that St Augustine said that ‘Angel’ is the name of their office not of there nature. That “with their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God”.

With this in mind Fr. Paul then goes on to share with us a little about each of the Archangels whose feast we are celebrating today.

St Michael is mentioned in the Apocalypse and the leader of the heavenly host. He is Patron saint of soldiers and police.

St Gabriel appears in the book of Daniel to explain some of the prophets visions and is also the one who appears to the Blessed Virgin Mary to announce the Annunciation.

St Raphael appears in the book of Tobit and is the angel who heals the blindness of Tobit. His name means – God heals.

To conclude Fr Paul asks the three Archangels to pray for us.