Pastor's Message
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
"What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.” ” Hebrews 1:14
The three Archangel Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the only Angels named in the three Archangel Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the only Angels named in the Sacred Scripture and all these three have important roles in the History of our Salvation.
St. Michael is the Prince of the Heavenly Host, the leader of all the angels. His name is Hebrew for “Who is like God?” and was the battle cry of the good angels against Lucifer and his followers when they rebelled against God. He is mentioned four times in the Bible; In the book of Daniel chapter ten and twelve, in the Letter of Jude, and the Book of Revelation. Michael, whose forces cast down Lucifer and the evil spirit into hell, is invoked for the protection against Satan and all evil. Pope Leo XIII, in 1899, having had a prophetic vision of the evil that would be inflicted upon the Church and the world in the 20th Century, instituted a prayer asking for St. Michael’s protection to be said at the end of every Mass.
The Catholic Church has four distinct roles for Archangel Michael; He is the Supreme enemy of Satan and the fallen angels. He is the Christian Angel of death; at the hour of death, St Michael descends and gives every soul the chance to redeem itself before passing. The third role of Archangel Michael is that of weighing souls in his perfect balanced scale on judgement day.
St. Michael is the Guardian of the Church.
“I am Gabriel, who stand before God.” (Luke 1, 19) Archangel Gabriel, whose name means “God’s Strength,” is mentioned four times in the Bible. Most significant are Gabriel’s two mentions in the New Testament; to announce the Birth of John the Baptist to his Father Zacharias, and the most important at the peak of Human History was to announce the Incarnation of the Son of God in the womb of Mary. Tradition suggests that, it is Gabriel who also appeared to St. Joseph and to the Shepherds of Bethlehem. He is also said to be the one who strengthen Jesus during his agony in the garden of Gethsemane.
“I am Raphael, one of the Seven, who stand before the Lord,” (Tobit 12:15) Archangel Raphael, whose name means “God has healed” is the Angel of God’s Healing Power and act of mercy. His role is derived from his healing of Tobias’ blindness in the Book of Tobit. Raphael is mentioned only in the Book of Tobit.
The Church encourages devotion to the Angels. And one of the sons of the Church, who had great devotion to Angels was St Francis of Assisi. He had great love for Archangel Michael and would fast for forty days, from the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to this Feast in Honour of Archangel Michael, Gabriel and Raphael on September 29th. Like, St Francis, let us pray that Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael may intercede on our behalf; Amen.
