The Gift of Angels

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael!  We are probably familiar with the fact that the Archangel Michael battled Lucifer when he was cast out of heaven and that it is to St. Michael, the Archangel, that we ask protection here on earth from the snares of the devil, praying:

Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and  snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou,O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

It was the Archangel Gabriel who was sent to Mary to announce that she was to become the Mother of God and would conceive a Son by the overshadowing of the Spirit: "In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary...'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favor. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus....'" 

It was the Archangel Raphael who heard Tobit's prayer for healing (Tobit 12: 12-15): "...[Y]ou must know that when you and Sarah were at prayer, it was I who offered your supplications before the glory of the Lord and who read them; so too when you were burying the dead.  When you did not hesitate to get up and leave the table to go and bury a dead man, I was sent to test your faith, and at the same time God sent me to heal  you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael one of the seven angels who stand ever ready to enter the presence of the glory of the Lord."

And, of course, we all know that God has given each one of us a guardian angel who is always at our side, guiding us, enlightening us and guarding us throughout every day and night of our lives here on earth.

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of angels in our lives!