Christ the Cornerstone

God’s messengers bring good news, healing and protection

Today is the feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the three archangels who are mentioned in Scripture by name.

Angels are spiritual beings created by God. We cannot fully comprehend the mysterious nature of these fellow creatures, but sacred Scripture and the teaching of the Church affirm that angels are intelligent and personal beings who have been present since the beginning of creation serving as messengers and performing many other services on behalf of the divine majesty.

The three archangels whose feast we celebrate today stand out among all the members of the heavenly host whose splendor bears witness to the glory of God. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael represent three of the most important services provided by the spirits who accompany us on our life’s journey: protection from evil, comfort in sickness and distress, and hope for the future.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels” (#334).

In the Bible, angels frequently appear in the role of God’s messengers to humankind. They are instruments by whom he communicates his will to us.

In the Old Testament, in Jacob’s vision (Gn 28:12), they are depicted as ascending and descending the ladder which stretches from Earth to heaven. This spatial image (heaven is “above” and Earth is “below”) illustrates both the spiritual nature of angels and the recognition that angels regularly “descend” from their heavenly homeland to interact with those of us who live here on Earth.

The archangel Gabriel is God’s messenger in both the Old and New Testaments. It is Gabriel who draws Lot out of Sodom, who announces to Gideon that he is to save his people, who foretells the birth of Samson and instructs the prophet Daniel.

In the New Testament, Gabriel communicates with Mary, Joseph and Zechariah (the father of John the Baptist) to assure them of God’s favor and to make known to them God’s will for them and for their children. Tradition also affirms that it was Gabriel who led the heavenly host in delivering the “tidings of great joy” to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem

(Lk 2:10), and who provided comfort and encouragement to Jesus in his time of agony in the garden of Gethsemane.

St. Michael the Archangel is portrayed in Scripture, and in the Church’s tradition, as a great protector. According to the Book of Revelation, “There was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon” (Rv 12:7).

St. John the Evangelist speaks of the great conflict at the end of time, which reflects also the battle in heaven at the beginning of time. At both the beginning and the end, Michael is the great defender who protects God’s creation from the power of evil and the corruption of sin and death. This is why the name of St. Michael the Archangel is called upon in times of war and political turmoil “to rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death.”

The archangel Raphael, whose name means “God has healed,” appears in the Old Testament’s Book of Tobias as both a healer and a protector. Disguised in human form as the traveling companion of the younger Tobias, the protective influence of the angel is shown in many ways. After the return and the healing of the blindness of the elder Tobias, the mysterious companion makes himself known as “the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord” (Tb 12:15, Rv 8:2).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that:

From the incarnation to the ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God “brings the firstborn into the world, he says: ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’ ” Their song of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church’s praise: “Glory to God in the highest!”

They protect Jesus in his infancy, serve him in the desert, strengthen him in his agony in the garden, when he could have been saved by them from the hands of his enemies as Israel had been. Again, it is the angels who “evangelize” by proclaiming the Good News of Christ’s Incarnation and Resurrection. They will be present at Christ’s return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgment” (#333).

Today, we thank God for the great gift of the three archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, and for all the saints in heaven who protect us, heal us and proclaim the good news of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Let’s trust in them as guardians and companions on our synodal journey. †