The archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are honored on September 29; October 2 is the Feast of the Guardian Angels.
Michael has been widely venerated by Jews and Christians alike, and because of a passage from the Book of Revelation describing him as leading the angels in the war against Satan and his followers (12:7-9), Michael is considered the patron saint of police officers.
Gabriel is the archangel who appeared first to Zechariah and announced the conception of John the Baptist (Lk 1:10-20), and then to Mary to announce God’s plan to make her the mother of the Savior (Lk 1:26-38).
Raphael is the angel who cured the Old Testament hero Tobit of his blindness (Tb 11:7-15). St. Gregory the Great (pope from 590-604) wrote: “You should be aware that the word ‘angel’ denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of Heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message. Moreover, those who deliver messages of supreme importance are called archangels…. Some angels are given proper names to denote the service they are empowered to perform…. Thus, Michael means ‘Who is like God?,’ Gabriel is ‘The Strength of God,’ and Raphael is ‘God’s Remedy.’”
From Johnnette Benkovic’s Graceful Living: Meditations to Help You Grow Closer to God Day by Day
Click the image above to purchase your own copy of “Graceful Living.”
The angels have five duties. The first is to continually sing hymns and praises to their Creator. The second duty is to present the prayers of mortals to God and commend them with their petitions. The third duty consists in their being sent as messengers to declare what God wants to declare. The fourth duty is protecting men, whether as individuals or groups. The last duty is to serve as soldiers and armed leaders. Let good men love their fellow citizens, the angels.
— St. Robert Bellarmine, Spiritual Writings
One way I can show the angels my love is by imitating them in their duties. In what ways can I do this?
Other Saints We Remember Today
Dedication of the Bascilica of St. Michael the Archangel; “Michaelmas Day” (530)
