Sep 29 – Feast of the Holy Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael
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 lesser importance are called angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels.
And so it was that not merely an angel but the archangel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary. It was only fitting that the highest angel should come to announce the greatest of all messages. So too Gabriel, who is called God’s strength, was sent to Mary. He came to announce the One who appeared as a humble man to quell the cosmic powers. Thus God’s strength announced the coming of the Lord of the heavenly powers, mighty in battle.
- from a homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great
Michael was the leader of the army of God during the Lucifer uprising. Devotion to him is common to Muslims, Christians and Jews, with writings about him in all three cultures. He is considered as the guardian angel of Israel, and the guardian and protector of the Church.
Raphael is one of the seven angels that stand before God’s throne. He is the lead character in the book of Tobit in which he travelled with (and guarded) Tobiah, and cured a man’s blindness; hence his connection with travellers, young people, blindness, healing and healers.
- Patron Saint Index
Dan 7:9-10,13-14
Jn 1:47-51
“I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.”
This season of my life has been one where I hear sickness plague the lives of friends whom I know. Be it in the unexplainable causes of excruciating pain, or the after-effects of the treatment of the various stages of cancer which a person has undergone, there is a common question of “why?” to the patient; and to the caregiver, “I am alone.” Indeed, it is in the context of this struggle that the Guardian Angels come in.
Our Guardian Angels are invisible to us and yet they are always present with us. Padre Pio speaks with great fondness of his relationship with his Guardian Angel. During the struggles Padre Pio faced, it was his guardian angel who accompanied him during this period of tribulations. We need to speak to our Guardian Angel and pour out the challenges and issues we face in our lives. In today’s modern world, there is access to mental health resources and professionals which allows everyone to vocalise their thoughts and fears. However, it is in the silence of the night, where sometimes the emotions come surging out. It is in this trying moment that I ask you to vocalise them to your Guardian Angel. Your Guardian Angel will direct you to Jesus, who is the source of all comfort.
To each one of you who is going through deep pain and challenges either in your life, or the in the life of a loved one, may you continue to remain faithful in your belief to Jesus. Your Guardian Angel will hold your hand and walk with you in the valley of darkness. Remember that the days are long but the years are short.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
Prayer: Angel of God my Guardian dear, to whom God loves commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all who show us how it means to journey with us in the journey of life.
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