Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary’s of the Lake:
Every year Sept 29 is the Feast of Saints

MICHAEL, GABRIEL and RAPHAEL. These special three spiritual beings were sent by God to humankind over the course of the ages. They are called ARCHANGELS, second of nine choirs of Angels in descending order: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. Below is a brief reflection on these three Archangels:

 MICHAEL appears in Daniel’s vision as ‘the great prince’ who defends Israel against its enemies. In the Book of Revelation, Michael leads God’s armies to final victory over the forces of evil: ‘Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.’ (Rev. 12: 7). Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The name Michael means ‘WHO IS LIKE TO GOD?’ The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

 GABRIEL also makes an appearance in Daniel’s visions, explaining the meaning of the visions to Daniel. In the New Testament, the two well-known events were: Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptist (Lk 1: 11ff). His best-known appearance was the encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consented to bear the Messiah: ‘In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.... “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.”’ (Lk 1: 26ff). The name Gabriel means ‘GOD’S STRENGTH’ or ‘God has shown Himself mighty.’

 RAPHAEL appears in the Old Testament in the Book of Tobit. He acted as a guide to young Tobiah on his journey to the city of Rages, East of Nineveh, to collect a debt owed to his father. The Angel bound the demon Asmodeus in the desert of Egypt, helped Tobiah to find a wife and recover the debt, and specially healed Tobit from his blindness. He then revealed his identity: ‘I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.’ (Rev 12: 7).The name Gabriel means ‘GOD HAS HEALED.’

Michael has been the patron of security forces & of the sick. Gabriel: of telecommunications & the postal service. Raphael: of travelers & the blind. May the three Archangels pray for us before the Throne of God.

Fr. Philip