St Michael & All Angels
The feast of Saint Michael and All Angels is celebrated on the 29th of September, because of all the Angels who helped Saint Michael win the Battle with Lucifer. This day of celebration is an extension of the feast of Saint Michael, which originated in the sixth century. It was known as "Michaelmas" - a name that lives on in the Michaelmas daisy, a wildflower that blooms in late September. More recently, two other archangels, namely Gabriel and Raphael, were included in this feast - hence "all angels". The archangel Michael is the guardian angel of Israel, the leader of the angelic army who conquered Satan and his armies of demons, the patron saint of law enforcement officers and the defender of the Church. His name means "who is like God". Unlike Lucifer (Satan), Michael was not blinded by pride from the gifts God had given him. Michael and the other guradian angels provide us with inspiration and help in times of adversity and temptation. Michael is more often represented in art thank any other angelic being. He is often shown wearing armour, in the act of slaying the great Dragon of the Apocalypse (Satan) in Revelation 12:7-9. He is usually represented in a sword and banner. He is mentioned by name four times in the Bible. · Daniel (chapter 10) where Michael comes to comfort Daniel after he has had a vision, and promises to be his helper in all things. · Daniel (chapter 12), Michael is called "the great prince who stands for the children of Thy people". In these references, Michael is represented as Israel's great support during the 70 years of the Babylonian captivity. · Jude 1:9. We are told that St. Michael disputed with Satan over the body of Moses. · Revelations (chapter 12), St John recounts his vision of the great battle in Heaven, when the wicked angels under Lucifer revolt against God, and how Michael, leading the faithful angels, defeats the hosts of evil and drives them out. The prayer of Saint Michael Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals. Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. The archangel Gabriel is the angel of judgement, the bearer of good tidings and the comforter and helper of men. His name means "Hero or Strength of God". He is mentioned by name four times in the Bible. · He first appears to Daniel in the guise of a man and proceeds to interpret a vision Daniel has had of a ram with two horns, which is overcome by a he-goat. Gabriel explains that the ram is the empire of the Medes and the Persians which will be destroyed by the he-goat, the king of the Greeks (Alexander the Great). This vision came to Daniel in the year 554 BC, while the Israelites were in captivity in Babylonia. The prophecy was fulfilled nearly 200 years later. · The angel Gabriel again appears to Daniel to foretell the coming of the Messiah and the destruction of Jerusalem and its sanctuary. · Luke 1:11-20. He announced the birth of John the Baptist to the priest Zachariah as he is burning incense at the altar in the temple. · He brings Mary the news that she is to be the Mother of the Messiah. In the Catholic tradition, this address ("Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee") is known as the "angelic salutation" and is part of the Rosary. By Christian tradition, Gabriel is also the unnamed angel who spoke to Joseph, proclaimed the birth of Christ to the Shepherds and comforted Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The archangel Raphael is the patron saint of travellers, young people, blindness, healing and healers. His name means "God has healed" or "Healer of God". In the Apocryphal book of Tobit, Raphael heals Tobias of blindness and guides him on his travel. Revelation 12:7-9 War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world-- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.