Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels
Feast
- Feast Day
- September 29
The Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, popularly known as Michaelmas, honors the three archangels named in Sacred Scripture. The feast was originally a Roman dedication-feast: on 29 September a basilica of Saint Michael, the Basilica Sancti Michaelis Archangeli in Septimo or Salaria, was dedicated near Rome in the fifth century. The 1969 reform of the General Roman Calendar joined to it the previously separate feasts of Saint Gabriel (24 March) and Saint Raphael (24 October), giving us the present unified Feast.
Michael (Hebrew: Who is like God?) appears in the Book of Daniel as the great prince who has charge over Israel (Daniel 12:1) and in Revelation 12:7-9 as the leader of the heavenly armies who casts down the dragon. He is invoked in the prayer of Pope Leo XIII (1886) as the heavenly host's defender of the Church against the snares of the devil.
Gabriel (God is my strength) interprets the visions of Daniel (Daniel 8-9), announces to Zechariah the conception of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-20), and announces to the Virgin Mary the conception of the Lord (Luke 1:26-38). Raphael (God heals) is the protagonist of the Book of Tobit, healing the elder Tobit's blindness and accompanying his son Tobias on his journey, finally revealing himself as one of the seven angels who stand before the throne of God (Tobit 12:15).
The Feast affirms the Catechism's teaching that the angels are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, who serve God's saving plan. The naming of the three archangels in Scripture is treated by the tradition as an authentic revelation of the divine economy, in which God uses creatures both visible and invisible to bring his work to completion.
Patronages
police officers (Michael) · communications (Gabriel) · travelers and the sick (Raphael)
From Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels
"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil."
Catholic Churches Named After Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels
20 parishes on Catholic Church Times share Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels's name. Find their Mass times, confession schedules, and adoration hours:
- St. Michael the Archangel Parish — Maripipi, BILIRAN
- St. Michael's Mission, Ekusileni — Filabusi
- Church of St. Michael, Ipoh — Ipoh, PERAK
- St Michael's
- St Michael, Clare — Clare, SA
- St Michael's Parish — Tambellup, WA
- St Michael Catholic Church — Lumsden
- Church of St. Michael, Alor Setar — Alor Setar, KEDAH
- St Michael The Archangel, Hathersage — Hathersage, ENG
- St Michael's Cemetery Chapel, Rivelin — Rivelin, ENG
- St. Michael's Parish — East Margaree, NS
- St. Michael Parish — Baddeck, NS
- St Michael — Eriskay, SCOTLAND
- St. Michael the Archangel Parish — Oas, ALBAY
- St. Michael the Archangel Parish — Monreal, MASBATE
- Saint Michael And All Angels Church — Los Angeles, CA
- St. Michael the Archangel Parish — Irosin, SORSOGON
- St. Michael the Archangel Mission (Mary Mother of God Parish) — Grand Manan, NB
- Saint Michael the Archangel Parish — Clarin, BOHOL
- St. Michael Parish — Matanao, DAVAO DEL SUR
Sources