The Gospel passage proposed by the Church for this feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael is the meeting of Jesus with Nathanael, which St. John places at the beginning of his Gospel. "You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man" (Jn 1:47-51). Jesus makes himself known as the Messiah, and describes the mission of the angels, who are part of the history of salvation, carrying out different missions entrusted by God.
What did God entrust to the Holy Archangels?
The liturgy celebrates the biblical faith and the doctrinal tradition of the Church. In this case it has unified in on September 29, the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Their names refer to their functions as intermediaries between God and men, as well as executors of his orders and transmitters of his messages.
The Archangel Gabriel
Its name means "Strength of God.". The Archangel Gabriel was entrusted with the mission of announcing to the Virgin Mary that she would be the Mother of the Savior. The message it conveys is transcendental. Undoubtedly the most important in the History of Salvation; it is about the arrival of the Messiah, the Son of God, to the world.
He was "sent by God... to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in and said to her, "Hail, highly favored one! The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women." Luke 1:26.
The Archangel Michael
In Hebrew it means "Who like God!"This expression is in harmony with its mission and interventions. St. Michael the Archangel is in command of the heavenly armies.. He is the defender of the Church and his name is the battle cry in the battle waged in Heaven against Satan. That is why St. Michael is depicted attacking the infernal serpent.
The Church has worshipped him since the 5th century for his protective role, both in the first reading, during the celebration of the Holy MassThe liturgy of the hours, in antiphons and in the Office of Readings.
The Archangel Saint Raphael
The Archangel Raphael is the friend of the wayfarers and physician of the sick. Its name means "God's medicine" o "God has worked health.". In the Bible he is presented as the protector and companion of all and is one of the seven great angels present before the glory of the Lord.
It appears in the book of Tobit 12:17-20 that it is the Archangel Raphael himself who reveals his identity: "Do not be afraid. Peace be with you. Bless God forever. If I have been with you..., it has been by the will of God. To Him you must bless every day, to Him you must sing... And now bless the Lord on earth and confess to God. Behold, I go up to him who sent me...".
I prayed the prayers of the Work of God, invoking the Holy Archangels, our Patrons: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael... And how sure I am that this triple call, to such high lords in the Kingdom of Heaven, will be -is- most pleasing to the Triune and One, and will hasten the hour of the Work!
Saint Josemaría Escrivá
Saints Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael: Patrons of Opus Dei
St. JosemaríaFrom the beginning of the foundation of the Work, he felt that he needed a lot of help from heaven to carry out the mission that God had entrusted to him: to transmit the message that it is possible to be a saint through work and ordinary life. Part of that help came from the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
On Thursday, October 6, 1932, while praying in the chapel of St. John of the Cross during his spiritual retreat in the convent of the Discalced Carmelites in Segovia, St. Josemaría chose as patrons of Opus Dei the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael and the Apostles St. John, St. Peter and St. Paul. From that moment on, he considered them patrons of the different apostolic fields that make up Opus Dei.
Under the patronage of the Archangel St. Raphael is the work of Christian formation of youth, from which the new vocations. These new vocations are under the patronage of the Archangel St. Michael. with the objective of forming them spiritually and humanly. As for the fathers and mothers of families who are part of the Work, their patron is the Archangel Saint Gabriel.
Thus, we can then recall the passage from the Gospel of Luke that will be read on the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, and think that God has wanted all Christians to count on the help of the archangels and with the help of the guardian angels who know a lot about the task of kindling cold hearts and helping to make generous decisions.
Bibliography
- Opusdei.org
- Dominicans.org