September 29
Saints of the Day
 

Saint Michael the Archangel

    Archangel. Leader of the army of God during the Lucifer uprising. Devotion is common to Muslims, Christians and Jews with writings about him in all three cultures. Considered the guardian angel of Israel.
    In the Bible is mentioned by name in the Daniel 12, Revelation 12 and in the Letter of Jude.
 
    The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the war-cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against Satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles. Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim. St. Michael is the patron of mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness.

    The feast of the Apparition of Saint Michael commemorates the 6th century appearance of the archangel on Mount Gargano near Manfredonia in southern Italy. Michael requested a church built in his honor at the site. If you find medals or holy cards with 'relics' of Michael, they are probably rock chips from the cave, or pieces of cloth that have touched it.
Prayer to Saint Michael
    Saint Michael, Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And you, Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Memorial 29 September   8 May - Apparition of Saint Michael and Protector of Cornwall
Images
Saint Michael's Church, Charlestown, IN, Gallery of images and links
Gallery of images of Michael the Archangel [64 images, 1,095 kb]
Additional Information
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm06.htm
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=308
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Readings
    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.
    Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by his superior power. from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great

Saint Gabriel the Archangel

    The name Gabriel means "man of God," or "God has shown himself mighty."

    Archangel. Messenger of God. One of the three angels mentioned by name in the Bible.
    - Appeared to the prophet Daniel to explain the prophet's visions relating to the Messiah, the prophecy of the seventy weeks. (Daniel 8:16-26; 9:21
    - Appeared to Zachary in the temple to announce the coming of Zachary's son, John the Baptist, and to strike Zachary mute for his disbelief. (Luke 1:11-20
    - Appeared to Virgin Mary to let her know she'd been selected to bear the Savior. (Luke 1:25-38) The angel announced to Daniel

Additional Information
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintg03.htm
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=279
Images Gallery of images of Gabriel
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Readings
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 Saint Gregory the Great

Saint Raphael the Archangel, Azariah; Angel of Love; Angel of Joy

    Raphael's name means "God heals."

[]

    Archangel. One of the three angels known by name, and one of the seven that stand before God's throne. Lead character in the book of Tobit in which he traveled with (and guarded) Tobiah, and cured a man's blindness; hence his connection with travelers, young people, blindness, healing and healers.
    The force behind the healing power of the sheep pool mentioned in John 5:1-4.

    He was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah. At the time, Tobit was blind and Tobiah's betrothed, Sarah, had had seven bridegrooms perish on the night of their weddings. Raphael accompanied Tobiah into Media disguised as a man named Azariah. Raphael helped him through his difficulties and taught him how to safely enter marriage with Sarah. Tobiah said that Raphael caused him to have his wife and that he gave joy to Sarah's parents for driving out the evil spirit in her. He also gave Raphael credit for his father's seeing the light of heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession.
    Besides Raphael, Michael and Gabriel are the only Archangels mentioned by name in the bible.
    Raphael's name means "God heals." This identity came about because of the biblical story which claims that he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch. Raphael is also identified as the angel who moved the waters of the healing sheep pool. He is also the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers.

Memorial 29 September; formerly 24 October
Images Gallery of images of Raphael
Additional Information
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintr02.htm
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=203
Book of Tobit
Book of Tobit or Tobias Commentary
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Readings Raphael means...God's remedy, for when he touched Tobit's eyes in order to cure him, he banished the darkness of his blindness. Thus, since he is to heal, he is rightly caused God's remedy. from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great

    The memorials of Gabriel (March 24) and Raphael (October 24) were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts to Michael's.

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