Feasts of the Holy Angels

The existence of the Angels, purely spiritual beings created by God, is a truth of the Catholic Faith affirmed repeatedly by both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. In the days surrounding the turn of the month from September to October we celebrate two feasts dedicated to particular members of the “choirs of angels”. 29th September honours those entrusted with the greatest missions in the history of salvation, Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. It was St Gabriel who carried the invitation to Our Lady to become the Mother of the Redeemer (cf. Luke 1:26-38); St Michael is given a special power to conquer the works of the devil, especially at the hour of death, and to lead the souls of the faithful to the merciful judgment of God (cf. Jude 8; Offertory for the Funeral Mass, “… may Saint Michael, the standard bearer, present them in holy light”). St Raphael, the last of the Archangels honoured on this day, is associated especially with the book of Tobit, where he is minister of God’s healing power. October 2nd, on the other hand, honours those angels given to each of us: your Guardian Angel, an angelic protector and hidden but active agent of God’s unending love (cf. Matt. 18:10).