Saint of the Day, September 29: Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael’s Story: Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named
Michael appears in Daniel’s vision as “the great prince” who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God’s armies to final victory over the forces of evil.
Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century
The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.
Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel’s visions, announcing Michael’s role in God’s plan.
His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.
Raphael’s activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit.
There he appears to guide Tobit’s son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah’s marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit’s blindness, and the restoration of the family fortune.
The memorials of Gabriel and Raphael were added to the Roman calendar in 1921.
The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their individual feasts to Michael’s.
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Saint Of The Day, September 26: Saint Paul VI
Saint Of The Day, September 25: Saints Louis Martin And Zélie Guérin
Saint Of The Day, September 24: Saint John Henry Newman