Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

Saint Michael the Archangel

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Pope Leo XIII's Prayer to Saint Michael

O glorious Prince of the heavenly host,

Saint Michael the Archangel,

defend us in the battle and in the fearful warfare that we are waging

against the principalities and powers,

against the rulers of this world of darkness,

against the evil spirits.

Come you to the assistance of men,

whom Almighty God created immortal,

making them in His own image

and likeness and redeeming them at a great price

from the tyranny of Satan. 

Fight this day the battle of the Lord

with the legions of holy angels, even as of old 

you did fight against Lucifer,

the leader of the proud spirits and all his rebel angels,

who were powerless to stand against you,

neither was their place found any more in heaven.

And that apostate angel, transformed into an

angel of darkness who still creeps

about the earth to encompass our ruin, 

was cast headlong into the abyss together with his followers.

But behold, 

that first enemy of mankind, and a 

murderer from the beginning, 

has regained his confidence.

Changing himself into an angel of light,

he goes about with the whole multitude of the 

wicked spirits to invade the earth and blot out 

the Name of God

and of His Christ,

to plunder, to slay, and to consign to eternal damnation

the souls that have been destined for a crown of everlasting life.

This wicked serpent, like an 

unclean torrent, pours into men of depraved minds

and corrupt hearts the poison of his malice,

the spirit of lying, impiety, and blasphemy,

and the deadly breath of impurity and every form of vice and iniquity.

These crafty enemies of mankind have filled to overflowing

with gall and wormwood the Church,

which is the Bride of the Lamb without spot;

they have laid profane hands upon her most sacred treasures.

Make haste, therefore,

O invincible Prince, 

to help the people of God against the inroads of the lost spirits and

grant us the victory.

Amen.

Pope Leo XIII

War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.  The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.  The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it...

Revelation 12:7-12

Both the above are from Magnificat.

Saint Gabriel the Archangel

Prayer to Saint Gabriel

Saint Gabriel the Archangel, 

I venerate you as the Angel of the Incarnation, 

because God specially appointed you to bear the messages concerning the God-Man to Daniel,

Zechariah, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Give me a very tender and devoted love for the Incarnate Word and his Blessed Mother more like your own. 

I venerate you also as the "Strength from God" because you are the giver of God's strength,

consoler and comforter chosen to strengthen God's faithful and 

teach them important truths. 

I ask for the grace of a special power of the will to strive for holiness of life.

Steady my resolutions; renew my courage; comfort and console me in the problems, trials and sufferings of daily living, 

as you consoled our Savior in his agony and Mary in her sorrows and Joseph in his trials. 

 I put my confidence in you. 

Saint Gabriel I ask you especially for this favor: (mention your request). 

Through your earnest love for the Son of God made man and for his Blessed Mother I beg of you, intercede for me that my request may be granted, if it be God's holy will. 

Pray for us, Saint Gabriel the Archangel, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Amen.

Source

Saint Raphael the Archangel

Father Broom has a nice post on St. Raphael HERE

Litany in Honor of St. Raphael

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of Angels, have mercy on us.

Mary, Queen of the Angels, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, the Archangel, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, whose name means "God has healed", pray for us.
Saint Raphael, preserved with the good Angels in God's kingdom, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, one of the seven spirits that stand before the Most High, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, ministering to God in heaven, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, noble and mighty Messenger of God, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, devoted to the Holy Will of God, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who offered to God the prayers of the father Tobit, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, traveling-companion of the young Tobiah, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who guarded your friends from danger, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who found a worthy wife for Tobiah, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who delivered Sarah from the evil sririts, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who healed the father Tobit of his blindness, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, guide and protector on our journey through life, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, strong helper in time of need, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, conqueror of evil, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, guide and counelor of your people. pray for us.
Saint Raphael, protector of pure souls, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, patron Angel of youth, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of joy, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of happy meetings, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of chaste courtship, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of those seeking a marriagepartner, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of a happy marriage, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of home life, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Guardian of the Christian family, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, protector of travelers, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, patron of health, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, heavenly physician, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, helper of the blind, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, healer of the sick, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, patron of physicians, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, consoler of the afflicted, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, support of the dying, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, herald of blessings, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, defender of the church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O glorious Saint Raphael the Archangel,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

  Let us pray:
God, you graciously gave the Archangel Raphael as a companion to Your servant Tobiah on his journey. Grant us, Your servants, that we may ever enjoy his protection and be strenghtened by his help. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source

Feast of the Archangels

"Three Archangels and Young Tobias" Filippino Lippi c. 1485 Turin

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IN HONOR OF ALL THE HOLY ANGELS

Almighty God,

Creator of heaven and earth,

we praise and bless Thee not only 

because Thou hast created the visible world,

but also because Thou hast created the heavens and 

called the numberless spirits into being.

Thou didst create them

most splendidly,

endowing them with power and understanding

and pouring out upon them 

the riches of Thy grace.

We praise and thank Thee for having showered 

Thy graces upon the good angels and

rewarded them with

eternal glory 

after the time of their probation.

Now they surround Thy throne forever, singing in jubilant accord:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts!

Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

O Eternal God, Thy holy angels

serve Thee with constant fidelity and ready obedience.

They carry out Thy commands with fervent love and sacred enthusiasm.

We thank Thee, 

O Lord, for the example which Thou hast given us through Thy

princes, our holy protectors.

We will gladly follow the example they have given us.

All you holy angels, intercede for us

that we may share in your burning zeal and glowing love.

Help us to become worthy messengers and true servants of God,

to proclaim His holy will, 

and to spread the peace of Christ in the kingdom of Christ.

Amen.

The Prayer Book

Feast of the Archangels Angels

St. Michael, Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, Honolulu

St. Michael is regarded traditionally as the chief of the archangels, a special protector against the attacks of Satan, and, in the East, a patron of the sick. He has two feasts in the Western church: that of May 8 commemorating his alleged appearance at Monte Gargano in Italy during the fifth century, and that of September 29, the anniversary of the dedication of a church of St. Michael on the Salarian Way in Rome during the sixth century.

The name Michael is a variation of Micah, meaning in Hebrew, "Who is like God?"

Prayer to St. Michael (long form) by Pope Leo XIII

O Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in his own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil.

Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of his Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity.

These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.

Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and Patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.

Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers.
The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, the root of David.
Let thy mercies be upon us, O Lord.
As we have hoped in thee.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
And let my cry come unto thee.
Let us pray.

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon thy holy name, and as suppliants we implore thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel St. Michael, thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls.

Amen.

Prayer Source

Patron Saint of Police Officers and the Military.

St. Gabriel and the Annunciation

St. Gabriel is the Angel of the Annunciation. The Jewish people venerated Gabriel as the angel of judgment. Like that of Christian tradition, he is one of the seven archangels. Gabriel is also known in the Islamic religion as "the angel who served as the mouthpiece of God in dictating the Koran to their prophet". St. Gabriel appears in both the Old and New Testaments a few times. The final mention of him is found in Luke where he goes to the Blessed Virgin Mary with the tidings that she is to be the Mother of the Messiah. The Archangel Gabriel is the bearer of good tidings and comforter and helper of men. Christian tradition holds that Gabriel was the unnamed angel who appeared to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The name Gabriel means "Hero of God" in Hebrew.


Prayer to Saint Gabriel

Saint Gabriel the Archangel, I venerate you as the Angel of the Incarnation, because God specially appointed you to bear the messages concerning the God-Man to Daniel, Zechariah, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Give me a very tender and devoted love for the Incarnate Word and his Blessed Mother more like your own. I venerate you also as the “Strength from God” because you are the giver of God’s strength, consoler and comforter chosen to strengthen God’s faithful and teach them important truths. I ask for the grace of a special power of the will to strive for holiness of life. Steady my resolutions; renew my courage; comfort and console me in the problems, trials and sufferings of daily living, as you consoled our Savior in his agony and Mary in her sorrows and Joseph in his trials. I put my confidence in you. Saint Gabriel, I ask you especially for this favor: (mention your request). Through your earnest love for the Son of God made man and for his Blessed Mother I beg of you, intercede for me that my request may be granted, if it be God’s holy will.

Pray for us, Saint Gabriel the Archangel, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Prayer source

St. Raphael appears in the Old Testament in the Book of Tobit. He is the angel who accompanies Tobias on the journey and who heals Tobias' father from blindness. His name means "Healer of God".

Father Joe Whalen has a beautiful ministry. It is the St. Raphael Healing Oil Ministry. I am going to share the link with you here so that you can visit, read Father's story and about the ministry itself. There is also a good prayer for healing that I am posting here. It is supposed to be prayed when you use the St. Raphael's healing oil on a sick person.


On a personal note, I have used the healing oil on my family, friends and also sick pets. I have also shared them with friends. This is not magic nor is it New Age or superstition. This is just one of the ways the Church's sacramentals assist us in our needs when we put ALL our faith in Jesus, the Divine Physician.

Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel

Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners.

I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the "medicine of God," I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor (name it) and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"Jesus, Mary, I love You, Save Souls"

Sources: A Dictionary of Saints, compiled by Donald Attwater
Lives of Saints

Feast of the Archangels

Prayer to the Archangels

Holy Princes and faithful messengers of the Sovereigns of Heaven, I thank thee for the lights with which thou hast illuminated my understanding and strengthened by heart and dissipated the blindness of my eyes. I, who am the least of all of the creatures that exist upon the earth, praise the Lord for all of the marvelous things He has done in me.

Dear Archangels, I, who am deserving of nothing, beseech thee, go now to Our Lord and Our Lady of Good Success and intercede for me, as this poor servant desires to prostrate himself before Them and submit to whatever they desire. As my heart and my entire being belongs to Them, may I, like a small drop of dew, lose myself in the immensity of the Divine Being.

Amen.

Prayer source

St. Michael the Archangel

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...Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.


The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it... - Revelations Chapter 12:7-9

St. Gabriel the Archangel

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...Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."


And the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.


But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time..." - Luke 1:18-21

St. Raphael the Archangel

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...So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the cataracts from Tobit's eyes, so that he might again see God's sunlight; and to marry Raguel's daughter Sarah to Tobit's son Tobiah, and then drive the wicked demon Asmodeus from her. For Tobiah had the right to claim her before any other who might wish to marry her.In the very moment that Tobit returned from the courtyard to his house, Raguel's daughter Sarah came downstairs from her room.... - Tobit 3:17

Apparition of St. Michael - May 8th

St. Michael the Archangel by Guido Reni Picture Source

Thanks to Carlos for alerting me about today feast day. Also check out his post on the recent Swiss Guard ceremony.

Read about it here

St. Raphael the Archangel Video

Thanks to Father Joe Whalen of St. Raphael Healing Oil Ministry

US Marine - St. Michael the Archangel Intervention

U.S. Marine Walks Away From Shot to Helmet

...He turned it over to display the picture card tucked inside, depicting Michael the Archangel stamping on Lucifer's head. "I don't need luck," he said...

H/T to Loci for this remarkable story.

St. Michael the Archangel

Please visit Angels, Wonder and Miracles of Faith for an interesting post on St. Michael the Archangel. Thank you Loci!

Feast of the Archangels

St. Michael the Archangel Picture source

St. Gabriel

Saint Raphael the Archangel - Picture source

Prayer to the Archangels

Holy Princes and faithful messengers of the Sovereigns of Heaven, I thank thee for the lights with which thou hast illuminated my understanding and strengthened by heart and dissipated the blindness of my eyes. I, who am the least of all of the creatures that exist upon the earth, praise the Lord for all of the marvelous things He has done in me.

Dear Archangels, I, who am deserving of nothing, beseech thee, go now to Our Lord and Our Lady of Good Success and intercede for me, as this poor servant desires to prostrate himself before Them and submit to whatever they desire. As my heart and my entire being belongs to Them, may I, like a small drop of dew, lose myself in the immensity of the Divine Being.
Amen.

Prayer Source

Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

It just so happens that St. Michael is my patron saint this year!

The feast of the three archangels- Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael- will be commemorated on September 29.

St. Michael whose name means “Who is like God” was the archangel who fought against Satan and all his evil angels, defending all the friends of God. He is the protector of all humanity from the snares of the devil.

St. Gabriel which means “Strength of God” announced to Zachariah the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary, the birth of Jesus. His greeting to the Virgin, "Hail, full of grace," is one of the most familiar and frequent prayers of the Christian people.

St Raphael meaning “Medicine of God” is the archangel who took care of Tobias on his journey.

"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels (going forth) to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels" - Revelation 12:7

For more prayers, litanies, information on archangels, please be sure to visit St. Michael's Center for the Blessed Virgin Mary located in the beautiful state of Hawaii.

Prayer to St. Michael in Time of Peace

Sue shared the following poem written by G.K. Chesterton:

This poem was first published in The Legion Book (London 1929), and again in G. K.'s Weekly (September 24, 1936).The poem also appeared in Chesterton Review, May 1990 (Vol 16 No 2).


Michael, Michael: Michael of the Morning,
Michael of the Army of the Lord,
Stiffen thou the hand upon the still sword, Michael,
Folded and shut upon the sheathed sword, Michael,
Under the fullness of the white robes falling,
Gird us with the secret of the sword.

Click HERE for the entire poem.

Feast Day of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

HT to Jim for sharing an article on angels by Peter Kreeft Click here for the complete article.

The Twelve Most Important Things to Know About Angels

1. They really exist. Not just in our minds, or our myths, or our symbols, or our culture. They are as real as your dog, or your sister, or electricity.

2. They’re present, right here, right now, right next to you, reading these words with you.

3. They’re not cute, cuddly, comfortable, chummy, or “cool”. They are fearsome and formidable. They are huge. They are warriors.

4. They are the real “extra-terrestrials”, the real “Super-men”, the ultimate aliens. Their powers are far beyond those of all fictional creatures.

5. They are more brilliant minds than Einstein.

6. They can literally move the heavens and the earth if God permits them.

7. There are also evil angels, fallen angels, demons, or devils. These too are not myths. Demon possessions, and exorcisms, are real.

8. Angels are aware of you, even though you can’t usually see or hear them. But you can communicate with them. You can talk to them without even speaking.

9. You really do have your very own “guardian angel”. Everybody does.

10. Angels often come disguised. “Do not neglect hospitality, for some have entertained angels unawares”—that’s a warning from life’s oldest and best instruction manual.

11. We are on a protected part of a great battlefield between angels and devils, extending to eternity.

12. Angels are sentinels standing at the crossroads where life meets death. They work especially at moments of crisis, at the brink of disaster—for bodies, for souls, and for nations.

From Angels (and Demons) — What Do We Really Know About Them? by Ignatius Press.
You are also welcome to listen to the fascinating audio lecture Aquinas and the Angels.