Among the nine ranks of angels, there are three archangels who are named in Sacred Scripture and who are called saints by the Catholic Church. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are leaders among the angels with important roles in salvation history.
The names of each of these higher ranking angels end in -EL, which means God. Their names also indicate their special duty in delivering messages and interacting with God’s people: Providing protection, delivering strength, and offering healing.
Michael defends the people of Israel in the Book of Daniel and leads the heavenly army of angels into battle against Satan in the Book of Revelation. As the leader of all the angels in protecting man against evil, Michael’s name is a battle cry, “Who is like God?”
Gabriel, “power of God”, offers strength. He appears in the Old Testament to reassure Daniel about his visions. He offers encouragement when announcing the birth of John the Baptist and the miraculous incarnation and Virgin Birth of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Raphael means “healing of God”. In the Book of Tobit, the angel accompanies Tobias on a journey where he acquires medicine which cures his father’s blindness and that chases a demon away from his wife Sarah.
The Catholic Church Celebrates the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael each year on September 29. The Feast formerly recognized only St. Michael and was referred to as Michaelmas.
God’s angels are real:
Three holy servants of almighty God:
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.
Revelation 12: 7-9
The Archangels appear in the Bible:
The Catholic Church recognizes three chief angels:
The Bible names three archangels:
Finally, it is appropriate to note that the Church honors with liturgical worship three figures of angels, who in Sacred Scripture are called by name. The first is Michael the Archangel. His name synthetically expresses the essential attitude of good spirits. “Micah-El” in fact means: “Who is like God?”. This name therefore expresses the saving choice thanks to which the angels “see the face of the Father” who is in heaven. The second is Gabriel: a figure linked above all to the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God. His name means: “my power is God” or “power of God,” as if to say that, at the pinnacle of creation, the incarnation is the supreme sign of the almighty Father. Finally, the third archangel is called Raphael. “Raphael” means: “God heals.” He is made known to us through the story of Tobit in the Old Testament, so significant regarding the entrustment to the angels of the little children of God, always in need of custody, care and protection. If we think about it carefully, we see that each of these three figures – Micah-El, Gabri-El, Rapha-El – reflects in a particular way the truth contained in the question raised by the author of the Letter to the Hebrews: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve those who are to possess salvation?”
Pope John Paul II, General Audience, 6 August 1986
Each archangel has a special mission:
A warrior, a messenger, and a healer:
Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan: they closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples. Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 332
The archangels deliver powerful messages from God:
The archangels are there to help:
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