Happy Rosh Hashanah to all Jewish readers! Today’s also the day that the Church celebrates the three Archangels mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures and Greek Septuagint Old Testament: Micha-el, Gabri-el, and Rapha-el. All three of the Archangels have an involvement with humanity, in history and here in the present.

St. Michael is known as the Archangel who cast satan out of heaven. He defended the greatness and supreme power of God with the words “who is like unto God?” which is what Michael means. The captain of the heavenly host, St. Michael was and is the protector of the people of God. I ask for his protection and strength in fighting for God.

St. Gabriel is the messenger of God. In the New Testament, the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary said she would, with her consent, give birth to Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word of God. By his prayers I ask to be faithful to the messages of God and to do his will.

St. Raphael, the medicine of God, is mentioned in the Book of Tobit. He traveled under human appearance alongside Tobias the son of Tobit and kept him well. Through St. Raphael, God cured Tobit’s blindness. I ask the Archangel Raphael to keep me close to the healing grace of God and that I might bring his healing to others.

God guides the course of human events through the ministration of his archangels. Holy archangels of God, pray for us!