Sr. Molly Fernandes sfn –
The Catholic Church celebrates the feasts of the Archangels on 29th September while the feast of Guardian Angel is celebrated on 2nd October.
I remember an incident “God sent you as an angel. My son’s operation was there and I was struggling to get in touch with a particular priest who could pray for my son” a woman said with emotions. We hear many testimonies of people relating that suddenly someone came to help and before they could thank, he was nowhere!
Angels are loving forces in our lives as Jesus reminds in the gospel of St. Mathew. Everyone has two angels since birth and each of us has the ability to communicate with them. They help you throughout your life but they do not interfere in your life until you call them/seek their help for your daily routine. An angel is a pure spirit created by God. The word angel can be traced back to the Greek word “anglos,” which means “messenger” in Hebrew.
Angels are also called God’s representative. The difference between angels and archangels is that archangels have vastly more power than angels. Archangels can be in more than one place at a time, while angels can only be in one place. Archangels are Omnipresent; you can call them any day, anytime, anywhere. Archangels provide us help with Life, Guidance, Protection, Education, Love/Romance Life, Travelling, Justice, Wisdom, Compassion, Abundance… and so many other things more depending upon where we are and what help we need!
In the Old Testament we find in the book of Tobit about Raphael whom Tobias failed to recognise until he was offered wages, he declared that he is Raphael, one of the seven angels, Tobit 12: 15. Tobit said: For a good angel will accompany him(Tobias); his journey will be successful and he will come back in good health” Tob 5: 22.
This is beautiful and vital, “See I am sending an angel(guardian angel) infront of you to guard on your way and bring you to the place I have prepared for you”, says Exodus 20: 23 and Jesus said to him (Nathaneal): very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” John 1: 51.
In the Book of Genesis, there are the three men who visit Abraham, who gives them hospitality. One of them seems to be Yahweh and the other two angels. While Yahweh stays with Abraham, the other two go on to Sodom (Gen 18: 23; 19: 1).
As well, angels are mentioned in the story of Jacob, who had a dream of “angels of God ascending and descending” a stairway or ladder which reached to the heavens (Gen 28:12).
The New Testament makes several references to angels but uses the word archangel only twice, in Thes. 4:16 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first”, Jude 1: 9 “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, he did not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you”. And again just as Michael (Archangel Michael) and his angels fought against the dragon…and the dragon was thrown down Rev 12: 7, 8. “An angel (Archangel Gabriel) of the Lord appeared to him (Joseph) in a dream and said “Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife”, Mt 1: 20.
The Catholic Church recognises the existence of only three Archangels, or the three mentioned in the Scriptures: Michael (“Who is like God?”), Gabriel (“God’s Power”) and Raphael (“God’s Medicine”).
Just as we have a guardian angel, we also have an archangel, on whom we can call and rely on. We can call upon archangel as I call upon Michael who is my archangel) and he will assist and helps us, come to our aid; We can have recourse to Gabriel when we want to communicate what God wants and Raphael on our journeys and when sickness grips us; our affiliations to Archangels Uriel, Chamuel Jophiel and Zadkiel will energize, illuminate and strengthen us. Certainly! Ambassadors of God at our rescue. Michael, who is God like? Gabriel, the strength of God (God’s messenger) and Raphael, one who heals (Medicine of God). And also archangels Jophiel, Beauty of God; Uriel, the light of God, Chamuel, love of God (one who sees God) and Zadkiel, Righteousness of God.
When people ask us to pray, can we send these emissaries as helpers virtually as they can be in more than one place and receive their blessings? Can I be an angel of counsel, healing, defense and Goodnews?