Thursday, September 29, 2005

The Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels



Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

St. Michael appears four times in the Bible. Twice in Daniel, once in Jude, and in Revelation.

The Protestants don't acknowedge Raphael, because the book where he appears isn't in their Bible. They sure are missing out on a charming little story. It's about a man who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and buried the dead. One day, while he was laying outside, a bird shit in his eyes and made him blind. Meanwhile, their was a girl who was plagued by the demon Asmodeus. She had been married seven times, and this demon killed all her husbands before the marriage could be consummated. You can find the exciting conclusion to this tale here.

St. Gabriel appears in the Bible three times as a messenger. He appeared to Daniel. He appeared to Zachary to tell him of his son, St. John the Baptist, and he appeared at the Annunciation.