The Feast of the Archangels is a special feast day. My family makes a special point of remembering it during the liturgical year. Two of my sons, Gabriel and sweet baby Raphael, are named for the archangels.
Our celebration includes mass. We will have some special foods. This includes deviled eggs and devil’s food cake for Michael’s triumph over Satan in the battle of the angels. We are also serving angel hair pasta! Which will be good for my granddaughter who is still in her cross country and soccer season!
Who are the archangels?
From the Sacred Scriptures we have the proper names of only three Angels. These Angels belong to the Choir of the Archangels. The names most well-known to all are Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
History of the Feast day
September 29 was traditionally Michaelmas – the feast of St. Michael. We now recognize all three archangels on this day.
From fairly early on, Michaelmas was an important holiday, the religious or Christian equivalent of the autumn equinox. In England, it was considered the start of a new quarter. It marked the start of a new business year, a time for electing officials, making contracts, paying rent, hiring servants, holding court and starting school.
Obviously, we still see the remnants of this in the timing of our elections and school year. This is also a time when the weather is known to change. In Italy they say, “For St. Michael, heat goes into the heavens.” In Ireland, people expect a marked decrease in sickness or disease. The Irish also consider this a lucky day for fishing.
According to Fisheaters.com, today is also one of the four English Quarter Days which fall around equinoxes or solstices and mark the beginning of a new season. The others are Lady Day (Feast of the Annunciation on March 25, the Feast of St. John on June 24, and Christmas Day on December 25.
This is why I change the tablecloth and decorations in my dining room table to set a more fall-theme for the household.
St. Michael
In the book of Revelation, we learn of the battle in heaven, with St. Michael and his angels fighting Lucifer and the other fallen angels (or devils). We invoke St. Michael to help us in our fight against Satan; to rescue souls from Satan, especially at the hour of death; to be the champion of the Jews in the Old Testament and now Christians; and to bring souls to judgment.
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..
St. Gabriel
St. Gabriel’s name means “God is my strength”. Biblically, he appears three times as a messenger. He had been sent to Daniel to explain a vision concerning the Messiah. He appeared to Zachary when he was offering incense in the Temple to foretell the birth of his son, St. John the Baptist. St. Gabriel is most known as the angel chosen by God. He was the messenger of the Annunciation. He announced to mankind the mystery of the Incarnation.
O loving messenger of the Incarnation, descend upon all those for whom I wish peace and happiness. Spread your wings over the cradles of the new-born babes, O thou who didst announce the coming of the Infant Jesus.
Give to the young a lily petal from the virginal scepter in your hand. Cause the Ave Maria to re-echo in all hearts that they may find grace and joy through Mary.
Finally, recall the sublime words spoken on the day of the Annunciation– “Nothing is impossible with God,” and repeat them in hours of trial–to all I love–that their confidence in Our Lord may be reanimated, when all human help fails. Amen.
St. Raphael
Our knowledge of the Archangel Raphael comes to us from the book of Tobit. His mission as a wonderful healer and fellow traveler with the youthful Tobias has caused him to be invoked for journeys and at critical moments in life. Tradition also holds that Raphael is the angel who stirred the waters at the healing sheep pool in Bethesda. His name means “God has healed”.
O God who in Thy ineffable goodness hast rendered blessed Raphael the conductor of thy faithful in their journeys, we humbly implore Thee that we may be conducted by him in the way of salvation, and experience his help in the maladies of our souls. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
How we celebrate.
It has taken me some time to get statues of all three archangels. When I had the money, I bought them.
Here is what our table looked like three years ago for dinner on the feast day. We have a traditional Angel Hair pasta chicken dish, deviled eggs, angel food cake, and some other goodies.
[…] These are the angels we are probably most familiar with. We even have a combined big feast day for Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael in the fall. […]