Feast of the Holy Archangels

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Monday, 29 September 2025 : Feast of the Holy Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Archangels, Three of the Seven Holy Archangels of God that were mentioned in the Scriptures, namely St. Michael the Archangel, St. Gabriel the Archangel and St. Raphael the Archangel. They are three of the seven Archangels that serve the Lord by His Throne, as the leaders and most prominent ones among the Angelic Host, and the three whose names are known to us from the Scriptures. Originally this day in the past was a celebration dedicated only to St. Michael the Archangel, the Prince of the Heavenly Host, leader of all the Angels of God in the struggle and war against the forces of the wicked fallen angels, the rebels led by Lucifer, now known as Satan, the great enemy and the deceiver, who had fallen from grace, and has swept a third of the Heavenly Host with his rebellion.

St. Michael the Archangel is the most well-known among the Seven Archangels through his constant presence and leadership among God’s people, and we know him for being the one who leads God’s mighty Heavenly Host, the force of Angels in their constant and daily struggles against the forces of the evil and wicked spirits, the demons, fallen angels and all those who have been arrayed against us, in the spiritual warfare ever raging all around us. St. Michael according to tradition was not the strongest and mightiest among the Angels of God, as back then the most brilliant and mightiest among the Angels created by God was one named Lucifer, or the lightbringer, who became enamoured and arrogant because of his own brilliance, and in whose vanity and pride, ended up rebelling against God.

As recorded in the Scriptures and according to Church traditions, it was told that Lucifer aspired to be greater than God and to put himself above all the Angels of God and creation, so swayed he was by his pride and vanity, his greatest sin, and hence, in one tradition, took his seat upon God’s Throne when God was away for a moment. St. Michael was the one who rebuked Lucifer and told him that he was not worthy to aspire to such a height. And with his own name, Michael as battlecry, ‘Who is like God?’, St. Michael the Archangel led the forces of Angels that remained faithful to God, against Lucifer and those who sided with him, just as we heard in one of our Scripture readings today, as the War in Heaven. Lucifer was defeated and cast down from Heaven, where henceforth he is known as Satan, the devil, the great enemy.

St. Michael is especially honoured for his role in leading the forces of the faithful Angels in the struggles that happened then, and ever since, and also for his great faith and commitment to God. It was told that St. Michael always trembled whenever he is in the presence of God, as he, a mighty Archangel he may be, but he is still nothing compared to the Almighty God, Whom he served with complete commitment. However, before the forces of the evil, St. Michael the Archangel stands strong at the head of God’s mighty Angelic Host, ever ready to smite those who would harm the people of God, those who have been placed under the care of St. Michael and the other Angels, our Guardian Angels and more.

Meanwhile, St. Gabriel the Archangel was known to be the one who brought the Good News and revelation to Mary, the Mother of God, at the moment of the Annunciation, in which her role as the one to bear the Saviour of the world was revealed to her. According to tradition of the Church, St. Gabriel the Archangel was also the one who brought the news of the conception of St. John the Baptist to his father, Zechariah the priest at the Temple. Gabriel means the ‘Strength of God’, and through his role in delivering the words of God’s help and deliverance for His people, he reminded them all of the Lord’s guidance and providence, and how each and every one of us should remain firm in our trust and faith in God, and depend on His strength amidst the challenges and trials that may be facing us.

Then, St. Raphael the Archangel was known in the Book of Tobit as he took the disguise of a young man named Azariah, so that he could bring God’s help and intervention in the case of Tobit himself, the protagonist of the Book of Tobit, and Sara, the daughter of Ragouel, who would become Tobit’s daughter-in-law. Both of them had been beset by troubles, and prayed to God for help and deliverance, for strength and guidance, and it was there and then that God, having heard their prayers and willed to help them, sent His Archangel, St. Raphael, to go upon each of them, to help them and to show them His love and compassionate mercy. Raphael’s name, which means ‘Healing of God’ was indeed apt, as he helped to bring God’s healing to both Tobit and Sara, who were therefore freed from their problems.

While St. Gabriel and St. Raphael may be less known than St. Michael the Archangel, their works and presence at important moments in the history of our faith together with St. Michael the Archangel and the other Archangels and Holy Angels of God, innumerable and mighty as one Heavenly Host, whose names we may not be familiar with, they all do God’s works in reaching out to us, guarding all around us, leading us all courageously and tirelessly towards the Lord our God. All of us are always involved in this great spiritual battlefield all around us, all being fought in the struggle for the fate of our souls. The evil ones are always ever tireless in their efforts to lead us astray and to divide us against each other, while the Archangels lead the forces of God in defending us and smiting all those arrayed against us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we honour the great Archangels of God, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Gabriel the Archangel and St. Raphael the Archangel, let us all thank them for their guidance and presence in our lives, in their inspiration and their examples, so that we may truly be faithful to the Lord and fear the Lord as St. Michael had done, and to put our trust in God’s strength and providence as St. Gabriel had shown and revealed to us, and to allow ourselves to be touched by God’s Healing and mercy, His forgiveness and compassion as St. Raphael has reassured and reminded all of us. May God be with us always and may He be praised forever, in the glory of His Holy Archangels, now and always. Amen.

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Monday, 29 September 2025 : Feast of the Holy Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 1 : 47-51

At that time, when Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He said to him, “Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him.” Nathanael asked Him, “How do You know me?”

And Jesus said to him, “Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree, and I saw you.” Nathanael answered, “Master, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” But Jesus replied, “You believe because I said, ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ But you will see greater things than that.”

“Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

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Monday, 29 September 2025 : Feast of the Holy Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 137 : 1-2a, 2bcd-3, 4-5

I thank You, o YHVH, with all my heart, for You have heard the word of my lips. I sing Your praise in the presence of the gods. I bow down toward Your holy Temple and give thanks to Your Name.

For Your love and faithfulness, for Your word, which exceeds everything. You answered me when I called; You restored my soul and made me strong.

O YHVH, all kings on earth will give You praise, when they have heard Your words. They will celebrate the ways of YHVH, “Great is the glory of YHVH!”

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Monday, 29 September 2025 : Feast of the Holy Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Daniel 7 : 9-10, 13-14

I looked and saw the following : Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took His seat. His robe was white, as snow, His hair, white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before Him. Thousands upon thousands served Him and a countless multitude stood before Him.

Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book. I continued watching the nocturnal vision : One like a Son of Man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into His presence. Dominion, honour and kingship were given Him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served Him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; His kingdom will never be destroyed.

Alternative reading (Second Reading if this Feast is celebrated as a Solemnity)

Revelations 12 : 7-12a

War broke out in heaven, with Michael and his Angels battling with the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated, and lost their place in heaven. The great dragon, the ancient serpent, known as the devil, or Satan, seducer of the whole world, was thrown out. He was hurled down to earth, together with his angels.

Then, I heard a loud voice from heaven : Now has salvation come, with the power and the kingdom of our God, and the rule of His Anointed. For our brothers’ accuser has been cast out, who accused them night and day, before God. They conquered him, by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, for they gave up their lives, going to death.

Rejoice, therefore, o you heavens, and you who dwell in them.

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Friday, 29 September 2023 : Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the great occasion of the Feast of the Holy Archangels, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Gabriel the Archangel and St. Raphael the Archangel, three of the seven Archangels that serve the Lord by His Throne, as the leaders and most prominent ones among the Angelic Host, and the three whose names are known to us from the Scriptures. Originally this day in the past was a celebration dedicated only to St. Michael the Archangel, the Prince of the Heavenly Host, leader of all the Angels of God in the struggle and war against the forces of the wicked fallen angels, the rebels led by Lucifer, now known as Satan, the great enemy and the deceiver, who had fallen from grace, and has swept a third of the Heavenly Host with his rebellion.

St. Michael the Archangel is indeed probably the most well-known among the Archangels, and we know him for being the one who leads God’s mighty Heavenly Host, the force of Angels in their constant and daily struggles against the forces of the evil and wicked spirits, the demons, fallen angels and all those who have been arrayed against us, in the spiritual warfare ever raging all around us. St. Michael according to tradition was not the strongest and mightiest among the Angels of God, as back then the most brilliant and mightiest among the Angels created by God was one named Lucifer, or the lightbringer, who became enamoured and arrogant because of his own brilliance, and in whose vanity and pride, ended up rebelling against God.

As recorded in the Scriptures and according to Church traditions, it was told that Lucifer aspired to be greater than God and to put himself above all the Angels of God and creation, so swayed he was by his pride and vanity, his greatest sin, and hence, in one tradition, took his seat upon God’s Throne when God was away for a moment. St. Michael was the one who rebuked Lucifer and told him that he was not worthy to aspire to such a height. And with his own name, Michael as battlecry, ‘Who is like God?’, St. Michael the Archangel led the forces of Angels that remained faithful to God, against Lucifer and those who sided with him, just as we heard in one of our Scripture readings today, as the War in Heaven. Lucifer was defeated and cast down from Heaven, where henceforth he is known as Satan, the devil, the great enemy.

St. Michael is especially honoured for his role in leading the forces of the faithful Angels in the struggles that happened then, and ever since, and also for his great faith and commitment to God. It was told that St. Michael always trembled whenever he is in the presence of God, as he, a mighty Archangel he may be, but he is still nothing compared to the Almighty God, Whom he served with complete commitment. However, before the forces of the evil, St. Michael the Archangel stands strong at the head of God’s mighty Angelic Host, ever ready to smite those who would harm the people of God, those who have been placed under the care of St. Michael and the other Angels, our Guardian Angels and more.

Meanwhile, St. Gabriel the Archangel was known to be the one who brought the Good News and revelation to Mary, the Mother of God, at the moment of the Annunciation, in which her role as the one to bear the Saviour of the world was revealed to her. According to tradition of the Church, St. Gabriel the Archangel was also the one who brought the news of the conception of St. John the Baptist to his father, Zechariah the priest at the Temple. Gabriel means the ‘Strength of God’, and through his role in delivering the words of God’s help and deliverance for His people, he reminded them all of the Lord’s guidance and providence, and how each and every one of us should remain firm in our trust and faith in God, and depend on His strength amidst the challenges and trials that may be facing us.

Then, St. Raphael the Archangel was known in the Book of Tobit as he took the disguise of a young man named Azariah, so that he could bring God’s help and intervention in the case of Tobit himself, the protagonist of the Book of Tobit, and Sara, the daughter of Ragouel, who would become Tobit’s daughter-in-law. Both of them had been beset by troubles, and prayed to God for help and deliverance, for strength and guidance, and it was there and then that God, having heard their prayers and willed to help them, sent His Archangel, St. Raphael, to go upon each of them, to help them and to show them His love and compassionate mercy. Raphael’s name, which means ‘Healing of God’ was indeed apt, as he helped to bring God’s healing to both Tobit and Sara, who were therefore freed from their problems.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we recall the deeds and the works of these mighty Archangels of God, Holy Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, let us all ask them for their continued intercession and protection, especially in the midst of the constant spiritual warfare that have always raged around us. Let us ask them to guide and help us in our journey of faith and life, so that in everything that we say and do, we will always do what we can in order to glorify the Lord by our lives and works, and to do His will at all times. We should always trust in the Lord and be obedient to Him as how St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael had always done God’s will and works, in guiding and protecting us at every moments in our lives.

Let us all be thankful of all that the Angels of God had done for us, and those three Holy Archangels whom we honour today. Let us all strive to live lives that are more worthy of the Lord, and be truly righteous, virtuous and worthy of Him. May God be with us all, and may His Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael continue to help and guide us along our journey towards righteousness and grace in God. Amen.

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Friday, 29 September 2023 : Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 1 : 47-51

At that time, when Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He said to him, “Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him.” Nathanael asked Him, “How do You know me?”

And Jesus said to him, “Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree, and I saw you.” Nathanael answered, “Master, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” But Jesus replied, “You believe because I said, ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ But you will see greater things than that.”

“Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

by

Friday, 29 September 2023 : Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 137 : 1-2a, 2bc-3, 4-5

I thank You, o YHVH, with all my heart, for You have heard the word of my lips. I sing Your praise in the presence of the gods. I bow down toward Your holy Temple and give thanks to Your Name.

For Your love and faithfulness, for Your word, which exceeds everything. You answered me when I called; You restored my soul and made me strong.

O YHVH, all kings on earth will give You praise, when they have heard Your words. They will celebrate the ways of YHVH, “Great is the glory of YHVH!”

by

Friday, 29 September 2023 : Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Daniel 7 : 9-10, 13-14

I looked and saw the following : Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took His seat. His robe was white, as snow, His hair, white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before Him. Thousands upon thousands served Him and a countless multitude stood before Him.

Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book. I continued watching the nocturnal vision : One like a Son of Man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into His presence. Dominion, honour and kingship were given Him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served Him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; His kingdom will never be destroyed.

Alternative reading (Second Reading if this Feast is celebrated as a Solemnity)

Revelations 12 : 7-12a

War broke out in heaven, with Michael and his Angels battling with the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated, and lost their place in heaven. The great dragon, the ancient serpent, known as the devil, or Satan, seducer of the whole world, was thrown out. He was hurled down to earth, together with his angels.

Then, I heard a loud voice from heaven : Now has salvation come, with the power and the kingdom of our God, and the rule of His Anointed. For our brothers’ accuser has been cast out, who accused them night and day, before God. They conquered him, by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, for they gave up their lives, going to death.

Rejoice, therefore, o you heavens, and you who dwell in them.

by

Thursday, 29 September 2022 : Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this day we are celebrating the great Feast of the Holy Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael. The three great Archangels were three of the seven Holy Archangels mentioned to be serving before the Holy Presence of God, the chiefs of the Angelic Host and heavenly forces. In other traditions such as Eastern Orthodoxy, the other Archangels were also named, but according to the Roman Catholic tradition and Scriptural canon, only three Archangels were named, namely St. Michael the Archangel, named in the Book of Joshua and also in the Book of Revelations of St. John the Apostle, and then St. Gabriel the Archangel, named in the Gospels as the one bearing the Good News to Mary, and lastly St. Raphael the Archangel, mentioned in the Book of Tobit as the Archangel who came to help Tobit and his son, Tobias. Hence today we celebrate these three Archangels of God whose names are known to us definitively through the Scriptures and through Church traditions and teachings.

St. Michael the Archangel is the chief of all the Heavenly Host, the leader of the Archangels and the Angels of God. He is the leader of the forces of God in the great struggle and battle against the evil ones, the champion of the Lord and the one who smites the devil, the great enemy of all the faithful and the living. His name, Michael, means ‘Who is like God?’ that resounds with the battle cry which he uttered in the great War in Heaven that we heard in one of our first reading passages today from the Book of Revelations. That was the battle cry which St. Michael the Archangel uttered against the forces of Satan, the great enemy, who rose in rebellion against God.

At that time, the greatest and most brilliant among all the Angels of God, named Lucifer, the Angel of Light came to bear prideful ambition and the desire to surpass his own Creator, Lord and Master. He desired to sit upon the Throne of God and become the Master of all Creation, and therefore, rose in rebellion against God. One tradition stated that when God was away from His Throne, Lucifer, deluded by his own vanity, vainglory and pride, sat upon the Throne of God and claimed the rulership of all the Universe, only to be challenged and rebuked by St. Michael the Archangel, who rebuked Lucifer and cast him out from the Throne of God and Heaven, because he, thereafter known as Satan, the devil and great enemy, dared to rebel against God.

Unlike Lucifer, who was mighty and brilliant in all things, which led to his downfall through pride, St. Michael the Archangel was humble before God, and it was told according to another tradition that he trembled before the Presence of God, fully aware of the infinite glory and greatness of God, and fully devoted to his Lord and Master. But before the enemies of the Lord, this mighty Archangel stands tall as the greatest among all the champions and defenders of the Lord, leading the Heavenly Host and fearlessly crushing the forces of Satan and his allies, those fallen angels and spirits who have chosen to put their lot and trust in Satan instead of siding with God.

St. Michael has often been considered as a great protector of the people of God, as he led the forces of the Lord against all those seeking for the ruination of many souls of mankind. From the ancient days, St. Michael had appeared to Joshua at the time when the Israelites were about to enter into the Promised Land, reassuring the Lord’s chosen leader of God’s ever-present guidance, and how the Lord’s Angels, led by none other than St. Michael himself, would always march before the Lord’s faithful ones, guiding them and protecting them. St. Michael’s name has always been invoked to protect the people of God in their hour and time of distress.

Meanwhile, St. Gabriel the Archangel was known for his role in proclaiming the Good News of God to Mary, the one whom God had chosen to be the Mother of the Son of God Most High, the Mother of the Saviour of the world, and hence to be the Mother of God herself. St. Gabriel the Archangel in the Annunciation proclaimed with great joy the long awaited proclamation of the coming of God’s salvation, which He has promised and renewed the same promise to His people through His many prophets and messengers throughout time. The words of St. Gabriel the Archangel was the very first moment when the Lord’s salvation was definitively revealed to the people of God.

The name Gabriel means ‘the strength of God’ referring to the strength and encouragement that the words that St. Gabriel had spoken before Mary, a simple and humble young maiden in the little village of Nazareth, that she would be the one through whom the salvation of the whole world would come. And while he was not named, the Angel who appeared before Zechariah, the father of St. John the Baptist at the Temple of God was also often considered to be the Archangel Gabriel. In the same way, St. Gabriel proclaimed another encouraging news to Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, on the upcoming birth of their long-awaited son. That brought hope and strength back to the elderly couple once again.

Then, lastly, St. Raphael the Archangel appeared to Tobias, and assisted both him and his father Tobit, saving the new wife of Tobias, Sara from the attacks by the evil spirit Asmodeus, as well as healing Tobit from his blindness. St. Raphael brought God’s healing and consolation to the ones who were suffering and in pain, enduring hardships and difficulties, trials and obstacles in life. The name Raphael means the ‘healing of God’ which fits the works by which St. Raphael the Archangel was sent by God to this world, to heal and strengthen, to encourage and patch up those who had been afflicted by suffering, pain, grief and sorrow, among other things.

As we heard from our Scripture passages and as we have discussed just earlier on, the Holy Archangels of God were those powerful spirits whom God had entrusted with the specific mission in guiding and protecting us mankind from the attacks and efforts of the evil ones, the devil himself and the other fallen angels and wicked spirits. St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael in each of their capacities and missions are our great allies in the ever continuing constant and daily struggles for the fate of our souls. Ever since the beginning of creation, Satan, the fallen Lucifer had always despised God’s beloved creations, and especially that apply to us all mankind, and just as he brought our ancestors down, he is always ever plotting and trying to bring us all down as well.

That is why today as we celebrate the great Feast of the Holy Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, all of us are reminded of the great love that God has for each one of us, that He sent us His mighty servants, the three Chiefs and Princes of the Angelic Host, particularly the leader of them all, St. Michael the Archangel, to be by our side, and to lead the forces of Heaven, in the constant and daily struggle and battle for our souls. And we have to have faith in God, believing wholeheartedly that the Lord will always protect us and provide for us, and His mighty Archangels and the Heavenly forces will guard us against Satan and all of his fellow wicked spirits’ futile attacks on us.

Today, as we rejoice in the hope that the Holy and Mighty Archangels of God had brought us, let us all pray the special prayer, Prayer to St. Michael, which Pope Leo XIII had commissioned, entrusting ourselves to the guardianship of St. Michael the Archangel and the other Holy Archangels and Angels of God that through their intercession and help, we may always remain faithful and steady in our lives and faith. Let us all pray, ‘St. 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 power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.’ Amen.

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Thursday, 29 September 2022 : Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 1 : 47-51

At that time, when Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He said to him, “Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him.” Nathanael asked Him, “How do You know me?”

And Jesus said to him, “Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree, and I saw you.” Nathanael answered, “Master, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” But Jesus replied, “You believe because I said, ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ But you will see greater things than that.”

“Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”