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On September 29, we commemorate the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The catechism tells us that angels are created spiritual beings with intellects and wills and that each angel is a unique and immortal heavenly being (CCC, 327-336).
The functions of these three archangels correspond to three major thrusts of Jesus’ ministry: announcing good news, healing the sick, and delivering the oppressed. Gabriel, whose name means “God is mighty,” is God’s messenger. He announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Savior. Raphael—whose name means “God heals” — is associated with God’s healing power in the Book of Tobit. Michael, whose name means “Who is like God?” delivers God’s people from oppression by doing battle with Satan (Revelation 12:7).
Though humans are “a little lower than angels,” our destiny is to be divinized in Christ and raised above even the angels (Psalm 8:4-6). Scripture tells us that the devil—who himself was once a mighty angel—rebelled against God out of envy because we were to be the “first fruits of all God created” (James 1:18; Wisdom 2:23-24;…
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