Letter from the Pastor
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September 25, 2022Prior to the changes in the Liturgical calendar, they had their own feast day. After 1967, they combined their days into one. This Thursday, the Church celebrates the Archangels: Gabriel, Michael, Raphael. The Archangels are part of the 9 choirs of angels that minister to God and assist us.
On Sundays we recite in the Creed, “I believe in God maker of all things visible and invisible. The invisible realities are that of the angels. Angels are spiritual beings created by God, naturally invisible to the human eye, but all around us and constantly carry out the duties God gives them.
The angels are classified into what are called “choirs” or “ranks.” There are nine choirs of angels, which are found in Sacred Scripture.
The Old Testament, in multiple places, names the cherubim and seraphim, as well as Archangels Raphael and Michael. In the New Testament, Gabriel and Michael are mentioned.
St. Gregory the Great puts all of these “choirs” into a single list: “We know on the authority of Scripture that there are nine orders of angels: Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Throne, Cherubim and Seraphim.”
It is believed that each of these choirs was given a specific task by God. They are divided into three sets of three:
The first level see and adore God directly:
The seraphim = “the burning ones” they are highest rank. They comprehend God with maximum clarity. Lucifer=light-bearer was one of them. That’s why he’s still very powerful and dangerous.
The cherubim = “fullness of wisdom.” contemplate God in His providence.
The thrones contemplate God’s power and judgments.
The next level fulfills God’s divine plans for the universe:
The dominions or dominations = authority command the lesser angels below them.
The virtues =power, might, or energy receive their orders from the dominions and “run” the universe, especially the heavenly bodies.
The powers serve the virtues by fighting against evil influences that oppose the virtues’ plan.
The last three choirs directly order human affairs:
The principalities care for earthly cities and nations and kingdoms.
The archangels (such as Gabriel) carry God’s important messages to man.
The angels are the “guardian angels,” one for each individual.
This traditional ordering of angels is an accepted Catholic belief, though not part of official Church dogma. According to this arrangement, only archangels and (ordinary) angels have direct dealings with humans. The many multitudes of the other choirs of angels are either with God or govern the world invisibly.
So the archangels were special messengers of God to certain people. St. Michael is the Heavenly guardian, his name means: Who is like God. St. Michael appeared many times throughout salvation history. St. Gabriel of course we know from the Annunciation of Mary and St. John the Baptist, his name means God’s Strength, and St. Raphael means God’s Remedy. He is the patron saint of travelers and the blind. His story is found in the Book of Tobit.
The angels are another sign of God’s providential love and care for His creation and especially humanity. The feast of the Guardian Angels is October 2, however this year it is not celebrated because it falls on a Sunday.So, we thank God for the gift of the choirs or ranks of angels
each unique to themselves, and guardians of us all.
