Heavenly King, You have given us Archangels
to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth.
Saint Michael is our protector;
I ask him to come to my aid,
fight for all my loved ones,
and protect us from danger.
Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News;
I ask him to help me
clearly hear Your voice
and to teach me the truth.
Saint Raphael is the healing Angel;
I ask him to take my need for healing
and that of everyone I know,
lift it up to Your throne of grace
and deliver back to us the gift of recovery.
Help us, O Lord,
to realize more fully the reality of the Archangels
and their desire to serve us.
Holy Archangels,
pray for us.
Amen.
***
ST. MICHAEL
St. Michael’s statue, Vatican Gardens
Saint Michael means “Who is like God?” He is often portrayed in art, weighing souls of people on scales.
The Bible doesn’t mention Michael weighing souls on scales. However, Proverbs 16:11 poetically describes God himself judging people’s attitudes and actions by using the image of scales of justice: “A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.”
Also, in Matthew 16:27, Jesus Christ says that angels will accompany him on Judgment Day, when all people who have ever lived will receive consequences and rewards according to what they chose to do during their lives: “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”
PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the hour of conflict; be our safeguard 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 Satan down to Hell and with him, all the other evil spirits, who wander throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
***
ST. GABRIEL
St. Gabriel the Archangel’s name means ‘God is my strength.’
In the New Testament, Gabriel, described as “an angel of the Lord,” first appears to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. He tells him, “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.” Luke 1:13.
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. – Luke 1:26-38
PRAYER TO ST. GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL
Blessed Saint Gabriel, Archangel, We beseech you to intercede for us at the throne of divine mercy: As you announced the mystery of the Incarnation to Mary, so through your prayers may we receive strength of faith and courage of spirit, and thus find favour with God and redemption through Christ Our Lord. May we sing the praise of God our Saviour with the angels and saints in heaven forever and ever. Amen.
***
ST. RAPHAEL
St. Raphael healing Tobit.
St. Raphael the Archangel is one of the seven Archangels that stand before the throne of GOD chanting hymns of unending praise. His name means “Medicine of God” in Hebrew; he is often pictured holding a staff and either holding or standing on a fish. He heals Tobit of blindness, he protects and guides Tobias on his travels and he delivers Sarah from an evil demon. Tobit, Tobias and Sarah were beset by trials and difficulties to purify them, but they remained steadfast in their faith during the period of testing, and eventually enjoyed God’s blessings and mercy. All prayed for deliverance and God sent St. Raphael.
Raphael is the Archangel of God’s mercy and light, who comes to bring healing to many. He is the medicine of God, who comes to relieve the ills of all burdens, sufferings and to restore God’s people to the truth of God’s love and mercy. He gives graces, given over to him by the Father and glorified by the Son’s love for mankind. He is the Archangel of God’s mercy, who sheds His grace through holy priests and is the one who brings us the good news of God’s mercy and grace.
PRAYER TO ST. RAPHAEL ARCHANGEL
St. Raphael Archangel, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted and refuge of sinners.
I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels.
Because you are “the medicine of God” I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body.
I especially ask of you the favour (here mention your special intention), and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.
