Do angels exist or is it just a mere fantasy of children?
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the only Archangels mentioned by name in the Canon scripture. The church marks September 29 as their feast day.
A lot of questions have been raised about these special beings; who are they? How do they affect our lives? Do they still exist?
To help understand more about these mysterious beings that God created, here are five things you need to know about archangels:
- Archangels are the second lowest “rank” of angels
Angels are divided into what is called “nine choirs.” This hierarchy is based on nine names of ranks of angels that are found in Sacred Scripture. They are categorized from the least rank to the highest rank as follows;
Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Throne, Cherubim and Seraphim.
- Archangels are entrusted with delivering important messages to humans
We are familiar with the names of these angels because they have been mentioned in various books of the scriptures. Saint Michael is widely known for his role in expelling the rebel angel Lucifer from heaven. Saint Michael also delivered God’s divine inspiration to St. John in the Book of Revelation and is known as the protector of the Church, guarding her from evil.
Saint Gabriel in the Book of Daniel helped Daniel in his mission on earth. Gabriel also appeared to Zachariah and the Blessed Virgin Mary, delivering the message of the coming of the Messiah.
Saint Raphael is mentioned in the Book of Tobit, to heal Tobit and deliver Sarah from a demon. Raphael accomplished both acts, disguised as a human, guiding Tobias along the way and instructing him on what to do.
- Archangels do not have wings, bodies or swords
Angels are pure spirits and do not possess anything material but they can impact and influence the material world. The Wings and swords as seen in supposed pictures of St. Michael are simply artistic representations of their roles and actions in our world, as messengers and protectors. On occasion they can look like a human, but it is only a façade.
- Archangels can protect us from evil
Certainly, the archangels fight against demons tormenting our world and us. Below is one of the St. Michael prayers to help us fight demons;
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
- Archangels still exist today
God created their immortal spirits at the beginning of time and they will never cease existing for all eternity.
We may not see them, hear them, or feel their presence, but they do exist. Sometimes they let us know they are here, but most of the time they are busy protecting us from harm without us knowing. Just think what would happen if they weren’t here.
Summarized by Theresa Frances