SaintTuesday, September 29, 2026

Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael

Archangels

I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord.

Tobit 12:15

September 29 is one of those rare feast days where the Church celebrates not one saint but three, and they aren't even human. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are archangels, and their feast (sometimes called Michaelmas) has been on the Church's calendar since the early medieval period.

Michael is the warrior. His name literally means "Who is like God?" which was his battle cry when he led the heavenly host against Lucifer. He shows up in Daniel, in Revelation, and in the Letter of Jude. The Church invokes him as protector of the faithful and guardian of the Church itself. If you've ever prayed the St. Michael prayer after Mass, you know the vibe.

Gabriel is the messenger. He announced the coming of John the Baptist to Zechariah, and then he showed up in Nazareth to deliver the most important message in human history to a teenage girl named Mary. His name means "God is my strength." He's the reason the Incarnation happened the way it did, through a conversation.

Raphael is the healer and guide. He's the hero of the Book of Tobit, traveling incognito with young Tobias, driving away a demon, and restoring a blind man's sight. His name means "God heals." He's the most relatable of the three in a way, because his whole story is about accompanying someone through a difficult journey.

Three archangels, three different missions, one God they all serve. That's the feast.

Patron of the sickPatron of doctorsPatron of hospitalsPatron of radiologistsPatron of police officersPatron of military personnelPatron of the dyingPatron of GermanyPatron of BrusselsPatron of grocersPatron of paratroopers

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