Feast of the Angels
AS OF THE ABOVE DATE, when I was stationed in Atlantic City, NJ at our Augustinian Parish of St.Nicholas
of Tolentine at the corner of Tennessee & Pacific Avenues.....one long block from the Boardwalk & the
Ocean some very interesting & unusual things occurred.
Over the Main Altar there are Paintings of Seven Beautiful Angels. One day after morning mass a man
came into the Sacristy....& asked me about the Seven Angels he said...”We know of three Angels...Michael.
..Gabriel...& Raphael....who are the other four?” I told him I didn’t know, but I would find out...& so I
began a study about Angels.
WHAT WE DO KNOW about the Angels is based on WRITTEN Scripture, both Old & New Terstaments. The
UNWRITTEN or ORAL Tradition of Church Teachings are based on the Writings of the Fathers & Docters
of the Church.....ors& the early Saints. The Church has dedicated the entire Month of October to the Angels.
ANGELS are Pure Spirits without Bodies. This means they cannot Suffer or Die. They possess Superior
INTELLIGENCE, Gigantic STRENGTH...& Surpassing HOLINESS. Some are sent by God to man...as Messengers
from Heaven. The word “Angel” means MESSENGER. This Feast celebrates these three Archangels who
were sent by God to man over the course of the Ages: MICHAEL, GABRIEL & RAPHAEL.
LET’S CONSIDER EACH ONE.
MICHAEL: his name means “Like Unto God” or Power of God.” Sacred Scripture describes him as a Leader
of the Forces of Heaven in their TRIUMPH over Satan & the Powers of Hell. St. Michael is invoked as a
Protector of the Church of Christ.
GABRIEL: his name means “Man of God.” LK 1:26...Most People recall Gabriel as the Angel who announced
to Mary that she was to Conceive the Christ Child by the Power of the Holy Spirit....MT 2:20ff...LK 2:26ff.
GABRIEL APPEARS TWICE to Daniel....DAN 8:16...1st: he interprets the vision for Daniel....& tells him...
”I will show you what is to come to pass”...so Gabriel & the Archangels know the future. 2nd: Dan 9:2...
Gabriel appears to Daniel as a Man. In LK 1:19..Gabriel appears to Zachary to announce the Conception...
& Birth of John the Baptist.
RAPHAEL: whose name means “Healer of God”...or “Remedy of God.” You will find Raphael mentioned in
the Old Testament book of TOBIT....or TOBIAS ...several times. Raphael:...Guides the young wandering
Tobias...see TOBIT 5:5-13-17.....he Cures his Blindness....& helps him find a Wife. Raphael finally reveals his
Name. ”I am the ARCHANGEL RAPHAEL....one of the SEVEN who stand before the Lord.” SO...who are the
other 4...since Angels reflect the Attributes of God?
I READ SOMEWHERE that the other four Angels might be named....HOLINESS... TRUTH....BEAUTY...& WISDOM
....but this is pure speculation. I’ll cite some very interesting comments about the ANGELS from three Early
Fathers of the Church: Saints Basil+379AD, Gregory the Great+604AD & Jerome+420AD.
ST. BASIL: “Everyone of the Faithful has an Angel standing by his/her side as Educator & Guide of his/her Life.”
ST. GREGORY THE GREAT: “Every person from Birth has their very own Guardian Angel.”
ST. JEROME: “How great the value of a Human Soul that every single person has from birth an Angel for their
Protection.”
AND LASTLY Here’s a SUGGESTION: Since every one of us has been given a Name by our Parents at Baptism
by which we are known & addressed....& because of their great HOLINESS...DIGNITY...&..INDIVIDUALITY &
PRESENCE before Almighty God in Heaven...please give your Angel a Proper & Dignified Name by which you
can address & talk to him daily.
I FEEL FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT......HE WILL LIKE IT VERY MUCH....
& WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN...HE WILL TELL YOU SO!