The Holy Archangels

The feast of the Holy Archangels today, a great celebration in honour of the Spirits who protect and guide us.  Of the three we honour today - Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, St Michael is probably the most popular.  That may be because he is seen as a powerful ally in the battle against Satan, sin and temptation - and indeed he is. 

For that reason, I think, we need to promote devotion to him in these difficult times.  The story of the mysterious vision of Pope Leo XIII is well known, as is the extract of the prayer to the Archangel which the Pontiff wrote following his experience, but it needs to be prayed a lot more. 

The image of the Archangel, powerful before God, defending God's people with the power he receives from the Holy Trinity, is a most consoling one.  May he watch over and protect us all in these times.  Let's pray together now -

St Michael the Archangel, defend us in the hour of conflict; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.  May God restrain 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 wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.  Amen.

And in honour of the other Archangels:

O Blessed Gabriel, Angel of the Annunciation, Servant of the Word, prepare our hearts to receive Christ and teach us how to abandon ourselves to his will.  Guide us on the path to holiness and help us embrace true virtue.  Angel of mercy, strength of God, be our consolation and our help.

 

St Raphael, blessed spirit of healing, open our eyes to the love of God, and to his mercy.  Be our companion on life's journey and lead us to the refreshment of grace which pours out from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our True Healer, O gentle spirit of peace, O zealous servant of God.

All you Holy Archangels, Blessed Spirits of God, pray for us.

The Dog, The Fish, The Angel And The Wife's Lover

This week, and only for two days this year, the Church reads from the Book of Tobit.   This is one of my favourite books of the Bible, and I think it is an excellent introduction to Scripture for those not used to reading it.  The story of Tobit, his son Tobias and their relation, Sarah, is a tender human story in which God reaches out to bring healing and assistance to people in need.   

The book is one of the Deutro-canonical books which were first included in Scripture in the Septuagint, the first Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.  The Church accepts these books as Sacred Scripture and includes them among the canonical books, as does the Orthodox Churches.  During the Reformation, however, the new Protestant denominations rejected them as such, although many Protestants do read them and consider them important Judeo-Christian writings.  The Book of Tobit has found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.

To be honest, I think this book reveals God's sense of humour and that great hope which faith brings, a hope which fills our hearts with joy.  Comic scenes in the book seem to outweight the tragic: the scene of Sarah's father out digging the grave as the family celebrate (with great apprehension) her marriage to husband number eight, is the best I think.   Perhaps the best prayer for a married couple is included as Tobias and his new wife kneel down to worship on their wedding night (how many newly married couples do that, I wonder?).  It is also the book where the Archangel Raphael is revealed, and where devotion to him as an intercessor for the sick begins.

And of course, there is the dog  (Sorry, I love dogs).   Here, preserved in Scripture (5:16) is the wonderful relationship between mankind and the pooch, a relationship that has existed for millenia and has been a source of joy (and yes at times frustration as Rover will not do what he is told - or there has been another "accident").   All life, we are told, is reflected in Scripture, how true, even our love for the adorable mutt.

Of course two of the main themes are fidelity, as revealed in Tobit's devotion to God and the Law, and God's healing love, as revealed in the ministry of the Archangel Raphael.  We also see the power of God over evil.  Tobias's new wife has been tormented by a demon who has killed her first seven husbands before the marriage was consumated because he was in love with her (there's real disordered love for you).   The situation seems hopeless, but God can overcome all and it only takes a whiff of smoke from the burning of  fish liver, to drive the demon away - a few tips there for the makers of The Rite.