St Michael, St Raphael, St Gabriel
St Michael an Archangel is mentioned twice in the Old Testament Daniel 10:13 and Daniel 12:1 and also in the New Testament Jude 1:9 Michael has being venerated since Christian history began and is said to receive souls into heaven. He is the protector of all Christians against the devil and is depicted with a sword. The honouring of St Michael intensified when a vision of him was seen on Mount Gargano in Southern Italy in 492. Many other locations are named after the saint, for example, St Michael’s Mount in England and Mont-Saint-Michel in France. The Negro-spiritual song, “Michael row the boat ashore, Alleluia”, tells of Michael greeting the Holy Souls in heaven. He is the patron saint of police officers. Up to the last century, Archangels had their own feast days in the Western Church, but now he shares the day with Gabriel and Raphael.
St Raphael is also an archangel and his name means “God’s Healer”. He is the patron saint of the blind, travellers and lovers.
St Gabriel is “God’s messenger”. It was Gabriel who brought the good tidings to Mary of the future birth of Jesus on the feast of the Annunciation. He is honoured as the patron saint of messengers, postal workers, radio and television employees.