Catholic Saints

Patronages

St. Michael the Archangel – Guardian of the Catholic Church, Police Officers, Military, Grocers, Mariners, Paratroopers, Protector of the Jewish People. 

St. Gabriel the Archangel – Communications Workers

St. Raphael the Archangel – Medical Workers, Matchmakers, Travelers

St. Michael

St. Michael is an archangel in the Roman Catholic Church.  In Hebrew, Michael means, “Who is like God”.  In the Hebrew Bible, Michael is mentioned three times in the Book of Daniel, once as a “Great Prince who stands up for the children of your people”.  The idea that Michael was advocate of the Jews became so prevalent that in spite of the prohibition against appealing to angels as intermediaries between God and his people, Michael came to occupy a certain place in Jewish Liturgy.  

In the New Testament, Michael leads God’s armies against Satan’s forces in the Book of Revelation, where during the war in Heaven, he defeats Satan.  In the Epistle of St. Jude, Michael is specifically referred to as an “archangel”.  Christian Sanctuaries to Michael appeared in the 4^th century, when he was first seen as a healing angel, and then over time as a protector and the leader of the army of God against the forces of evil.  Devotions to Archangel Michael are widespread in the Catholic Church.   

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

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.

St. Gabriel the Archangel

The name Gabriel means, “Man of God”.  It appears first in the prophesies of Daniel in the Old Testament.  The angel announced to Daniel the prophecy of the seventy weeks.  He was the angel who appeared to Zachariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptist, and also he announced to Mary, that she would bear a Son.  This Son would be conceived of the Holy Spirit, and be the Savior of the World.   

Prayer to St. Gabriel the Archangel

Blessed Saint Gabriel, Archangel

We beseech you to intercede for us at the throne of divine mercy:

As you announced the mystery of the Incarnation to Mary,

So through your prayers may we receive strength of faith and courage of spirit,

And thus find favor with God and redemption through Christ Our Lord.

May we sing the praise of God our Savior with the angels and saints in heaven

Forever and ever.  Amen.

St. Raphael the Archangel

Raphael appears disguised in Human form as the traveling companion of Tobit’s Son, calling himself “Azarias the son of the great Ananias”.  During this journey the archangel’s protective influence is shown in many ways including the binding of the demon in the desert of Upper Egypt.  After the return and the healing of the blindness of Tobit, Azarias makes himself known as the “Angle Raphael, one of the Seven, who stand before the Lord”.  He is regarded as St. Raphael the Archangel.  St. Raphael the Archangel declares to Tobit that he was sent by the Lord to heal him of his blindness, thus regarding his healing powers.  Raphael is sometimes shown standing on top of a large fish, or holding a caught fish at the end of a line.  This is a reference to the Book of Tobit, where he told Tobias to catch a fish, and then uses the gallbladder to heal Tobit’s eyes, and to drive away Asmodeus by burning the heart and liver.  

Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel 

Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners.I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the "medicine of God" I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor (here mention your special intention), and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.