In his morning homily at Casa Santa Marta on today’s feast of the Archangels Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael, Pope Francis suggested a mini-prayer to each of these heavenly helpers.
“Michael is the one who fights against the devil,” Francis said, as reported by Vatican Radio. He protects us against the serpent that seduces us, that makes us fall and then accuses us before God, claiming us as his own.
“Michael,” the pope explained, “was asked by the Lord to fight the devil” and he helps us resist temptation on our earthly journey toward heaven.
Gabriel is the one who “brings the good news”; he’s the one who announced to Zachariah the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist and to Mary and Joseph, the birth of Jesus.
“Gabriel too accompanies us and helps us on our journey when we ‘forget’ the Gospel,” Francis suggested. He reminds us that “Jesus came to save us.”
Raphael, meanwhile, “walks with us taking care of us on our journey and helping us not take the wrong steps.”
These are our companions, Francis said, at our service and at God’s service.
And he prayed:
“Michael: Help us in our battle – each of us has a battle to fight in our lives; Gabriel: Bring us news, bring us the good news of salvation; Raphael: Take us by the hand and lead us forward without taking the wrong turns. Always walking forward, but with your help!”
And today we celebrate...