Defend us
We speak of nine choirs of Angels, because we know, by the testimony of Holy Scripture, that there are the following: Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Thrones, Cherubim, and Seraphim. Nearly every page of Scripture witnesses to the fact that there are Angels and Archangels. The prophetic books, as has been noted often, speak of Cherubim and Seraphim. Four more orders are enumerated by Paul the Apostle, writing to the Ephesians, when he says, "Above every Principality and Power and Virtue and Domination." And again, writing to the Colossians, he says, "Whether Thrones, or Powers, or Principalities, or Dominations." When, then, we add the Thrones to those he mentions in Ephesians, there are five orders, to which are to be added Angels, Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim, certainly making nine orders of Angels in all. Saint Gregory the Great, Pope from AD 590 to 603.
For a while there a few years back, angels were wildly popular. Posters and notecards, t-shirts and television shows, all featured angels, or someone purporting to be an angel. This enthusiasm seems to have faded, and now the public fancy has turned to AI or zombies or something. But we members of the Body of the Lord remain aware of the angels, even though they have no bodies, for together we serve the Eternal Almighty. And we have just finished the week in which fall our annual liturgical observance of their importance.
Last Sunday, 29 September, was the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels, though suppressed because, you know, Sunday. We know these Archangels from their missions recorded in Scripture. Gabriel brought the message of the Incarnation of Our Lord to the virgin of Nazareth, whose name was Mary. Raphael assisted Tobiah on his pilgrimage and identified the healing balm for Tobit. Michael is in charge of, shall we say, less delicate matters. He wields a flaming sword, and in addition to the several combats in which he intervenes in the Old Testament, we see this in the last book of the New:
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Rev 12:7-9
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were ended. After that he must be loosed for a little while. Rev 20:1-3
This Michael is decidedly somebody we want to have on our side in our combats, and someone with whom we want to have clear and quick communication. The ancient Prayer to Saint Michael is indispensable, and we should know it by heart and pray it readily and often. We teach it to the students by praying it at the conclusion of our weekly school Masses.
Saint 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 Host, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Michael is clearly one of “the big guns” for our fight against sin and death, as we might regard all the Archangels. (Can you name the fourth Archangel?) But that august group does not exhaust the assembly of angels we celebrate in these days. Wednesday, October 2, was the Feast of the Guardian Angels, when we recall that God has assigned an angel to each one of us, to protect us (from sin) and help us safely on our way (to heaven):
For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12
Angels are in Scripture, angels are amazing; angels bear messages and always say first, Fear not! Where do you and I come close to these same Angels? How can we share their company? One of my favorite antiphons in The Divine Office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours or the breviary, points the way:
An angel stood by the altar, holding a golden censer; a large quantity of incense was given to him, and clouds of incense rose from the hand of the angel in the presence of the Lord.
Thousands upon thousands waited on him, and myriads upon myriads stood before him. And clouds of incense rose from the hand of the angel in the presence of the Lord.
We are closest to the Angels, in our location and in our action, when we are at the Holy Altar of God during the saving sacrifice of the Mass, worshipping God, adoring Him and praising Him. We announce our plea and our plan to be joined in our acclamation not only to the angels and archangels, but also to the virtues, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, and to the cherubim and seraphim too. At the approach of the Lord Himself we cry out together Holy! Holy! Holy!
That is better, longer lasting, and more approachable than posters and notecards, t-shirts and television shows ever will be.
Monsignor Smith
