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Feast day of the Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, 29 September
September 29, 2023
The three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the only angels named in Sacred Scripture and all three have important roles in the history of salvation.
- St. Michael
- St. Gabriel
- St. Raphael
- St. Michael
- St. Gabriel
- St. Raphael
St. Michael
Saint Michael the Archangel isn't a saint, but rather he is an angel, and the leader of all angels and of the army of God. This is what the title "Archangel" means, that he is above all the others in rank.
St. Michael has four main responsibilities or offices, as we know from scripture and Christian tradition.
* The first is to combat Satan.
* The second is to escort the faithful to heaven at their hour of death.
* The third is to be a champion of all Christians, and the Church itself.
* And the fourth is to call men from life on Earth to their heavenly judgment.
Very little is known about St Michael other than what we know from scriptures, which themselves are sparse.
Today, St. Michel is invoked for protection, especially from lethal enemies. He is also the patron of soldiers, police and doctors.
St. Gabriel
St. Gabriel is an angel who serves as a messenger for God to certain people. He is one of the three archangels. Gabriel is mentioned in both the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible. First, in the Old Testament, Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel to explain his visions.
Gabriel is described as, "one who looked like man," as he interprets Daniel's visions. He speaks to Daniel while he is sleeping. After Gabriel's first visit, Daniel becomes tired and sick for days. Gabriel later visits Daniel again providing him with more insight and understanding in an answered prayer.
In the New Testament, Gabriel, described as "an angel of the Lord," first appears to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. He tells him, "Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth." Luke 1:13.
Gabriel is recognized as the patron saint of messengers, telecommunication workers, and postal workers. His feast day is celebrated on September 29, along with St. Michael and St. Raphael
St. Raphael
St. Raphael is one of the seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord, and one of the only three mentioned by name in the Bible. He appears, by name, only in the Book of Tobit. Raphael's name means "God heals."
This identity came about because of the biblical story that claims he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch.
St. Raphael is the patron saint of travelers, the blind, bodily ills, happy meetings, nurses, physicians and medical workers. He is often pictured holding a staff and either holding or standing on a fish. His feast day is celebrated on September 29, along with St. Michael and St. Gabriel.
Sources:
Catholic Online. (n.d.). St. Gabriel, the Archangel. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=279
Catholic Online. (n.d.). St. Michael the Archangel. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=308
Catholic Online. (n.d.). St. Raphael. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=203
As September 29, 2020 marks the highly auspicious feast day of St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael, it is to be noted that the three main classroom buildings & halls of the reputable Catholic Assumption University of Thailand, Suvarnabhumi Campus are named after them in honor of these Saints.
St. Michael
On the external wall are two high reliefs. One of them depicts foreign dignitaries having an audience with Siam’s King Narai and the other depicts a Siamese diplomatic mission having an audience with France’s King Louis XIV. The arched doorway in the middle of the St. Michael Building is called Si Rattanakosin. In the porch is a white statue of Sir Isaac Newton opposite that of Albert Einstein. Both were geniuses whose discoveries and experiments led the world to a new era of high technology.
This building houses the registration, finance and administration. Standing at Si Rattanakosin gate one sees the Cathedral of Learning to the front with the AU logo above the entrance door, and to the rear is the long boulevard leading to the Martin Rangsan Bridge. The bridge is the gateway to the clock tower and residence hall.
St. Gabriel
On the front external wall of this building is inscribed H.M. The King’s message, in which he emphasized that the essence of an academic system is to make students have both erudition and rectitude. Opposite this wall is a white statue of St. Peter – the Head of Jesus’ disciples.
Walking through the arched corridor through the 3 main buildings, one encounters an artful manipulation of Oriental and Western styles; of modern technology and ancient value. Above the first gate called “Sukhothai Thammathani” is a domed roof under which is a teacher’s lounge in the ivory tower, akin to that of the opposite gate.
The big arched doorway in the middle of the St. Gabriel Building is called “Si Ayutthaya Anuson.” Looking up one sees a red ceiling ornamented with gilded flowers. On both sides of the wall are mural paintings, one of them depicts three Ayutthaya pagodas and the other is a dramatic scene of the Loy Krathong festival at Sukhothai’s historical park.
Sukhothai and Ayutthaya were former capitals of Thailand. The painting were done by AU’s art section. Below this doorway is the exit from the underground parking lot.
St. Raphael
The St. Michael and St. Raphael buildings are connected at gate 5 - Navamintrmaharaj. At this point is a marble spiral stairway, the highest one in Thailand. The wrought-iron banister that curls up the fourth floor resembles that of The Louvre Palace in Paris. Each step is wide and shallow. On the way up one sees white winged angels blowing small trumpets overhead.
The arched doorway in the middle of the St. Raphael Building is the sixth of seven gates in the three main buildings. It is named Prasart Assumption. Looking doew from the porch one sees the entry to the underground car park. The walls at this point are also painted in Thai themes. One of the two murals depicts the Temple of the Emerald Buddha with its spectacular spires, tiered roofs and pagogas. The other is a painting of the Royal Barge Suphannahongse folating in the Chao Phraya River, with the Temple of Dawn in the background.
On the ground floor of the St. Raphael building are the Grand Salon; a VIP room; the Office of the President; University Archives ad President Emeritus. The salon, beautifully adorned with carpets and elegant furniture, is used for the Academic Award Ceremony.
As a seasoned expert with a profound understanding of religious traditions and cultural practices, particularly those related to archangels, I'll delve into the intricate details of the concepts presented in the article about the Feast Day of the Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael.
St. Michael: St. Michael the Archangel holds a significant position in Christian theology, recognized as the leader of all angels and the army of God. The title "Archangel" signifies his superior rank. The article outlines four primary responsibilities attributed to St. Michael, based on scriptural and Christian traditions. These responsibilities include combating Satan, escorting the faithful to heaven at their death, championing all Christians and the Church, and calling individuals from Earth to heavenly judgment. St. Michael is invoked for protection, especially against lethal enemies, and he is the patron of soldiers, police, and doctors.
St. Gabriel: St. Gabriel, another archangel, is portrayed as a messenger of God who plays a crucial role in delivering divine messages to chosen individuals. The article highlights instances from both the Old and New Testaments where Gabriel appears to figures like the prophet Daniel and Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. St. Gabriel is recognized as the patron saint of messengers, telecommunication workers, and postal workers, with his feast day celebrated on September 29 along with St. Michael and St. Raphael.
St. Raphael: St. Raphael, one of the seven Archangels, is mentioned in the Book of Tobit and is known for his role in healing the earth from the sins of fallen angels. The name Raphael translates to "God heals." St. Raphael is revered as the patron saint of travelers, the blind, bodily ills, happy meetings, nurses, physicians, and medical workers. His feast day coincides with that of St. Michael and St. Gabriel on September 29.
The article also mentions the Catholic Assumption University of Thailand, Suvarnabhumi Campus, where three main buildings and halls are named after these archangels. Each building reflects a unique blend of architectural design and historical references related to the respective archangel.
St. Michael Building: The St. Michael Building houses key university functions such as registration, finance, and administration. It features high reliefs on the external wall depicting historical events and statues of renowned figures like Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. St. Michael Building is adorned with a mix of Western and Oriental styles, symbolizing a fusion of modern technology and ancient values.
St. Gabriel Building: The St. Gabriel Building emphasizes the essence of education, as highlighted in H.M. The King's message inscribed on its external wall. The building showcases a blend of Oriental and Western styles, along with mural paintings depicting historical scenes. The architecture pays homage to the historical capitals of Thailand—Sukhothai and Ayutthaya.
St. Raphael Building: Connected to the St. Michael Building, the St. Raphael Building features a marble spiral stairway, the highest in Thailand, and is adorned with Thai-themed murals. It houses various university facilities, including the Grand Salon, VIP room, and the Office of the President. The ground floor reflects Thai cultural themes through murals showcasing landmarks like the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Royal Barge Suphannahongse.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the Feast Day of the Archangels, offering insights into the roles and significance of St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael in Christian traditions, as well as their symbolic representation in the architecture of a notable educational institution.
