Blog Post

Archangels

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  • 12 Aug, 2024

As Catholics were are encouraged by Rome to be devoted to the Archangels. The church is a good mother and champions our dedication because God’s Archangels are our holy brothers. We honour them and celebrate their feast day annually on the feast of Michaelmas.

This Archangels have always featured prolifically in church tradition with Saint Michael celebrated as the force of God who overthrew Satan during the Great Temptation of the Angels billions of years ago.

Saint Gabriel is also venerated and is now a household name because of his association with the Blessed Virgin at the Annunciation. It was through this mighty Archangel that the message God was sending his redeemer into the world through her was proclaimed.

And then there’s Prince Raphael who is also close to our hearts.  He too is mentioned in scripture because he was young Tobias’s travelling companion in the book of Tobit.

Here Saint Raphael refers to himself as one of the 7 Archangels who enter into the presence of God to present the prayers of the saints. Similarly, Gabriel also refers to himself as a being who “stands in the presence of the Most High God”. We can therefore assume that Archangels are indeed very holy individuals who enjoy a beautiful relationship with their creator.

How many there are in this choir is impossible to say. But since scripture refers only to 3, the church has declared that we are not to attempt to refer to any other Archangels by name. Nevertheless, there is nothing restricting us from appealing to them as a choir and, should we wish, to ascertain what Judaic tradition and texts have to say about possible others. Catholics are not the only ones who venerate the Archangels as alongside us there's also the Eastern Orthodox churches who offer possible insights into their society.

Names and roles:

When one begins enquiry one  soon discovers that Apocryphal texts such as the book of Enoch make mention of a number of Archangels including Uriel. He is mentioned in the Second Book of Esdras which is included in the Clementine (Pope Clement) Vulgate. As this version of the bible was once the official bible of the Catholic Church (for quite some considerable time) then it may be safe to assume that the evidence pertaining to the existence of Uriel may very well be authentic.

He has traditionally been recognised as the angel who guarded the gates of God’s kingdom with a fiery sword after Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out. Certain Christian traditions, particularly the Russian Orthodox church, hold this to be true.

As for the names of the other Archangels, there appear to be many. Camael, for example, although excluded from the Holy See’s list of named angels in 2001, is to be found etched into history through the stained glass at Saint Michael’s church in Brighton. Here he can be witnessed holding a chalice and a staff. We are unsure what his name means but as all of the names of the Archangels are in some way related to God (and the task he has beset) them then we can be sure it reflects what is holy. Historically his name has translated to “One who seeks God”.

Further probing reveals the persons of Jegudiel, Barachiel and Raguel. The former is recognised by the Eastern Orthodox tradition whereas the latter forms part of Judaic heritage where he is listed with Sariel. Raguel's duties have remained the same across Jewish and Christian traditions. His purpose has always been to keep fallen angels and demons in check, delivering judgment upon any that are foolish enough over-step their boundaries.

Which brings us to us and who we are in relation to the Archangels and fallen angels.

Many people think that the fallen angels can do whatever they want and that we are low in defences against them. However, be assured that if this were the case then we would be done for. Of this we can be certain. Thankfully this isn’t the case as the choir of Archangels is vigilant and keeps everything in order – particularly the fallen angels. These once beautiful spirits were created to serve the Most High and originally destined to “serve those who are to inherit salvation” but they made the eternal decision to cease this service. They would have us believe that they’re allowed to roam the earth in disobedience tempting and lying to the children of God. This is true but only up to a point. There are limits.

Nevertheless, we must always be on our guard because we know from scripture that Satan has applied to sift us like wheat (Luke 22). If it were simply us against the fallen Archangel Lucifer and all of the dark forces of Hell then we wouldn’t stand a chance.

Let us never forget though, that the hordes of Hades stand with only one fallen Archangel whereas we stand with the entire might of the faultless choir or Archangels.

Their gift of creation is a tremendous one. To be made an Archangel, to continually reside in the presence of the infinite God for all eternity, to know the Universe intimately and to wield such power is an inordinately gracious honour. But let us always consider, as we contemplate the Archangels, what scripture says: “to whom much is given, much is required in return”. This doesn’t just apply to us, it’s also applicable to the entire angelic host. Evidence of this comes from our guardian angels. Close to God and enjoying his presence for all time, their work comes at great personal cost to them. This is the price the guardian angels pay so just consider how much of a price is paid by those who occupy a rank in the choir of the Archangels.

As mentioned earlier, the Archangels are particularly responsible for heavily policing the fallen angels. Once we grasp this concept, we know we can rely on the Archangels to defend us; this frees us to then devote ourselves to honouring them and establishing a relationship with them and in doing so getting to know ourselves better. The church in her wisdom encourages this but she nevertheless discourages too much of a fascination with the angelic orders. She naturally seeks to focus our attention towards God and Kingdom living as she is aware of the fact that we can get through life very well without the need for much else. Jesus himself can be heard telling the rich young man in the gospels that keeping the commandments is sufficient. But being sinful, and being continually affected by original sin, we need all the help we can get. Thankfully we have the saints. Amongst their number are Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. In addition to the title of Saint, they are also referred to as Princes and rightly so as their power, ministry and rule is far-reaching.

Other Archangels.

As Catholics we know we only formally only focus our attention on the three canonised Archangels but other traditions inform us that the sainthook extends also to Jegudiel, Barachiel, Raguel,Uriel and Camael in addition to Samael, Salathiel, Jegudiel, Barachiel and Jeremiel. And many more. We can see from the examples above that all of the Archangels have one thing in common and that’s the fact that all of their names make reference to God. Michael means “Likened unto God” - which means he reflects God’s humility. Raphael means “God’s healing”. We can extrapolate from this that Prince Raphael’s heart is an open wound since love equals pain. We know this because it hurts to love and heal. Gabriel translates to “Strength of God” so it’s hardly surprising Lucifer was overthrown.

Simply put, their names infer service to the Most High God. They serve him and also us (which is astonishing considering who they are). It follows then, that their entire language will be one which is based around service, reverence and gratefulness to Almighty God.

The fallen Archangel Lucifer.

The Archangels were primarily created to serve. This desire flows through every aspect of their beings – it’s who they are/it’s what they are. So when satan rebelled he conflicted his nature. This can only cause him pain because he put himself at enmity with himself because (although he has accepted the lie) he knows the truth. This is a self-inflicted wound which will never heal and it’s this which torments him the most. For him, this is the worm which never dies. In direct contrast, the Archangels enjoy the fullness of the presence of divine love. This is within themselves and also because of their closeness to Almighty God. Every Archangel knows exactly how much God loves him. But because of their superior intellect and power they are dependent on God in a way which makes us look like children. Their minds are steeped so deeply in God's will - they exist solely to glorify Him. Executing it is their prime purpose and this is why we should never fear Satan or his minions as they are powerless before the Archangels.

For reference I have included a list of the Archangels mentioned in historical texts, Jewish mysticism, distant Catholic tradition and the Eastern Orthodox churches:

Barachiel – the Archangel of Blessings and canonised in the Byzantine Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Camael – Kabbalistic tradition and texts describe him as an angel of strength, justice and courage. As an angel of puissance, he empowers individuals to endure challenges and hardships, providing them with the resilience to overcome difficulties. As the angel of courage, he imbues people with the confidence to confront their fears and deal with uncertainty. His image is represented in stained glass at St Michael’s, Brighton.

St. Gabriel – one of the 7 Archangels, Holy Saint Gabriel is famous the world over as the one who struck Zechariah dumb before announcing God’s plan to send the redeemer of the world through the Blessed Virgin. He is a great friend of Saint Joseph and guided him as the head of the holy family when they were under threat. Although many Catholic Churches are named after Saint Gabriel, there is also an orthodox church in Kulubi which bears his monikeer; here miracles occur and his feast is celebrated every year on 28th December and attended by thousands of pilgrims.

Jegudiel – Saint Jegudiel (canonised by the eastern orthodox tradition) is also believed to be one of the 7 Archangels who present the prayers of the people of the Most High God. In tandem with his subordinate angels, he is the advisor and defender of all who work in positions of responsibility to the glory of God. The classic Eastern Orthodox depiction usually shows him standing upright, holding a crown in his right hand, and a rod or staff in his left.

Jeremiel has his image enshrined in stained glass at St Michael and All Angels in Buckinghamshire. In classic Eastern Orthodox depictions he is usually seen standing upright, holding a crown in his right hand, and a rod or staff in his left hand. He is known for inspiring hope in the children of God.

JophielGod is my Rock. He is often depicted holding a flaming sword such as in the stained glass in the churches of St Michael's in Brighton, St Peter and St John's Church in Kirkley and Holy Trinity Church in Coventry. Additionally he is found in a mural at St. John's Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

Prince Michael – defender of the people of God. Michael is the Prince who leads the Archangels. He is a mighty warrior who is loved dearly by all of the angels. He is held in particularly high esteem because he defended those angels who sought his help during the great temptation of the Choir of the Holy Angels. During that battle he fought for the honour of the Holy Spirit. Michael’s enduring hallmark is his humility, his allegiance to Christ and his love for his human brothers. Michael’s name means “One who resembles God”. If he were mortal he would think nothing of laying down his life for the Christ. The feast of St. Michael the Archangel is celebrated on the 12th day of each month by the Ethiopian church.

Phanuel. Saint Phanuel (Face of God) is venerated and honoured by the Ethiopian Church. There is mention of him in the book of Enoch. He is a warrior angel and helps souls turn to God and repent. It is believed that the world had a great debt of gratitude to Saint Phanuel.  

Raguel – Also believed to be one of the 7 Archangels. Traditionally, his role has been seen as keeping fallen angels and demons in check, delivering judgment upon any that over-step their boundaries and despatching them to Hell.

Raphael – Prince Raphael’s name translates to “God’s healing Power”. He is the angelic personification of this and it radiates through his entire being. His work includes accompanying those who travel and who journey to the heavenly Jerusalem. Some dog owners have made him their patron Archangel because he walked with Tobias's dog Hera when he accompanied Tobias to what is now known as Iran. Some say he delights in canine kind because all are fashioned by the hand of the Most High God.

Samael: Often referred to as the Destroying Angel who passed over Egypt taking the first born children. He is to be found in ancient Jewish texts and Talmudic and Post Talmudic stories.

Sariel – recognised by the Coptic Orthodox Church, Sariel is believed to be one of the 7 Archangels. Along with Michael, Gabriel and Raphael he is mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Selaphiel -  Canonised by the Byzantine church, Saint Selaphiel is believed to be the angel in the Book of Revelation who holds the golden censer/thurible and is believed to be one of the 7 Archangels who presents the prayers of those who pray to the Most High God. When depicted in iconography he is shown in an attitude of humble prayer, with downcast eyes and arms crossed over his chest. He is also sometimes seen kneeling with incense in a thurible, praying. Selaphiel is regarded as the Patron Saint of prayer and worship for members of the Eastern Orthodox Church. In some Orthodox traditions, he is said to help people interpret dreams, break addictions, protect children, preside over exorcisms, and rule over music in heaven. Orthodox Christians will seek his help if their prayer is suffering from distractions, inattentiveness or coldness.

Schemiel – very little appears to be written about the Archangel Schemiel. It is believed that his principle work is to defend scripture. His delight is the Word of God; his name means “God is my Word/God's Word is my Light”. And he can be seen holding pages of scripture and a lantern. The lantern also represents Christ who is the Word of God made flesh and the Light of the World. He holds the written word of God close to his heart because it is the lamp to guide one’s feet and a light for one’s path. It is believed that he was given the task of protecting the Old Testament and enshrining the life of Christ in the New. His work will continue until the end of time.

He is the patron Archangel of Deacons because they too are ministers and defenders of the Word of God. It is believed that Schemiel is in charge of a large contingent of angels which are responsible for assisting priests and deacons. The significance of these angels is made clear by the work of Maurice B. McNamee S.J. who wrote the Vested Angels, Eucharistic Allusions in Early Netherlandish Paintings. Peeters (1998). The author highlighted something of repeated significance which not even the German art historian Erwin Panofsky had noted and that was the fact that the angels who appeared frequently in these paintings were always robed in some variation of the liturgical vestments worn by subministers (deacons) of the traditional Solemn High mass. However, they were never seen adorned with the priestly chasuble. McNamee concluded that the vested angels had a eucharistic significance in that they functioned as subministers of Christ’s eternal mass.

Schemiel is the angelic equivalent of Archdeacon over all his angelic subministers. He presides over every mass as this is Christ’s priestly sacrifice. Although occupying a high estate, the honour of wearing the priestly chasuble has never been given to him or any of the angels - nor will it ever. This bears testimony to his humility because no matter how high an Archangel's office, none of them will ever be toged in priestly robes. Although all priestly knowledge is given and known to the angels, the celebration of mass will forever remain the vestige and honour of the human representatives of Christ Jesus.

Although St John Berchmans (SJ) is the patron saint of altar servers, there is nothing stopping any altar server making Schemiel their patron archangel.

Uriel - is the name of one of the archangels who is mentioned in the post-exilic rabbinic tradition and in certain Christian traditions. He is well known in the Russian Orthodox tradition and in folk Catholicism. He is also recognised in the Anglican Church as the fourth archangel. His image is cast in mosaic in the church of St John the Evangelist, Warminster where he is present alongside Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. He can also be found in stained glass as the Regent of the Sun in the cloisters of Chester Cathedral. Uriel appears in the Second Book of Esdras found in the Biblical apocrypha (called Esdras IV in the Vulgate Bible). The Coptic Christians venerate him and hold his feast on the 11th of July.

Zadkiel (Pronounced Zaydkeel or Zaydkiel). Stained glass window, St Michael’s, Brighton. “God is my Righteousness”. Possibly the angel who stayed Abraham's arm and prevented Isaac's death. Often represented carrying a dagger.

Final word:

You can trust the angels and Archangels, they're great friends to mankind. So positive and charitable; always ready with a good word and some encouragement; always helping you keep your chin up; always keeping you safe. And they love God so much. They really do. They absolutely worship him with every fibre of their being. He is their world; they truly are servants of the Most High. 

One of the most striking facets of the angels and Archangels is their unity. They are not divided on any level. They work in harmony with one another - they echo the words "Your will be done". They will never lie or deceive. They never serve their own appetites. They are absolutely contrary to the type of people Saint Paul warns about in Romans 16.


N.B. Uriel is mentioned in the Second Book of Esdras which isn’t included in Saint Jerome’s version of the Vulgate bible but is included in the Clementine (Pope Clement) Vulgate.

 

 

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