Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 09-29-05, Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Archangels

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The Chaplet of St. Michael

How The Prayer of St. Michael Came to be Written

THE THREE ARCHANGELS: [St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael]

Feast Day of Michael,Gabriel and Raphael[Michael's Battle With The Dragon]

Feast of St. Michael the Archangel

Apologies to St. Michael

The Story of Michael

St. Gabriel Archangel

Act of Consecration to St Michael the Archangel (for the Feast of St Michael, September 29)

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Queen of Angels, pray for us
Holy Mother of God, pray for us
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us
Saint Michael, who was ever the defender of the people of God, pray for us
St. Michael, who did drive from Heaven Lucifer and his rebel crew, pray for us
St. Michael, who did cast down to Hell the accuser of our brethren, pray for us
Saint Gabriel, who did expound to Daniel the heavenly vision, pray for us
St. Gabriel, who did foretell to Zachary the birth and ministry of John the Baptist, pray for us
St. Gabriel, who did announce to Blessed Mary the Incarnation of the Divine Word, pray for us
Saint Raphael, who did lead Tobias safely through his journey to his home again, pray for us
St. Raphael, who did deliver Sara from the devil, pray for us
St. Raphael, who did restore his sight to Tobias the elder, pray for us
All ye holy Angels, who stand around the high and lofty throne of God, pray for us
Who cry to Him continually: Holy, Holy, Holy, pray for us
Who dispel the darkness of our minds and give us light, pray for us
Who are the messengers of heavenly things to men, pray for us
Who have been appointed by God to be our guardians, pray for us
Who always behold the Face of our Father Who is in Heaven, pray for us
Who rejoice over one sinner doing penance, pray for us
Who struck the Sodomites with blindness, pray for us
Who led Lot out of the midst of the ungodly, pray for us
Who ascended and descended on the ladder of Jacob, pray for us
Who delivered the Divine Law to Moses on Mount Sinai, pray for us
Who brought good tidings when Christ was born, pray for uspray for us
Who comforted Him in His agony, pray for us
Who sat in white garments at His sepulcher, pray for us
Who appeared to the disciples as He went up into Heaven, pray for us
Who shall go before Him bearing the standard of the Cross when He comes to judgment, pray for us
Who shall gather together the elect at the End of the World, pray for us
Who shall separate the wicked from among the just, pray for us
Who offer to God the prayers of those who pray, pray for us
Who assist us at the hour of death, pray for us
Who carried Lazarus into Abraham’s bosom, pray for us
Who conduct to Heaven the souls of the just, pray for us
Who perform signs and wonders by the power of God, pray for us
Who are sent to minister for those who shall receive the inheritance of salvation, pray for us
Who are set over kingdoms and provinces, pray for us
Who have often put to flight armies of enemies, pray for us
Who have often delivered God’s servants from prison and other perils of this life, pray for us
Who have often consoled the holy martyrs in their torments, pray for us
Who are wont to cherish with peculiar care the prelates and princes of the Church, pray for us
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us

From all dangers, deliver us, O Lord.
From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord.
From all heresy and schism, deliver us, O Lord.
From plague, famine and ware, deliver us, O Lord.
From sudden and unlooked-for death, deliver us, O Lord.
From everlasting death, deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy holy Angels, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou would spare us, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou would pardon us, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou would govern and preserve Thy Holy Church, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou would protect our Apostolic Prelate and all ecclesiastical orders,w e beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou would grant peace and security to kings and all Christian princes, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou would give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou would grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we beseech Thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world Have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Bless the Lord, all ye Angels: Ye who are mighty in strength, who fulfill His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His words.

He hath given His Angels charge concerning thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.

Let Us Pray

O God, Who dost arrange the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order, mercifully grant that our life may be protected on earth by those who always do Thee service in Heaven, through Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost are one God now and forever.

Amen.

O God, Who in Thine unspeakable Providence dost send Thine Angels to keep guard over us, grant unto Thy suppliants that we may be continually defended by their protection and may rejoice eternally in their society, through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, forever and ever.

Amen.

Homily of the Day

Title:	Don't Forget How to See Them
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Thursday, September 29, 2005

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rev 12:7-12 / John 1:47-51

Every day we are surrounded by miracles, but we rarely notice any of them — because they are always there and we grow accustomed to them. We domesticate God's wonders and take them as part of the ordinary furniture of our lives, and that means discounting their value by almost 100 percent.

Think of the new parents who stand in wonder over the crib of their new infant, marveling at those tiny fingers and toes, the eyes that are barely open yet, and the cry that is so loud for such a little body. "It's a miracle," they say, and they're right. But before long, living every day with the miracle becomes ordinary, the wonder fades, and the focus shifts to "pick up your socks, take out the trash, and do your homework."

It's the way our minds work, and in one sense it's probably a blessing because otherwise we'd be exhausted and overwhelmed all the time at the incredible goings-on all around us. But it is a pity, because so many of our lonely feelings and our wondering if God is close to us could be eased if we retained the gift of seeing what is right under our eyes.

We can regain and reinvigorate that gift of sight, if we take the time to look at the simple things of our daily experience more closely and with a more attentive spirit.

God is visible right here to those who have the eyes to see. Take the time, and experience the joy of seeing Him — every day.

Good morning, my time! How is the vote on Roberts going?

From: Revelation 12:7-12ab

The Woman Fleeing from the Dragon (Continuation)

[7] Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the
dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, [8] but they were defeated and
there was no longer any place for them in heaven. [9] 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. [10] And I heard a loud voice in heaven,
saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the
authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been
thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. [11] And they
have
conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony, for
they loved not their lives even unto death. [12] Rejoice then, 0 heaven and
you that dwell therein! "

Commentary:

7-9. The war between the dragon with his angels, and Michael and his, and
the defeat of the former, are depicted as being closely connected with the
death and glorification of Christ (cf. vv. 5, 11). The reference to Michael
and the "ancient" serpent, and also the result of the battle (being cast
down from heaven), reminds us of the origin of the devil. Once a most
exalted creature, according to certain Jewish traditions (of. "Latin Life of
Adam and Eve", 12-16) he became a devil because when God created man in his
own image and likeness (cf. Gen 1:26; 2:7), he refused to acknowledge the
dignity granted to man: Michael obeyed, but the devil and some other angels
rebelled against God because they regarded man as beneath them. As a result
the devil and his angelic followers were cast down to earth to be imprisoned
in hell, which is why they ceaselessly tempt man, trying to make him sin so
as to deprive him of the glory of God.

In the light of this tradition, the Book of Revelation emphasizes that
Christ. the new Adam, true God and true man, through his glorification
merits and receives the worship that is his due--which spells the total rout
of the devil. God's design embraces both creation and redemption. Christ,
"the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him
all things were created" (Col 1:15-16), defeats the devil in a war which
extends throughout human history; but the key stage in that war was the
incarnation, death and glorification of our Lord: "Now is the judgment of
this world," Jesus says, referring to those events; "now shall the ruler of
this world be cast out and I, when I am lifted up from earth, will draw all
men to myself' (Jn 12:31-33). And, when his disciples come to him to tell
him that demons were subject to his name, he exclaimed, "I saw Satan fall
like lightning from heaven" (Lk 10:18).

In Daniel 10:13 and 12:1 we are told that it is the archangel Michael who
defends the chosen people on God's behalf. His name means "Who like God?"
and his mission is to guard the rights of God against those who would usurp
them, be they human tyrants or Satan himself, who tried to make off with the
body of Moses according to the Letter of St Jude (v. 9). This explains why
St Michael appears in the Apocalypse as the one who confronts Satan, the
ancient serpent, although the victory and punishment is decided by God or
Christ. The Church, therefore, invokes St Michael as its guardian in
adversity and its protector against the snares of the devil (cf. "The
Liturgy of the Hours", 2g September, office of readings).

The Fathers of the Church interpret these verses of the Apocalypse as a
reference to the battle between Michael and the devil at the dawn of
history, a battle which stemmed from the test which angelic spirits had to
undergo. And, in the light of the Apocalypse, they interpret as referring to
that climactic moment the words which the prophet Isaiah uttered against the
king of Babylon: "How you are fallen from heaven, 0 Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!" (Is
14:12). They also see this passage of the Apocalypse as referring to the war
Satan wages against the Church throughout history, a war which will take on
its most dreadful form at the end of time: "Heaven is the Church," St
Gregory writes, "which in the night of this present life, the while it
possesses in itself the countless virtues of the saints, shines like the
radiant heavenly stars; but the dragon's tail sweeps the stars down to the
earth [...]. The stars which fall from heaven are those who have lost hope
in heavenly things and covet, under the devil's guidance; the sphere of
earthly glory" ("Moralia", 32, 13).

10-12. With the ascension of Christ into heaven the Kingdom of God is
established and so all those who dwell in heaven break out into a song of
joy. The devil has been deprived of his power over man in the sense that the
redemptive action of Christ and man's faith enable man to escape from the
world of sin. The text expresses this joyful truth by saying that there is
now no place for the accuser, Satan whose name means and whom the Old
Testament teaches to be the accuser of men before God: cf. Job 1:6-12;
2:1-10). Given what God meant creation to be, Satan could claim as his
victory anyone who, through sinning, disfigured the image and likeness of
God that was in him. However, once the Redemption has taken place, Satan no
longer has power to do this, for, as St John writes, "if any one does sin,
we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is
the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of
the whole world" (Jn 2:1-2). Also, on ascending into heaven, Christ sent us
the Holy Spirit as "Intercessor and Advocate, especially when man, that is,
mankind, find themselves before the judgment of condemnation by that
'accuser' about whom the Book of Revelation says that 'he accuses them day
and night before our God"' (John Paul II, "Dominum et Vivificantem", 67).

Although Satan has lost this power to act in the world, he still has time
left, between the resurrection of our Lord and the end of history, to put
obstacles in man's way and frustrate Christ's action. And so he works ever
more frenetically, as he sees time run out, in his effort to distance
everyone and society itself from the plans and commandments of God.

The author of the Book of Revelation uses this celestial chant to warn the
Church of the onset of danger as the End approaches.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: John 1:47-51

The Calling of the First Disciples (Continuation)

[47] Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to Him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite
indeed, in whom is no guile!" [48] Nathaniel said to Him, "How do you
know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were
under the fig tree, I saw you." [49] Nathaniel answered Him, "Rabbi,
you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! [50] Jesus
answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do
you believe? You shall see greater things than these." [51] And He
said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see Heaven opened,
and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Commentary:

45-51. The Apostle Philip is so moved that he cannot but tell his
friend Nathanael (Bartholomew) about his wonderful discovery (verse
45). "Nathanael had heard from Scripture that Jesus must come from
Bethlehem, from the people of David. This belief prevailed among the
Jews and also the prophet had proclaimed it of old, saying: `But you, O
Bethlehem, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you
shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler of Israel' (Micah 5:2).
Therefore, when he heard that He was from Nazareth, he was troubled and
in doubt, since he found that the announcement of Philip was not in
agreement with the words of the prophecy" (St. John Chrysostom, "Hom.
on St. John", 20, 1).

A Christian may find that, in trying to communicate his faith to
others, they raise difficulties. What should he do? What Philip
did--not trust his own explanation, but invite them to approach Jesus
personally: "Come and see" (verse 46). In other words, a Christian
should bring his fellow-men, his brothers into Jesus' presence through
the means of grace which He has given them and which the Church
ministers--frequent reception of the sacraments, and devout Christian
practices.

Nathanael, a sincere person (verse 47), goes along with Philip to see
Jesus; he makes personal contact with our Lord (verse 48), and the
outcome is that he receives faith (the result of his ready reception of
grace, which reaches him through Christ's human nature: verse 49).

As far as we can deduce from the Gospels, Nathanael is the first
Apostle to make an explicit confession of faith in Jesus as Messiah and
as Son of God. Later on St. Peter, in a more formal way, will
recognize our Lord's divinity (cf. Matthew 16:16). Here (verse 51)
Jesus evokes a text from Daniel (7:13) to confirm and give deeper
meaning to the words spoken by His new disciple.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Thursday, September 29, 2005
Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels (Feast)

First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 or Revelation 12:7-12
Psalm 138:1-5
John 1:47-51

Because of our good Lord's tender love to all those who shall be saved, he quickly comforts them saying, "The cause of all this pain is sin. But all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." These words were said so kindly and without a hint of blame.So how unjust it would be for me to blame God for allowing my sin when he does not blame me for falling into it.

-- Blessed Julian of Norwich

FORGOTTEN FACTS

Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers
of "the Declaration of Independance
were committed, Christians?
The other three believed in:
the Bible as divine truth,
the God of scripture,
and His personal intervention.

Did you know it was this same Congress
that formed the American Bible Society?
Immediately after creating the
Declaration of Independence the
Continental Congress voted to purchase
and import 20,000 copies of scripture
for the people of this nation.

Patrick Henry, who is called the
firebrand of the American Revolution,
is still remembered for his words,
"Give me liberty or give me death";
but did you know the context of those words?
Here is what he actually said:
"An appeal to arms and the God of
hosts is all that is left us.
But we shall not fight our battle alone.
There is a just God who presides
over the destinies of nations.
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone.
Is life so dear or peace so sweet
as to be purchased at the price
of chains and slavery?
Forbid it Almighty God.
I know not what course others may take,
but as for me,
give me liberty, or give me death."

Did you know in 1776 Patrick Henry
wrote this?
"It cannot be emphasised too strongly or
too often that this great nation was founded
not by religionists, but by Christians;
not on religions, but on
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For that reason alone,
people of other faiths have been
afforded freedom of worship here."

Did you know, in the front
of his well worn Bible,
Thomas Jefferson wrote this?
"I am a real Christian, that is to say,
a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.
I have little doubt that our whole country will
soon be rallied to the unity of our creator."
He was also chairman of
the American Bible Society,
which he considered his highest
and most important role.

Did you know on July 4, 1821,
President Adams said,
"The highest glory of the
American Revolution was this:
'It connected in one indissoluble bond
the principles of civil government with
the principles of Christianity.'"
And that President Calvin Coolidge
reaffirmed this truth when he wrote,
"The foundations of our government
and our society rest so much on the
teachings of the Bible that it would be
difficult to support them if faith in
these teachings would cease to be
universal in our country."

Deus vobiscum

Catholic Culture

St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael

Collect:
God our Father, in a wonderful way you guide the work of angels and men. May those who serve you constantly in heaven keep our lives safe from all harm on earth. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Recipes:

moreless

Activities:

more

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Prayers:

September 29, 2005

Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

Old Calendar: Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel

The liturgy celebrates the feast of these three archangels who are venerated in the tradition of the Church. Michael (Who is like God?) was the archangel who fought against Satan and all his evil angels, defending all the friends of God. He is the protector of all humanity from the snares of the devil. Gabriel (Strength of God) announced to Zachariah the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary, the birth of Jesus. His greeting to the Virgin, "Hail, full of grace," is one of the most familiar and frequent prayers of the Christian people. Raphael (Medicine of God) is the archangel who took care of Tobias on his journey.

Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was only the feast of St. Michael. St. Gabriel was observed on March 24 and St. Raphael on October 24.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that "[T]he existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition."

Angels are pure, created spirits. The name angel means servant or messenger of God. They are celestial or heavenly beings, on a higher order than human beings. An angel has no body and does not depend on matter for his existence or activity. They are distinct from saints, which men can become. Angels have intellect and will, and are immortal. They are a vast mulitude, but each is an individual person. Archangels are one of the nine choirs of angels listed in the Bible. In ascending order, the choirs or classes are 1) Angels, 2) Archangels, 3) Principalities, 4) Powers, 5) Virtues, 6) Dominations, 7) Thrones, 8) Cherubim and 9) Seraphim.

St. Michael

The name of the archangel Michael means, in Hebrew, who is like unto God? and he is also known as "the prince of the heavenly host". He is usually pictured as a strong warrior, dressed in armor and wearing sandals. His name appears in Scripture four times, twice in the Book of Daniel, and once each in the Epistle of St. Jude and the Book of Revelation. From Revelation we learn of the battle in heaven, with St. Michael and his angels combatting Lucifer and the other fallen angels (or devils). We invoke St. Michael to help us in our fight against Satan; to rescue souls from Satan, especially at the hour of death; to be the champion of the Jews in the Old Testament and now Christians; and to bring souls to judgment.

This day is referred to as "Michaelmas" in many countries and is also one of the harvest feast days. In England this is one of the "quarter days", which was marked by hiring servants, electing magistrates, and beginning of legal and university terms. This day also marks the opening of the deer and other large game hunting season. In some parts of Europe, especially Germany, Denmark, and Austria, a special wine called "Saint Michael's Love" (Michelsminne) is drunk on this day. The foods for this day vary depending on nationality. In the British Isles, for example, goose was the traditional meal for Michaelmas, eaten for prosperity, France has waffles or Gaufres and the traditional fare in Scotland used to be St. Michael's Bannock (Struan Micheil) — a large, scone-like cake. In Italy, gnocchi is the traditional fare.

Patron: Against temptations; against powers of evil; artists; bakers; bankers; battle; boatmen; cemeteries; coopers; endangered children; dying; Emergency Medical Technicians; fencing; grocers; hatmakers; holy death; knights; mariners; mountaineers; paramedics; paratroopers; police officers; radiologists; sailors; the sick; security forces; soldiers; against storms at sea; swordsmiths; those in need of protection; Brussels, Belgium; Caltanissett, Sicily; Cornwall, England; Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Florida; England; Germany; Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama; Papua, New Guinea; Puebla, Mexico; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Sibenik, Croatia; Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington; Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts.

Symbols: Angel with wings; dressed in armour; lance and shield; scales; shown weighing souls; millstone; piercing dragon or devil; banner charged with a dove; symbolic colors orange or gold.

St. Gabriel

St. Gabriel's name means "God is my strength". Biblically he appears three times as a messenger. He had been sent to Daniel to explain a vision concerning the Messiah. He appeared to Zachary when he was offering incense in the Temple, to foretell the birth of his son, St. John the Baptist. St. Gabriel is most known as the angel chosen by God to be the messenger of the Annunciation, to announce to mankind the mystery of the Incarnation.

The angel's salutation to our Lady, so simple and yet so full of meaning, Hail Mary, full of grace, has become the constant and familiar prayer of all Christian people.

Patron: Ambassadors; broadcasting; childbirth; clergy; communications; diplomats; messengers; philatelists; postal workers; public relations; radio workers; secular clergy; stamp collectors; telecommunications; Portugal; Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington.

Symbols: Archangel; sceptre and lily; MR or AM shield; lantern; mirror; olive branch; scroll with words Ave Maria Gratia Plena; Resurrection trumpet; shield; spear; lily; symbolic colors, silver or blue.

St. Raphael

Our knowledge of the Archangel Raphael comes to us from the book of Tobit. His mission as wonderful healer and fellow traveller with the youthful Tobias has caused him to be invoked for journeys and at critical moments in life. Tradition also holds that Raphael is the angel that stirred the waters at the healing sheep pool in Bethesda. His name means "God has healed".

Patron: Blind; bodily ills; counselors; druggists; eye problems; guardian angels; happy meetings; healers; health inspectors; health technicians; love; lovers; mental illness; nurses; pharmacists; physicians; shepherds; against sickness; therapists; travellers; young people; young people leaving home for the first time; Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa; Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington.

Symbols: Staff; wallet and fish; staff and gourd; archangel; young man carrying a staff; young man carrying a fish; walking with Tobias; holding a bottle or flask; symbolic colors, gray or yellow.

Things to Do:

This is a good feast to learn more about the angels. Children especially are fascinated by these celestial beings. The best place to start is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 328-336 to see the teachings of the Church on angels. John Paul II also did a Catechesis on the Angels during his General Audiences from July 9 to August 20, 1986.
Find the passages in the Bible about angels, in particular the passages about Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
Read the section on angels in the Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy. The document examines the doctrine and devotions of the angels. Devotion to angels is good, but also can have deviations.
Devotion to the Holy Angels gives rise to a certain form of the Christian life which is characterized by:
- devout gratitude to God for having placed these heavenly spirits of great sanctity and dignity at the service of man;
- an attitude of devotion deriving from the knowledge of living constantly in the presence of the Holy Angels of God;— serenity and confidence in facing difficult situations, since the Lord guides and protects the faithful in the way of justice through the ministry of His Holy Angels. Among the prayers to the Guardian Angels the Angele Dei is especially popular, and is often recited by families at morning and evening prayers, or at the recitation of the Angelus.
217. Popular devotion to the Holy Angels, which is legitimate and good, can, however, also give rise to possible deviations:
- when, as sometimes can happen, the faithful are taken by the idea that the world is subject to demiurgical struggles, or an incessant battle between good and evil spirits, or Angels and daemons, in which man is left at the mercy of superior forces and over which he is helpless; such cosmologies bear little relation to the true Gospel vision of the struggle to overcome the Devil, which requires moral commitment, a fundamental option for the Gospel, humility and prayer;
- when the daily events of life, which have nothing or little to do with our progressive maturing on the journey towards Christ are read schematically or simplistically, indeed childishly, so as to ascribe all setbacks to the Devil and all success to the Guardian Angels. The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained in Holy Scripture.
Also read All About the Angels.
Memorize the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Although no longer formerly recited after Mass, our Holy Father John Paul II has encouraged us to recite this prayer daily. Read about this prayer. Here is the Regina Caeli message from April 24, 1994 during which the pope encouraged this prayer.
In honor of St. Gabriel, Learn the Angelus and recite it daily. Traditionally, the prayer is prayed at the 6:00 and 12:00 hours (am and pm). There is a partial indulgence attached to those who pray this prayer.
Read the Book of Tobit for the story of St. Raphael helping Tobit and Tobias.
Make some recipes related to Michaelmas. Of special mention is the St. Michael Bannock from Scotland, roast goose and stuffing from Britain, waffles from France, and roast duck from Germany or France, gnocchi from Italy. Blackberries, apples and carrots also play a large role on this feast in various countries. Other ideas: make an angel food cake, devil's food cake or angel hair pasta. Decorate with white, symbolizing the angels, or use other symbolic colors (see above). Non-dessert items: deviled eggs, deviled meats, etc.
Try to find the Michaelmas daisy, a purple aster, to use for decoration. It also comes in other colors, including white, but purple is the most popular. It usually blooms in late summer until October. The official name is Aster novi-belgii, but is also known as New York aster. If you find plants or seeds to plan for next year's garden. This site has photos and gardening information for the Michaelmas daisy.
Folklore in the British Isles suggests that Michaelmas day is the last day that blackberries can be picked. It is said that when St. Michael expelled Lucifer, the devil, from heaven, he fell from the skies and landed in a prickly blackberry bush. Satan cursed the fruit, scorched them with his fiery breath, and stamp and spat on them, so that they would be unfit for eating. A Traditional Irish proverb says:
On Michaelmas Day the devil puts his foot on the blackberries.
If you have access to blackberries, make this the last picking and eating. Perhaps make a blackberry pie? See Michaelmas Pie for a great recipe.

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

September 29, 2005

Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.

Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness and the restoration of the family fortune.

The memorials of Gabriel (March 24) and Raphael (October 24) were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts to Michael's.

Comment:

Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.

Quote:

"The question of how many angels could dance on the point of a pin no longer is absurd in molecular physics, with its discovery of how broad that point actually is, and what part invisible electronic 'messengers' play in the dance of life" (Lewis Mumford).

Good morning:

100 senators voted. John Roberts was confirmed 78 to 22.
One won and down. One to go.
:o)

Thanks, I've been upstairs working on the computer with my TV muted downstairs.

And the LIVE thread was talking about the next nominee so I figured Roberts got confirmed.

Now to find out who the nays and yeas were.

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109^th Congress - 1^st Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary

Question: On the Nomination (Confirmation John G. Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the United States )
Vote Number:	245	Vote Date:	September 29, 2005, 11:31 AM
Required For Majority:	1/2	Vote Result:	Nomination Confirmed
Nomination Number:	PN801
Nomination Description:	John G. Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the United States

Vote Counts:	YEAs	78
	NAYs	22

Alphabetical by Senator Name

Akaka (D-HI), Nay
Alexander (R-TN), Yea
Allard (R-CO), Yea
Allen (R-VA), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Nay
Bennett (R-UT), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Nay
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Yea
Boxer (D-CA), Nay
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Bunning (R-KY), Yea
Burns (R-MT), Yea
Burr (R-NC), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Nay
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Chafee (R-RI), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Yea
Clinton (D-NY), Nay
Coburn (R-OK), Yea
Cochran (R-MS), Yea
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Cornyn (R-TX), Yea
Corzine (D-NJ), Nay
Craig (R-ID), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
Dayton (D-MN), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Yea
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Dodd (D-CT), Yea

Dole (R-NC), Yea
Domenici (R-NM), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Nay
Ensign (R-NV), Yea
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Nay
Frist (R-TN), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Yea
Gregg (R-NH), Yea
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Nay
Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Isakson (R-GA), Yea
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kennedy (D-MA), Nay
Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Nay
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lott (R-MS), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Martinez (R-FL), Yea

McCain (R-AZ), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Nay
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Obama (D-IL), Nay
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Nay
Reid (D-NV), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Santorum (R-PA), Yea
Sarbanes (D-MD), Nay
Schumer (D-NY), Nay
Sessions (R-AL), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Specter (R-PA), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Nay
Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Sununu (R-NH), Yea
Talent (R-MO), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Yea
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---78
Alexander (R-TN) Allard (R-CO) Allen (R-VA) Baucus (D-MT) Bennett (R-UT) Bingaman (D-NM) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Bunning (R-KY) Burns (R-MT) Burr (R-NC) Byrd (D-WV) Carper (D-DE) Chafee (R-RI) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Coleman (R-MN) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Cornyn (R-TX) Craig (R-ID) Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) DeWine (R-OH) Dodd (D-CT)	Dole (R-NC) Domenici (R-NM) Dorgan (D-ND) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Feingold (D-WI) Frist (R-TN) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hagel (R-NE) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Jeffords (I-VT) Johnson (D-SD) Kohl (D-WI) Kyl (R-AZ) Landrieu (D-LA) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (D-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Lott (R-MS) Lugar (R-IN)	Martinez (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Murkowski (R-AK) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Roberts (R-KS) Rockefeller (D-WV) Salazar (D-CO) Santorum (R-PA) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Smith (R-OR) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stevens (R-AK) Sununu (R-NH) Talent (R-MO) Thomas (R-WY) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA) Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---22
Akaka (D-HI) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE) Boxer (D-CA) Cantwell (D-WA) Clinton (D-NY) Corzine (D-NJ) Dayton (D-MN)	Durbin (D-IL) Feinstein (D-CA) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Kennedy (D-MA) Kerry (D-MA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD)	Obama (D-IL) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Sarbanes (D-MD) Schumer (D-NY) Stabenow (D-MI)

Grouped by Home State

Alabama:	Sessions (R-AL), Yea	Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Alaska:	Murkowski (R-AK), Yea	Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Arizona:	Kyl (R-AZ), Yea	McCain (R-AZ), Yea
Arkansas:	Lincoln (D-AR), Yea	Pryor (D-AR), Yea
California:	Boxer (D-CA), Nay	Feinstein (D-CA), Nay
Colorado:	Allard (R-CO), Yea	Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Connecticut:	Dodd (D-CT), Yea	Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Delaware:	Biden (D-DE), Nay	Carper (D-DE), Yea
Florida:	Martinez (R-FL), Yea	Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Georgia:	Chambliss (R-GA), Yea	Isakson (R-GA), Yea
Hawaii:	Akaka (D-HI), Nay	Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Idaho:	Craig (R-ID), Yea	Crapo (R-ID), Yea
Illinois:	Durbin (D-IL), Nay	Obama (D-IL), Nay
Indiana:	Bayh (D-IN), Nay	Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Iowa:	Grassley (R-IA), Yea	Harkin (D-IA), Nay
Kansas:	Brownback (R-KS), Yea	Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Kentucky:	Bunning (R-KY), Yea	McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Louisiana:	Landrieu (D-LA), Yea	Vitter (R-LA), Yea
Maine:	Collins (R-ME), Yea	Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Maryland:	Mikulski (D-MD), Nay	Sarbanes (D-MD), Nay
Massachusetts:	Kennedy (D-MA), Nay	Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Michigan:	Levin (D-MI), Yea	Stabenow (D-MI), Nay
Minnesota:	Coleman (R-MN), Yea	Dayton (D-MN), Nay
Mississippi:	Cochran (R-MS), Yea	Lott (R-MS), Yea
Missouri:	Bond (R-MO), Yea	Talent (R-MO), Yea
Montana:	Baucus (D-MT), Yea	Burns (R-MT), Yea
Nebraska:	Hagel (R-NE), Yea	Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Nevada:	Ensign (R-NV), Yea	Reid (D-NV), Nay
New Hampshire:	Gregg (R-NH), Yea	Sununu (R-NH), Yea
New Jersey:	Corzine (D-NJ), Nay	Lautenberg (D-NJ), Nay
New Mexico:	Bingaman (D-NM), Yea	Domenici (R-NM), Yea
New York:	Clinton (D-NY), Nay	Schumer (D-NY), Nay
North Carolina:	Burr (R-NC), Yea	Dole (R-NC), Yea
North Dakota:	Conrad (D-ND), Yea	Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Ohio:	DeWine (R-OH), Yea	Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma:	Coburn (R-OK), Yea	Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Oregon:	Smith (R-OR), Yea	Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania:	Santorum (R-PA), Yea	Specter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island:	Chafee (R-RI), Yea	Reed (D-RI), Nay
South Carolina:	DeMint (R-SC), Yea	Graham (R-SC), Yea
South Dakota:	Johnson (D-SD), Yea	Thune (R-SD), Yea
Tennessee:	Alexander (R-TN), Yea	Frist (R-TN), Yea
Texas:	Cornyn (R-TX), Yea	Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Utah:	Bennett (R-UT), Yea	Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Vermont:	Jeffords (I-VT), Yea	Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Virginia:	Allen (R-VA), Yea	Warner (R-VA), Yea
Washington:	Cantwell (D-WA), Nay	Murray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia:	Byrd (D-WV), Yea	Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Wisconsin:	Feingold (D-WI), Yea	Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming:	Enzi (R-WY), Yea	Thomas (R-WY), Yea

Raphael got me past the checkpoints and into the city of New Orleans last weekend.

PRAYER TO ST. RAPHAEL
(Angel of Happy Meetings)

O Raphael,
lead us towards those we are waiting for,
those who are waiting for us!
Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings,
lead us by the hand towards those we are looking for!
May all our movements,
all their movements,
be guided by your Light and transfigured by your Joy.

Angel Guide of Tobias,
lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him
on whose unveiled Face you are privileged to gaze.
Lonely and tired,
crushed by the separations and sorrows of earth,
we feel the need of calling to you
and of pleading for the protection of your wings,
so that we may not be as strangers in the Province of Joy,
all ignorant of the concerns of our country.

Remember the weak, you who are strong--
you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder,
in a land that is always peaceful,
always serene,
and bright with the resplendent glory of God.

Amen.

Thanks for that prayer.

I saw individual prayers to St. Gabriel too.

And we all know the Prayer to St. Michael!!

A Voice in the Desert

Thursday September 29, 2005 Feast of the Archangels

Reading (Revelation 12:7-12ab) Gospel (St. John 1:47-51)

In the first reading today, we hear about this battle that takes place in heaven between Michael and the good angels – and the dragon and the bad angels. It can be a little bit confusing because on the one hand we understand that this happened before material creation took place, yet at the same time we hear that the devil and his minions were cast down to the earth. We hear about the fact that the martyrs in heaven are glorifying God because the accuser of our brothers has been cast out. If that is the case, one would think that it almost sounds like the devil was cast out after all of the Christian martyrs (or at least some of them) had already gone to heaven, certainly after all of the earth was created and all of the things within. But that is not the case.

What happens when we are dealing with the angels is that, because of the way their minds work, they are able not only to see the decision they are going to make, but they are able to see at that moment all of the ramifications that follow from their decision. Unlike us, who can hardly even see what is right in front of us (and certainly we all know from how many decisions we have made throughout our lives and then we say, “I never expected that that would have happened!”), the angels knew exactly what would happen. They knew every single possible ramification of every decision that they would make.

So this was not something that Satan and his angels were confused about when they had to make their decision about whether or not they were going to choose God. They knew what would happen. They understood it and it was completely clear to them. Even though they made their decision before material creation, nonetheless, they understood fully well when they chose against God (what happened is that God showed to them the Incarnation of Christ and the glorious woman who was going to give birth to the Lord, so even though this was very far in the future at the time, the angels understood fully well) that what that would mean is they would lose their place in heaven, and that even though the earth probably was not yet created when they made their decision, they would be cast down and they would spend all of time troubling humanity.

This is why there can be this simultaneous picture of what is going on in heaven before material creation. There can also be the point of the birth of Our Lord and the martyrs in heaven calling out to God all at the same time – because it took place outside of time. Therefore, what we would look at as far as time goes has absolutely no bearing on the things of heaven. Satan was able to see all the things that were going on at the moment he made his decision, all of the things that would happen throughout the history of humanity, and what eternity was going to hold for him, as well as for those who were obedient to God.

So when we see this reading with these different levels of time, we have to understand it in the angelic way, not in our human way. We say, “How is it that this could be happening at three different times in history and yet they are all stuck together in one?” It is because in eternity there is no time. Remember, in eternity, what God sees is everything as present. It does not matter if it was ten thousand years ago, now, or ten thousand years from now, God sees everything present. Eternity is a continual present. That is why all of these things can be at the same time.

We now can look back to what happened before time began and we can look forward as we cry out with the martyrs in heaven that the accuser of our brothers has been cast out, and even though we can see it in the past and in the future, there is a sense that we can also say it is happening right now. It is pretty clear, if you look around, that Satan and his whole cohort have been thrown down to earth and they are wreaking havoc. So all of us can still see it in that kind of a way. It is the reality of what is going on. It is a spiritual battle. It is a battle for souls, your soul individually and the souls of all other human persons. Therefore, the necessity for us to make sure we are praying, to make sure we are striving to live holy and virtuous lives so that he who has been cast down to the earth, he who is the accuser, will have nothing to accuse us of because with our sins forgiven and living holy lives we will then be able to stand before God, we will be able to rejoice with the saints in heaven and with all of the good angels who chose God, and we will be able to say that the accuser of our brothers has been cast out.

* This text was transcribed from the audio recording with minimal editing.

"Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones"
by John A.L. Riley, 1853-1945

1. Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
Bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones,
Raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers,
Virtues, archangels, angels' choirs,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. O higher than the cherubim,
More glorious than the seraphim,
Lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou Bearer of the eternal Word,
Most gracious, magnify the Lord,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

3.Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
Ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Ye holy Twelve, ye martyrs strong,
All saints triumphant, raise the song,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

4. O friend, in gladness let us sing,
Supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #475
Text: Ps. 148
Author: John A.L. Riley, 1906
Tune: "Lasst uns erfreuen"
1st Published in: Geistliche Kirchengesaeng
Town: Cologne, 1623