We must acknowledge it: today, people speak less and less about the archangels in their authentic biblical and Christian theological meaning. Of course, they appear in books, films, and even conferences, but they are often presented in fanciful forms, with names and roles far removed from the message of faith. That is why we want to pause, even if only for a moment, to meditate on the figure of the archangels, as it has been handed down to us by Christian tradition. Three names, one divine mission Every September 29, the Church solemnly celebrates the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. They are not defined by their nature, but by their mission: they contemplate the glory of God and proclaim its deepest mysteries. As Saint Gregory the Great reminds us, they are sent to reveal the greatest truths. Their names are veritable professions of faith: Michael: βWho is like God?β Gabriel: βStrength of God.β Raphael: βGod heals.β In them, God is written into their names and their very being. They live for Him and in Him, perfect adorers of the Most Holy Trinity, in a state of perpetual praise. Ministers of divine care The archangels are also messengers of βdivine care,β as Benedict XVI said: Gabriel, whom God sends as a messenger at crucial moments in the history of salvation. Michael, the warrior who fights against the dark side of reality, against evil and the devil. And Raphael, Godβs medicine, who accompanies us on the long spiritual journey we are called to undertake.The archangels invite us and help us to welcome God and his plan of salvation, so that we in turn may become courageous proclaimers, capable of defeating evil and establishing his Kingdom. Β A message for each of us These heavenly figures, whose work, grace, and help encompass every area of our lives, convey a twofold message:1. Living rooted in ChristLike the archangels, we too - embodied spirits, created in the image of God - are called to carry his Name in our hearts. Living rooted in Christ means worshiping the Father and carrying out his will with love, choosing a life centered on God rather than on ourselves. Just as the archangels are never satisfied with worshiping and serving God, so we are called to find fulfillment in worship, praise, and service to the Lord. The true medicine of the soul, the only one capable of healing our wounds and freeing us from evil, is remaining in Godβs presence, loving him and allowing ourselves to be loved. The more we worship God, the more we live by his praise and serve Him to please him in all things, the freer and happier we will be, fulfilled in the deepest part of ourselves.2. We are not alone in the struggleThe struggle is a daily reality in the Christian life, and the battlefield is our heart, our mind, our feelings, our family, our relationships, our workβ¦ Only by welcoming Christ can we face this battle: he is with us if we call upon him with trust and love. The archangels, especially Michael with his hosts, are the pure icon of Godβs powerful help, which comes to our aid and supports us so that we may overcome the assault of the prince of evil and his seductions. Thanks to the continual action of the archangels, who accompany each of us along lifeβs journey, we know that we are kept safe in God and strengthened on our journey toward our heavenly homeland. Β Β A feast that renews our commitment to conversion The feast of the archangels is a precious opportunity to rediscover our Baptism, which makes us children of God, priests and prophets, so that Christ may be βall in allβ (cf Rm 8,29). We are called to reproduce in ourselves the feelings of his heart: humility, meekness, radical love. To truly be children of God, we need a profound conversion of heart, expressed in daily choices that make God's primacy in our lives manifest. In a world marked by individualism and relativism, we must show that we are the image of the Trinity, created for communion, recognizing the face of Christ in the face of the other (cf EG 88). Β The favorable time is now We too, like the archangels, are called to be worshippers and servants, determined fighters in the battle against the evil that exists in the world, within us and in our communities. We are called to be messengers of God, his missionaries, his apostles who inspire serenity. There is no need to complain about the present time. Saint Augustine warns us: Β«People say, βThese are bad times.β Let them live good lives, and the times will be good: we are the times.Β» The times are not bad: this is the favorable time; it is the time of the archangels, the time of mission, the time of grace. On the great feast of September 29, together with the whole Church, let us invoke the help of the archangels, the pure spirits created by God who praise his presence and accompany us on our journey. Let us put them to work! Have you experienced the presence of the archangels? Do you have a reflection to share? Write it down: it could be the answer someone was looking for.
