Seven Archangels
We are surrounded by danger everywhere. Demonic forces
continue their battle against the followers of Christ.
God allows this, in order for us to be able to exhibit
spiritual steadfastness and fealty to the Trinity.
But in this daily and hourly struggle we are provided
by God with great defenders and helpers — the
holy angels, headed by the seven highest archangels:
- Michael
- Gabriel
- Raphael
- Uriel
- Selaphiel
- Jegudiel
- Barachiel.
The names given here mostly come from the Eastern
Orthodox tradition.
Archangel Michael from the time that God
expelled Lucifer (Satan) from Heaven, he became the
head of the entire heavenly host. For his zeal in
working for God, he is honored by the Church even
to this day.
Archangel Gabriel has been entrusted with
the service of being the messenger to mankind. He came
with the Lord's tidings of forthcoming miraculous
events to the parents of St. John the Baptist,
to the parents of the Holy Virgin Mary, and also
to the Mother of God Herself and the righteous
Joseph. Archangel Gabriel is the messenger of God's
Providence, the attendant of miracles and divine
Mysteries. When we are overcome with doubts, when
it seems to us that we have been abandoned by everyone
and there is no help from anywhere, let us pray to
Archangel Gabriel, that by his prayers the Lord would
reveal to us His most holy will and would set our
life upon the course of salvation.
Archangel Raphael is a merciful healer, sent
by God to comfort the sick and the sorrowing. From
the Holy Scripture, we know that Archangel Raphael
helped expel demons from the woman, Sarah. And how
many 15th century people there are nowadays
who are possessed by demons. Alas, both they and
their relatives often turn for help to sorcerers
who nowadays hide behind the pseudo-scientific name
of extra senses. But will sorcerers,
these servants of the devil, expel demons? Obviously
not. The power to expel demons and heal those who
are possessed by them belongs to the holy angels
and particularly to Archangel Raphael. Let us ask
him to intercede for us before the Lord, Giver of
all good things.
The name of Archangel Uriel means the
light or the fire of God. This archangel enlightens
the minds and the hearts of the faithful with the
light of divine truths and the fire of divine love.
All those who embark upon the study of knowledge
can and should pray to this archangel to enlighten
their minds and hearts, to avoid a destructive
chasm between knowledge and faith.
Archangel Selaphiel is the patron of prayer.
He is even depicted so on icons: with eyes gazing
downward, with hands crossed on his chest, with an
air of humility and deep inner concentration. He
is our primary teacher of prayer. Prayer is the most
difficult thing to achieve, and one must be instructed
in it. Unfortunately, some people assiduously study
various worldly subjects but disdain the study of
the most important topic in the world — the
Jesus prayer. Let us pray to Archangel Salaphiel
for the Lord to grant us this gift of divine prayer.
Archangel Jegudiel is the patron, defender,
and helper of all those who work. And we all must
do such, for we have been commanded to eat our bread
in the sweat of our faces. We toil not only physically,
to earn our daily bread, but also spiritually, to perfect ourselves.
The Archangel Jegudiel is depicted on icons with
a crown of victory in his hands. Such crowns will
be earned by those of us who will endure to the very
end, who will worthily bear the light yoke of Christ.
We are faced with a complex task, so let us ask Archangel
Jegudiel for help in our daily lives.
Archangel Barachiel is the angel of God's
blessings. While asking God to bless all our good
efforts, let us also appeal to Archangel Barachiel
for help. However, we must accept the Lord's
blessing not only for prosperity but also for our
cross, i.e. the sorrows without which there is no
salvation. And may Archangel Barachiel give us strength
to carry our blessed crosses.
Source: Catholic Answers Forum. |
