ANGELS

Angels are mentioned in both the Old and the New Testament. In Revelation they follow Satan as well as God. The seraphim have six wings, and cherubim are winged creatures with human faces. Angels appear during Jesus ministry, to Him and to others. The word comes from the Greek for 'messenger'.

Jewish and Christian traditions say that seven archangels stand before the throne of God. Only three are named, Gabriel, Raphael and Michael. Gabriel means man of God. His role was to announce God's will. He told the prophet Daniel when the Messiah would come, and informed Zechariah that his elderly wife Elizabeth would have a son whose name was to be John. Gabriel was also sent to Nazareth to tell Mary she would bear God's own Son. Negro slaves believed that Gabriel would blow the trumpet announcing the last Judgement.

Raphael means healing of God. In the Book of Tobit, in the Apocrypha (books rejected from the Bible because they were not originally in Hebrew), there is the story of Tobias and the Angel. Raphael drives out the evil spirit from Tobias' bride, saves him from being swallowed by a big fish, and brings joy to their parents. He was also identified as the angel who stirred up the water of the sheep-pool, mentioned in St John's Gospel. John Milton, the poet, called Raphael "the affable Archangel".

Michael's name means who is like God? which was his war cry. He is the guardian of Israel. In Revelation he leads the angels in killing Satan, who is shown as a dragon. As the angelic leader he was considered to be very powerful, and was greatly honoured by the early Christians. His sculpture is on the outside wall of Coventry Cathedral. Michaelmas, on September 29th, is the third quarter-day of the legal year. Geese were always eaten at Michaelmas because they were at their best.

Catholics believe that everyone has a guardian angel, and people have had contact with angels through the centuries. A famous angelic appearance was seen by the soldiers at Mons in 1914.

Written by Geraldine Taylor

For further reading on the 'Angel of Mons' see Australian War Memorial : Angel of Mons
St Marks West Parley is not resposible for the content of external web sites. Link opens in new window