Vigils Reading – St Michael & All Angels

A reading from

THE CATECHISM OF

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

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St Augustine says: “Angel’ is the name of their office, not of their nature.

If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their

office, it is ‘angel’: From what they are, ‘spirit’, from what they do, ‘angel’.“

With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God.

Because they always behold the face of the Father who is in heaven they are the

“mighty ones who do his word, harkening to the voice of his word.“

As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are

personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures,

as the splendor of their glory bears witness. Christ is the center of the angelic

world. They are his angels: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all

the angels with him…” They belong to him because they were created through

and for him: “for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible

and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities.“

They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his

saving plan: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the

sake of those who are to obtain salvation?“

Angels have been present since creation throughout the history of

salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the

accomplishment of the divine plan: they closed the earthly paradise; protected

Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law

by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and

assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples. Finally, the angel Gabriel

announced the birth and the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.

From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is

surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God “brings the

firstborn into the world, he says: “Let all God’s angels worship him“. Their song

of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church’s praise:

“Glory to God in the highest!” They protect Jesus in his infancy, serve him in

the desert, strengthen him in his agony in the garden, when he could have been

saved by them from the hands of his enemies as Israel had been. Again, it is the

angels who “evangelize” by proclaiming the Good News of Christ’s Incarnation

and Resurrection. They will be present at Christ’s return, which they will

announce, to serve at his judgment.

In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the

mysterious and powerful help of angels. In her liturgy, the Church joins with

the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance…in the

funeral liturgy’s “May the angels lead you into Paradise“.

Moreover, in the “Cherubic Hymn” of the Byzantine Liturgy, she

celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly St Michael, St

Gabriel, St Raphael, and the guardian angels. From infancy to death human life

is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession…