Today, Sept. 29, we commemorate the feast of the three archangels who played an important role in the history of man’s salvation: Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the only angels named in the Sacred Scriptures.
A concelebrated feast day mass will be officiated by Fr. Carlo del Rosario, assistant secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and Fr. Carmelo Arada, Jr., parish priest of the Our Lady of Penafrancia Parish at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sep. 29, at the National Shrine of St. Michael and the Archangels in San Miguel, Manila in solemn commemoration of the feast of the three archangels.
The Eucharistic celebration will be preceded by a procession/motorcade at 5 p.m. Holy masses will also be celebrated at 6:30 a.m. and at 12 noon. Novena masses were held from Sept. 20 to 28.
The masses will be streamed live via the parish Facebook page.
Feast masses will also be offered at the San Rafael Parish in Balut, Tondo, Manila.
Holy masses in observance of the feast will also be offered in Oas, Albay, in honor of its patron saint, St. Michael (San Miguel), in Irosin, Sorsogon, in Gandara, San Sebastian, and Basey in Samar; as well as in Iligan City.
St. Michael, whose name means “who is like God,” was assigned to cast Lucifer out of heaven for challenging the sovereignty of God. He is invoked against the power of evil and temptations. Known as the Prince of Heavenly Host, St. Michael is the leader of all the angels.
St. Gabriel, the “Power or the Strength of God,” was sent to announce the birth of Jesus Christ to the Virgin Mary and the birth of St. John the Baptist to his father, Zacharias. He is the patron saint of childbirth and messengers.
St. Raphael, the “Medicine of God,” was appointed to cure sickness of the spirit and of the body. He is the patron saint of the blind, the youth, and against body ills and sickness.