Saint Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

BASIL THE GREAT:

Remember the vision of Daniel and how he brings the judgment before us … clearly disclosing in the hearing of all, angels and human beings, things good and evil, things done openly and in secret, deeds, words and thoughts all at once. What then must those people be who have lived wicked lives? Where then shall that soul hide that in the sight of all these spectators shall suddenly be revealed in its fullness of shame? With what kind of body shall it sustain those endless and unbearable pangs … without end? There is no release after death; no device, no means of coming forth from the chastisement of pain.¹

ORIGEN:

And to him to whom we offer firstfruits we also send up our prayers, “having a great high priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,” and “we hold fast this profession” as long as we live; for we find God and his only-begotten Son, manifested to us in Jesus, to be gracious and kind to us. And if we would wish to have besides a great number of beings who shall ever prove friendly to us, we are taught that “thousand thousands stood before him, and ten thousand times ten thousand ministered to him.” And these, regarding all as their relations and friends who imitate their piety toward God and in prayer call on him with sincerity, work along with them for their salvation, appear to them, deem it their office and duty to attend to them, and as if by common agreement they visit with all manner of kindness and deliverance those who pray to God, to whom they themselves also pray. “For they are all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation.”²

BASIL THE GREAT:

Do “thousand thousand” of angels stand before him, and “ten thousand times ten thousand” ministering spirits? They are blamelessly doing their proper work by the power of the Spirit. All the glorious and unspeakable harmony of the highest heavens in the service of God and in the mutual concord of the celestial powers can therefore be preserved only by the direction of the gradually perfected by increase and advance, but they are perfect from the moment of the creation, there is in creation the presence of the Holy Spirit, who confers on them the grace that flows from him for the completion and perfection of their essence.³

Footnotes

LETTER 46.5. Stevenson, K., & Gluerup, M. (Eds.). (2008). Ezekiel, Daniel (p. 230). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
AGAINST CELSUS 8.34. Stevenson, K., & Gluerup, M. (Eds.). (2008). Ezekiel, Daniel (pp. 232–233). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 16.38. Stevenson, K., & Gluerup, M. (Eds.). (2008). Ezekiel, Daniel (p. 233). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Daily Readings

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
by USCCB on December 26, 2024 at 9:30 am
Reading 1 Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 Stephen, filled with grace and power,was working great wonders and signs among the people.Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,and people from Cilicia and Asia,came forward and debated with Stephen,but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.When they heard this, they were infuriated,and they ground their teeth at him.But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,looked up intently to heavenand saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,and he said,"Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Manstanding at the right hand of God."But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,and rushed upon him together.They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.The witnesses laid down their cloaksat the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 R. (6) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.Be my rock of refuge,a stronghold to give me safety.You are my rock and my fortress;for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.Into your hands I commend my spirit;you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.Let your face shine upon your servant;save me in your kindness.R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Alleluia Ps 118:26a, 27a R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD:the LORD is God and has given us light.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 10:17-22 Jesus said to his disciples:"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courtsand scourge you in their synagogues,and you will be led before governors and kings for my sakeas a witness before them and the pagans.When they hand you over,do not worry about how you are to speakor what you are to say.You will be given at that moment what you are to say.For it will not be you who speakbut the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.Brother will hand over brother to death,and the father his child;children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.You will be hated by all because of my name,but whoever endures to the end will be saved." - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Saint Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

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