Angels and archangels seem to be very familiar and at the same time very mysterious beings. Born Catholics grow up with the belief that they are protected by a "guardian angel" and religious books for children often depict a creature dressed in white with wings protecting a child. Such pictures show two elements in our notion of "angel", namely the mysterious element and the protective element. Angels are mysterious, but the important concept of their ministry of protection leads the special feast honouring our Guardian Angels on October 2nd. Today's feast, however, celebrates the three archangels whose names we are most familiar with. The three Hebrew names, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, contain a reference to God.

As we grow older the notion of angels may play a much less important role in our spiritual life but the fact that their names contain the word for "God" and the general doctrine of their protective ministry will always, whether consciously or unconsciously, be important and consoling in our lives for, as Scripture teaches us in various places, our God is a protecting God. God is love and love in its finest form will always be drawn in some way to the ministry of protection.