Today is the patronal feast day of Mount Angel Abbey as we honor Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael! It is also known as Michaelmas.

Michael’s name in Hebrew means “Who is like God?” He is the head of the legion of angels in the fight against evil (Revelation 12:7-12). His protection is invoked in our daily prayers especially when the siren is heard for police officers and fire fighters.

Saint Gabriel, the Strength of God, announced the coming of Jesus to our Lady. His most famous words, “Hail, full of Grace,” marks the beginning of the New Testament (Luke 1:26-28). This beautiful greeting has become the common prayer said on the lips of many Christians. In my own life, I have served one parish after this archangel’s name in San Francisco. A loving and vibrant community whose beloved pastor and friend has recently gone to glory.

Saint Raphael, Medicine of God, is the Archangel who cared for Tobias on his journey. He cured the sight of his father, Tobit, with the heart, liver, and gall of a fish (Tobit 6:9). Personally, I spent one year at the parish of Saint Raphael in San Rafael, California. I met many wonderful people in this community and learned many important pastoral lessons for life.

The one like God, our strength, and our medicine, these three are our friends on the journey to everlasting life!

Remarkable Customs

In the Anglican church, this feast is known as Saint Michael and All Angels. In the Orthodox Church, the feast of Archangels is celebrated on November 8.

There are beautiful customs surrounding Michaelmas. In England, you eat goose for a prosperous year. In Ireland, if you found the ring in the Michaelmas pie, you would soon be married.

In Scotland, making bread during Michaelmas marks the end of harvest. Made with oats, barley, and rye, the Bonnach Stuthan is a delight.

There is a legend. After Michael thrust Lucifer out of Heaven, Lucifer fell into a blackberry bush. He spat on it. The berries turned bitter. Hence, no one picked berries after Michaelmas.

The Angels Ascend and Descend

Angels are found in the Old and New Testaments. They are the protagonists in the story of God’s saving events. Where do we find angels? The prophet Daniel gives the hint.
In the passage from Daniel, the prophet sees the Son of Man. He also sees “thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attend him.” These are the angels! They surround God and serve God at every moment with unwavering commitment.
When Jesus sees Nathaniel in the fig tree, he calls out. Jesus knows everything about Nathaniel. John recalls the conversation as Jesus says, “You will see heaven opened … You will see the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” The image of the movement of angels is from Jacob’s ladder. It shows the angels ascend and descend from the heavens.
At the first Christmas, the angels adore the awesomeness of God as the Word becomes flesh (Luke 2:14). The angel Gabriel announces the plan of God to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-28). In Matthew’s account, the angel gives courage to Joseph in a dream. The angel leads the holy family to exile. Angels minister to our Lord after the forty days in the desert (Mark 1:12-15). They console him in his agony (Matthew 26:36-46). They witness his dying. They also play a significant role in announcing his Resurrection (Matthew 28:2; Mark 16:5). The angels ascend and descend wherever Jesus is.
Mount Angel and all who belong to the hilltop community look to the angels. We adore the Lord Jesus with them. Wherever Jesus is, angels are there myriads upon myriads surrounding his throne. We hear in the Collect at Mass that the angels defend us in this life. They minister perpetually at God’s throne.

Mount Angel continues to be a special place for me. I live far away from the physical hilltop. But, I feel the nearness of the monk’s prayers in my daily life. Here’s a video on the hilltop. Enjoy!

We are celebrating this important feast in our hilltop community. Let the words in the Communion Antiphon at Mass resound in our hearts. “I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; in the presence of the Angels, I will praise you.”