Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael

 Introduction

Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are the three archangels recognized in the Christian tradition, especially in Catholicism. They are celebrated together on **September 29** in a feast known as the **Feast of the Archangels**. Each of these archangels has a specific role in the divine plan, serving as messengers and protectors of God's people.

 Archangel Michael, Leader of the Heavenly Army

Role: He is the protector of the Church and is often depicted as a warrior defending heaven from the forces of evil. In the Book of Revelation, Michael leads the heavenly army against Satan.

Patronage: He is the patron saint of soldiers, police officers, and those in battle.

Depictions: Typically shown with armor, a sword or spear, and a shield, sometimes standing over a defeated dragon or demon.

 Archangel Gabriel, Messenger of God

Role: Gabriel is known for delivering important messages from God. His most famous appearances are in the Book of Daniel, where he explains visions, and in the New Testament, where he announces the births of John the Baptist to Zechariah and Jesus to the Virgin Mary (the Annunciation).

Patronage: Gabriel is the patron saint of messengers, postal workers, and telecommunications.

Depictions: He is often portrayed with a lily, symbolizing purity, or with a scroll.

 Archangel Raphael, Healer of God

Role: Raphael is known as a healer and guide. In the Book of Tobit, he guides Tobit’s son Tobias and helps to heal Tobit’s blindness. Raphael’s name means "God heals."

Patronage: He is the patron saint of travelers, healers, and those seeking guidance.

Depictions: Often shown with a staff, a fish (from the healing in the Book of Tobit), or sometimes walking alongside a young Tobias.

Significance of the Feast

Unity of the Archangel:  The feast day emphasizes the distinct yet complementary roles of the archangels in God’s plan. Their feast is a celebration of God's messengers who bring protection, healing, and divine guidance.

The archangels hold a special place in Christian tradition as protectors, healers, and messengers. Their feast day is a reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle and the presence of divine help in human affairs.

Saint Wenceslaus

 

Saint Wenceslaus, also known as Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, was born around 907 AD in present-day Czech Republic. He is remembered as a martyr and patron saint of the Czech state. Raised by his devout Christian grandmother, St. Ludmila, Wenceslaus embraced Christianity and sought to spread the faith in his rule as Duke of Bohemia.

When Wenceslaus came to power around 921 AD, Bohemia was a turbulent region, with conflicts between pagan and Christian factions. His efforts to consolidate the Christian faith and maintain peace with neighboring Germany earned him a reputation for being a just and pious ruler. Wenceslaus is especially praised for his charitable acts, devotion to the church, and his care for the poor. 

Significant Incident

The most notable incident in Wenceslaus' life was his martyrdom. His younger brother, Boleslaus the Cruel, led a conspiracy against him due to political differences and power struggles. On September 28, 935 AD, Boleslaus invited Wenceslaus to a feast in the town of Stará Boleslav under the guise of reconciliation. However, Boleslaus and his followers ambushed and murdered Wenceslaus on his way to church. His death is considered a martyrdom because Wenceslaus died for his Christian faith and values, and it led to his immediate veneration as a saint.

Wenceslaus' legacy is enduring, with his feast day celebrated on September 28. He became a symbol of Czech nationalism and Christian virtue, immortalized in the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas."

Saints Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin

 

Saint Louis Martin (1823–1894) is best known as the father of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, but his own life was marked by deep faith and devotion. He was born on August 22, 1823, in Bordeaux, France, into a military family. After an early desire to become a monk was thwarted due to health issues, he turned his attention to learning watchmaking, a trade he practiced with great success.

In 1858, Louis married Zélie Guérin, a lace-maker, and together they built a loving and devout home in Alençon, France. They had nine children, four of whom died in infancy, but their five daughters all became nuns, including the future Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Louis and Zélie raised their children with a strong sense of faith, charity, and devotion to God's will.

Significant Events in Louis Martin's Life:

1. Marriage to Zélie Guérin (1858): This union was central to his life. Both Louis and Zélie were declared saints together in 2015. Their shared spiritual journey and dedication to family life became the foundation for their daughters' religious vocations.

2. The Death of His Wife (1877): After Zéli noe’s death from breast cancer, Louis moved with his daughters to Lisieux. Despite his grief, he remained deeply committed to their spiritual formation.

3. Therese's Entry into Carmel (1888): Louis supported Thérèse's early desire to join the Carmelite convent, despite her young age. His willingness to let go of his youngest daughter for a life of contemplation showed his trust in God’s plan.

4. Suffering and Illness (1887-1894): In his later years, Louis suffered from arteriosclerosis and spent the final years of his life incapacitated by strokes. His suffering was a source of spiritual strength for Thérèse, who wrote about how she admired her father’s courage and faith during his illness.

Louis Martin’s example of fatherhood and faith was key in shaping the sanctity of his daughter, Thérèse. He was beatified along with his wife Zélie in 2008 and canonized in 2015. Their shared feast day is celebrated on July 12.

Saint John Henry Newman

 

Saint John Henry Newman (1801–1890) was an influential theologian, Anglican priest, and later a Catholic cardinal who played a significant role in religious thought in England during the 19th century. He was born in London and educated at Oxford, where he became a leading figure in the Church of England and a founder of the Oxford Movement, which aimed to bring the Anglican Church closer to its Catholic roots. 

Early Life and Anglican Ministry

Newman was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1825, and his early ministry was marked by deep theological reflection and academic achievements. He became the vicar of St. Mary’s University Church, Oxford, where his sermons gained a large following. His work with the Oxford Movement, which began in 1833, sought to emphasize the continuity of the Anglican Church with the early Christian Church and to revive certain Catholic traditions.

Conversion to Catholicism

The most significant event in Newman’s life occurred in 1845 when he converted to Roman Catholicism. This decision was the culmination of years of theological study and reflection, especially on issues of church authority and apostolic succession. His conversion shocked Victorian England, where anti-Catholic sentiment was strong, and it brought great personal and professional costs. However, it also made him famous, as his conversion was seen as a major intellectual victory for Catholicism in England.

 Catholic Priesthood and Cardinalate

After his conversion, Newman was ordained a Catholic priest in 1847. He went on to found the Birmingham Oratory in 1849, a religious community based on the Oratorian model established by St. Philip Neri. His writings during this period, including his autobiography *Apologia Pro Vita Sua* (1864), defended his religious views and recounted his spiritual journey, restoring his reputation and earning him widespread respect.

In 1879, Pope Leo XIII made Newman a cardinal in recognition of his contributions to Catholic theology and his defense of the faith. He remained a prominent intellectual figure, writing on a wide range of topics, including the development of Christian doctrine, conscience, and the relationship between faith and reason.

 Legacy

Newman’s work has had a lasting impact on both the Catholic and Anglican traditions. He was canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019, becoming the first English saint of the modern era. His writings continue to be influential in areas of theology, education, and the understanding of conscience. 

His contributions to education, particularly in his founding of the Catholic University of Ireland, and his ideas on the role of the laity in the church, are also notable.

The most significant event that made Newman famous was his conversion to Catholicism in 1845, which marked a turning point in his life and significantly influenced religious life in England. His intellectual rigor and defense of Catholicism through his writings solidified his status as one of the most important religious figures of his time.

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

 Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (1887–1968), commonly known as Padre Pio, was a Capuchin friar and priest renowned for his piety, charity, and the mystical phenomena attributed to him, such as the stigmata.

Early Life

Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, Padre Pio was raised in a devout Catholic family. From a young age, he felt drawn to religious life and entered the Capuchin friary at age 15, taking the name Pio. He was ordained as a priest in 1910, but due to health issues, he spent several years recovering in his hometown.

 Stigmata and Mystical Experiences

One of the most remarkable aspects of Padre Pio's life was the stigmata he bore for 50 years, from 1918 until his death in 1968. These were wounds resembling those of Christ's crucifixion, appearing on his hands, feet, and side. Despite extensive medical examinations and scrutiny by both Church and secular authorities, the cause of these wounds remained a mystery.

 Spiritual Gifts

Padre Pio was believed to possess numerous spiritual gifts, including bilocation (the ability to be in two places at once), prophecy, healing, and the ability to read souls during confession. He was a sought-after confessor, spending hours in the confessional daily. Many people experienced deep conversions after speaking with him.

 Significant Events

- 1918: Stigmata Appear – While praying before a crucifix in the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio received the visible stigmata, which he carried for the rest of his life.

- World War II: Healing and Protection – Padre Pio reportedly helped many soldiers during World War II through prayer and miracles, including protecting his town from bombings.

- Conflict with the Church– Due to the widespread attention surrounding the mystical phenomena, Padre Pio was subject to investigations and restrictions by Church authorities. At one point, he was prohibited from publicly celebrating Mass or hearing confessions, though these restrictions were later lifted.

1956: Foundation of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza – Padre Pio founded a hospital, the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza ("Home for the Relief of Suffering"), which became a major center for medical care and research.

 Later Life and Canonization

Padre Pio died on September 23, 1968, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2002. His feast day is celebrated on September 23. Today, he remains one of the most beloved modern saints, attracting pilgrims from around the world to San Giovanni Rotondo, where his tomb is located.

His life is a testimony to faith, suffering, and the power of prayer.

St. Matthew

 Saint Matthew’s Story

Matthew was a Jew who worked for the occupying Roman forces, collecting taxes from other Jews. The Romans were not scrupulous about what the “tax farmers” got for themselves. Hence the latter, known as “publicans,” were generally hated as traitors by their fellow Jews. The Pharisees lumped them with “sinners” (see Matthew 9:11-13). So it was shocking to them to hear Jesus call such a man to be one of his intimate followers.

Matthew got Jesus in further trouble by having a sort of going-away party at his house. The Gospel tells us that many tax collectors and “those known as sinners” came to the dinner. The Pharisees were still more badly shocked. What business did the supposedly great teacher have associating with such immoral people? Jesus’ answer was, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:12b-13). Jesus is not setting aside ritual and worship; he is saying that loving others is even more important.

No other particular incidents about Matthew are found in the New Testament.

Reflection

From such an unlikely situation, Jesus chose one of the foundations of the Church, a man others, judging from his job, thought was not holy enough for the position. But Matthew was honest enough to admit that he was one of the sinners Jesus came to call. He was open enough to recognize truth when he saw him. “And he got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9b).

Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and Companions

 Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and Companions’ Stories

The first native Korean priest, Andrew Kim Taegon was the son of Christian converts. Following his baptism at the age of 15, Andrew traveled 1,300 miles to the seminary in Macao, China. After six years, he managed to return to his country through Manchuria. That same year he crossed the Yellow Sea to Shanghai and was ordained a priest. Back home again, he was assigned to arrange for more missionaries to enter by a water route that would elude the border patrol. He was arrested, tortured, and finally beheaded at the Han River near Seoul, the capital.

Andrew’s father Ignatius Kim, was martyred during the persecution of 1839, and was beatified in 1925. Paul Chong Hasang, a lay apostle and married man, also died in 1839 at age 45.

Among the other martyrs in 1839 was Columba Kim, an unmarried woman of 26. She was put in prison, pierced with hot tools and seared with burning coals. She and her sister Agnes were disrobed and kept for two days in a cell with condemned criminals, but were not molested. After Columba complained about the indignity, no more women were subjected to it. The two were beheaded. Peter Ryou, a boy of 13, had his flesh so badly torn that he could pull off pieces and throw them at the judges. He was killed by strangulation. Protase Chong, a 41-year-old nobleman, apostatized under torture and was freed. Later he came back, confessed his faith and was tortured to death.

Christianity came to Korea during the Japanese invasion in 1592 when some Koreans were baptized, probably by Christian Japanese soldiers. Evangelization was difficult because Korea refused all contact with the outside world except for taking taxes to Beijing annually. On one of these occasions, around 1777, Christian literature obtained from Jesuits in China led educated Korean Christians to study. A home Church began. When a Chinese priest managed to enter secretly a dozen years later, he found 4,000 Catholics, none of whom had ever seen a priest. Seven years later there were 10,000 Catholics. Religious freedom came to Korea in 1883.

Besides Andrew and Paul, Pope John Paul II canonized 98 Koreans and three French missionaries who had been martyred between 1839 and 1867, when he visited Korea in 1984. Among them were bishops and priests, but for the most part they were lay persons: 47 women and 45 men.

Reflection

We marvel at the fact that the Korean Church was strictly a lay Church for a dozen years after its birth. How did the people survive without the Eucharist? It is no belittling of this and other sacraments to realize that there must be a living faith before there can be a truly beneficial celebration of the Eucharist. The sacraments are signs of God’s initiative and response to faith already present. The sacraments increase grace and faith, but only if there is something ready to be increased.