Between the rustle of leaves and that first crisp, cool breeze, there’s something about fall that lifts our minds and hearts to ethereal realities. In the Church, early autumn is a time to celebrate the feasts of many great saints, including the purely spiritual beings we call angels. Honor our winged protectors this season with these angelic activities.
Sept. 29 is the feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Each makes an appearance in Holy Scripture and is invoked in times of great need. The most famous of these events is in Luke 1:26-38, when the angel Gabriel appears to the Blessed Virgin Mary asking her to bear God’s Son. Visit St. Gabriel Parish in Charlotte to glimpse associated artwork, including colorful statues of the three archangels that were hand-carved in Milan and donated by a parish family.