St Gabriel and St Michael
Sister Josephine saw in the cherubs on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant the archangels St Gabriel and St Michael.
"Gabriel" refers to the book of Daniel where "the angel Gabriel" announced to Daniel a key period from the dedication in 515BC of the Temple rebuilt by Zerubbabel on his return from Babylon: 70 weeks [of years] i.e. 490 years with a range of 70 years, then 7 weeks i.e. 7 x 7 = 49 years with a range of 7 years (Dan 9:24). These calculations indicate a period from the restoration of the Temple by Herod the Great and the birth of Mary, until her death. During all these years, the messianic expectation of the readers of the book of Daniel was at its peak. And this expectation was fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah.
"Gabriel" means "God is my strength". What strength was indeed necessary for the Virgin Mary to welcome into her womb the Messiah conceived of the Holy Spirit, the Holy One of Israel! What strength was also needed by St Joseph, to whom the angel Gabriel said: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:20-21).
Let us pray to the angel Gabriel to understand and fulfil God's plan.
"Michael" is Hebrew for "Mi-Ka-El: Who is like God? Let's ask ourselves this question! Money? It can melt in a day. Carnal pleasures? They disappear too. Power? It is so often manipulated by others... Who is like God? It was with this question that the archangel resisted the revolt of Satan, the fallen angel.
Revelation chapter 5 describes the heavenly liturgy, the worship of the Lamb; Revelation chapter 12 shows us what is at stake in a time of worship by describing a battle in heaven, that of St. Michael against Satan and the demons (Rev 12:7).
In the hour of adoration, our soul cries out with St. Michael: "Who is like God (Mi-Ka-El)? Who is great like you Lord? Lord, we adore you. And the demons are defeated.
"Saint Michael, full of the wisdom of God, pray for us
Saint Michael, perfect adorer of the divine Word, pray for us
Saint Michael, guide and comforter of the people of Israel, pray for us
Saint Michael, splendour and fortress of the Church militant, pray for us
Saint Michael, our help in all our adversities, pray for us
Saint Michael, herald of the eternal sentence, pray for us
Saint Michael, comforter of souls held in the flames of Purgatory, pray for us
Saint Michael, whom the Lord has entrusted to receive souls after death, pray for us [1].
Let us particularly pray St Michael to resist the satanically inspired "beast and false prophet", to resist the snares of the Antichrist, until the day of Christ's glorious coming.
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“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26). So it is right, during Eucharistic adoration, to express our desire for the Coming of Jesus in Glory and the fulfilment of the Kingdom of God, on earth as it is in heaven!
“Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20)
FIAT! AMEN! MARANATHA!
[1] Excerpt from the Litany of Saint Michael