On September 29th the Church honors the Holy Archangels. Although there are believed to be seven archangels (based on Tobit 12:15 and Rev. 8:2), only these three are mentioned by name in the Catholic Bible:

• St. Gabriel

• St. Michael

• St. Raphael

Only one of them, St. Michael, is specifically called an archangel in Scripture. According to Catholic tradition, the archangels are an order of angels within a hierarchy of angelic hosts. In all, there are nine ranks, or choirs, of angelic beings.