Our Three Angels

The comedy, My Three Angels, once tauted as a perennial favorite in high school productions, first appeared in France in 1910 as La Cuisine Des Anges, by Albert Husson.  It made it to Broadway in 1953 and ran for 344 performances.  In 1955 it appeared as a film, We're No Angels, with Humphrey Bogart making a rare comedy appearance and leading a star-studded cast.  Since then it has faded from memory, except for a few local revivals, However, its message of self-sacrifice in lifting others out of difficulty and the ultimate triumph of good over evil remains as current today as it was in 1910, or forever.
Today's feast celebrates three other angels, archangels in fact, whose mission not only remains relevant, but continues to serve as an inspiration to us.  Michael, "Defender in the Battle" is invoked in the daily war waged against the powers of evil, the "wickedness and snares of the devil", which besiege us on every side.  When tempted, a short prayer to St. Michael will help dismiss the invitation to give in to some sort of evil thought or action.  Gabriel was the deliverer of the good news of the impending births of John the Baptist to Zechariah and, with her consent, the birth of the Son of God, Jesus, to Mary.  We too can be messengers of good news, invoking Gabriel before an encounter with the folks who enter our lives from the person behind the deli counter, or the check-out woman, a colleague at work, members of our family...anyone and everyone. And Raphael, the protector and the healer in the Book of Tobit.  Wouldn't we all like the ablilty to lay hands on the countless number of people who suffer from physical infirmity and bring healing to them?  But simply by holding back a snappy retort provoked by annoyance can avert a hurtful encounter before healing is needed.  And praying to Raphael for the sick...something we may rarely think of, invokes the power and gift of God's messenger of healing.  Today is the day to begin thinking of the role our three angels can play in our desire and attempts to live the message of the Gospel.  Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, and all the Angels of Heaven, come to our aid and be part of our lives.  Amen.
Bro. Rene
PS.  I just noticed the time for publication of this slice today has passed. It will appear as a bonus with tomorrow's slice.  Sorry.  Got too engrossed in applying the possibilities the three archangels could have in our lives.