Catholic tradition celebrates the feast of the three archangels

The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the three archangels—Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael—on September 29. According to biblical tradition and teachings from Pope Francis, each archangel holds a specific mission: Michael is associated with the struggle against evil, Gabriel serves as a messenger of God, and Raphael acts as a guide and companion.

In Michoacán, Mexico, the devotion to Saint Michael the Archangel is one of the region's oldest religious traditions. Introduced by Franciscan missionaries following the arrival of the order in 1524, the celebration has been observed in communities such as Charo, Tarímbaro, Uruapan, and Tarecuato since the early years of evangelization. The cult of Saint Michael is deeply linked to the Franciscan Order due to the tradition that Saint Francis of Assisi received the stigmata after an encounter with the archangel.