We now have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a Catholic Mass in the medieval stone church of Messukylä on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (Address: Kivikirkontie 2, 33700 Tampere) On that Thursday, we will liturgically celebrate the memorial day of the Holy Guardian Angels, and the old church in Messukylä is specifically dedicated to an angel, namely the archangel Michael. This medieval gray stone church is the oldest building in Tampere. It is also known colloquially as Mikko, after its patron saint Michael.
October 2: Memorial Day of the Holy Guardian Angels
Belief in guardian angels appears in both the Old and New Testaments, but is based in particular on the words of Jesus: “Their angels always see the face of my Father” (Matt. 18:10). However, liturgical veneration of guardian angels only became widespread in the 15th and 16th centuries, initially in connection with the feast of the Archangel Michael on September 29. In fact, the custom of celebrating a separate feast in honor of guardian angels originated in Spain in the 15th century and quickly spread to Portugal and, during the Habsburg “Spanish period,” also to Austria. In 1670, Pope Clement X decreed that the feast of the holy guardian angels should be celebrated throughout the Church on October 2.
The prayer for the Feast of the Holy Angels on October 2 says: “Almighty God, in your fatherly care you send your holy angels to protect us. Grant that we may always experience their protection in this life and rejoice with them in heaven one day.”
September 29: Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
From the beginning, long before it began to honor martyrs, the Church has shown respect for angels. The Old and New Testaments speak of angels as messengers, “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). Judaism developed a doctrine of seven archangels, three of whom were known by name: Michael (“Who is like God?”), Gabriel (“God is my strength”) and Raphael (“God has healed”). These archangels, or leaders of the armies, are the eighth group in the nine-tiered angelic hierarchy, the second choir of the third hierarchy.
The veneration of angels first became widespread in connection with the feast of the Archangel Michael. In Italy, Michael was already venerated in the 4th century on September 29, when Pope Leo I consecrated the Church of St. Michael on the Via Salaria. Since 1970, the feast has also been celebrated in the Church as the feast of the three archangels (Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael). At every Holy Mass, the Church joins the angelic choir in worshipping the Triune God: “Holy, holy, holy…”. The angels’ song of praise at the birth of Christ still echoes in our churches in the high chant of the Gloria, or Song of Glory. In the Penitential Act, at the beginning of the Mass, we ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angels, and the saints to pray for us sinners.
In addition to being the protector of all humanity, Pope Pius XII also declared Michael the heavenly protector of police officers in 1950. The archangel Michael is also the protector of the Pietarsaari chapel, which belongs to our Holy Cross parish in Tampere. In 1951, Pope Pius XII declared the Archangel Gabriel the heavenly protector of those working in the electronic media, including radio journalists, naturally on the basis of Gabriel’s role as a messenger. On the other hand, Archangel Raphael is the patron saint of many professions, pilgrims, emigrants, and the sick.
In September and October, we celebrate the feast of the angels, so it is a wonderful opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the old church in Messukylä on the feast day of the Holy Guardian Angels (2.10. at 5.00 pm)!
Everyone is warmly welcome!
Kind regards,
Fr. Tri Nguyen
Parish priest
+358503617942