Excerpts of a Homily given by Pope St. Gregory the Great circa the year 590 AD:"Some angels are given proper names to denote the service they are empowered to perform. (Therefore) personal names are assigned to some, not because they could not be known without them, but rather to denote their ministry when they come among us. Thus, Michael means 'Who is like God?'; Gabriel is 'The Strength of God'; and Raphael is 'God's Remedy'.
"Whenever some act of wonderous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by His superior power.
"So too Gabriel, who is called God's Strength, was sent to Mary. He came to announce the One who appeared as a humble man to quell the cosmic powers. Thus God's Strength announced the coming of the Lord of the heavenly powers, mighty in battle.
"Raphael means, as I have said, God's Remedy, for when he touched Tobit's eyes in order to cure him, he banished the darkness of his blindness. Thus, since he is to heal, he is rightly called God's Remedy."
... ... ... ... "An angel stood by the altar, holding a golden censer; a large quantity of incense was given to him, and clouds of incense rose from the hand of the angel in the presence of the Lord." ... ... ... ... Revelation 8:3.4
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