Posted on 09/29/2007 3:35:01 PM PDT by NYer
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This coming week we approach two feast days in the Church's liturgical calendar that remind us of the significant role of the angels in the providential plan of God, and the day to day challenges of man. September 29 is the Feast Day of the Archangels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, and October 2 is the memorial of the Guardian Angels.
There are hundreds of references in the Sacred Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) to these special beings, created by God as cooperators in the work of salvation. The Compendium of the Catechism teaches us about angels: "The angels are purely spiritual creatures, incorporeal, invisible, immortal, and personal beings endowed with intelligence and will. They ceaselessly contemplate God face-to-face and they glorify Him. They serve Him and are His messengers in the accomplishment of His saving mission to all." (n. 60)
The word angel means "messenger" and God uses them in many instances to communicate to mankind His saving interventions on earth: whether it is the Archangel Gabriel announcing the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, or the choirs of angels announcing the birth of the Savior to shepherds near Bethlehem. In the Old Testament the "angel of the Lord" presents to the holy Patriarchs the will of God and even delivers God's punishment for the people's infidelity. St Raphael guides the journey of Tobias to completion in accord with God's plan.
From the Scriptures the Church gleans its understanding of the different "ranks" or "choirs" of angels, giving us a sense of the myriad tasks they continue to carry out.
Scripture says we are given an angel as a guardian to watch over us and guide us. Blessed Pope John XXIII had a deep devotion to the Guardian Angels, grasping how they could be called upon to help us in our work for God in the Church. When the future Pope served in the Vatican's diplomatic service, he was often assisted by the angels. Whenever he was approaching what he thought would be a contentious meeting or negotiation, he would pray not only to his Guardian Angel, but also to the angel of the person he was meeting. Together Blessed John and the two angelic helpers would constitute a three-to-one majority, capable of winning over the heart of his would-be adversary.
For generations, Catholics in the United States concluded the celebration of Holy Mass with the prayer to St. Michael for the conversion of Russia. In the Book of Revelation, St. Michael is presented as the leader of God's heavenly host for the overthrow of Satan. The demons are fallen angels whose prideful free choice against God cost them their status in heaven. Rightly called "the father of lies," Satan never ceases to mislead souls away from the living Truth, Jesus Christ. The devil and his minions are infinitely less powerful than God, but one of the most vicious ways they harm man is by deceiving us with half truths and false gratifications that give us only passing pleasure.
Human beings are not demons but we can be seduced, and we must never fail to turn to the angels to help us. I ask you to join me in praying this prayer frequently to seek God's protection and help for our families, our diocese, and our world.
"St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host cast into hell: Satan, and all the evil spirits who roam about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
All you angels, come to our aid! Mary, Queen of angels, Pray for us!
END
Look on the bright side of this. You have a guardian angel. I posted an example above of how these guardians assist us when called upon to do so. The next time you find yourself in diffculty, ask your guardian angel for assistance. I have read stories of the intervention of angels in some truly extraordinary circumstances.
Soooooo...I take that you don;t go to a Church!!
Of course I go to a Church, 3x a week. And more
Guess you haven’t heard of manners! LOL!
I ask Mary to pray for me to God. I ask God to help me all the time, and on a personal level, because I know my Guardian Angel is always next to me, I ask them for help.
I’m so sorry that you don’t believe you have a Guardian Angel, because you do.
What denomination? What’s the name??
Being one of the little ones, I know my angel in heaven sees the face of God. I often ask the Lord to send me an angel or more, but as they are His to do with as He pleases, I ask Him, not them.
I told you. It was founded by God years ago
For Cripe’s sake...why won’t you say the name of the Church denomination...Maybe it doesn’t exist.
Well it’s in the scriptures. I can “rev” up the handy dandy scripture generator if you like
Funny how you are so emabrarrassed that you won’t answer a simple little question......funny.
Wow. That is one goofy, unBiblical, verging-on-blasmphemy doctrine of the RCC.
Where in Scripture does it say we are to love anyone but God for all eternity? Where does it say in Scripture we are to praise and glorify anyone but the Triune God of all creation?
Is there no discernment in the minds of those who pray this abomination? In doing so, they are glorifying a created being when we're instructed there is only one name worthy of our praise.
"Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is His name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." -- Proverbs 30:4-6 "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven." -- Psalm 148:13
They just make this stuff up. It must appeal to a certain natural tendency to praise the creation over the Creator. "If thou canst tell?"
Apparently, some cannot.
MORNING:
Angel of God,
My Guardian Dear,
to whom His love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and to guard,
to rule and guide.
NOON:
Guardian Angel, watch over those whose names you can read in my heart. Guard over them with every care and make their way easy and their labours fruitful. Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, repentance if they fail.
NIGHT
Good night, my Guardian Angel, The day has sped away; Well spent or ill, its story Is written down for aye. And now, of God’s kind Providence, Thou image pure and bright, Watch over me while I’m sleeping. My Angel dear, good night!
YOPIOS
lol
lol
lol. Your socks match your tie?
“I ask Mary to pray for me to God. I ask God to help me all the time, and on a personal level, because I know my Guardian Angel is always next to me, I ask them for help.”
The Communion of the Saints seems to be one of those realities that escape some.
My boots match the mud, that’s about what it amounts to
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