Posted on 10/02/2007 7:58:41 AM PDT by Salvation
|
Memorial of the Guardian Angels
|
|
Reading 1
Zec 8:20-23
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
There shall yet come peoples,
the inhabitants of many cities;
and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another,
and say, “Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD”;
and, “I too will go to seek the LORD.”
Many peoples and strong nations shall come
to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem
and to implore the favor of the LORD.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
In those days ten men of every nationality,
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (Zec 8:23) God is with us.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. God is with us.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those that know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
“This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. God is with us.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. God is with us.
Gospel
Mt 18:1-5, 10
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.
Guardian angels caught on film?
Question: “Are there really such things as guardian angels?”
Padre Pio and the Guardian Angel
Her unborn 'guardian angels' inspire pro-life work
God Created the Angels as Individual, Immortal Spirits with Intelligence and Free Will
The Angels in Sacred Scripture
Angels in the History of the Church
Angels - in Heaven, on Earth and in Hell
Catholic Q&A: Angels and Demons (Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer)
Question: “Are there really such things as guardian angels?”
|
Feasts:
|
 |
October Devotion: The Holy Rosary
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Pope Leo XIII personally started the practice of devoting October to the Rosary devotion. In a letter of September 1, 1883, mindful of the Rosary's power to strengthen faith and foster a life of virtue, he outlined the triumphs of the Rosary in past times and admonished the faithful to dedicate the month of October to the Blessed Virgin through the daily recitation of her Rosary in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, in order to obtain through her intercession the grace that God would console and defend His Church in her sufferings. We highly recommend that you read Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, or "On the Most Holy Rosary." It explains even further this wonderful devotion, and introduces the optional mysteries of light, or Luminous mysteries. |
INVOCATION
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
TO THE QUEEN OF THE HOLY ROSARY
Queen of the most holy Rosary, in these times of such brazen impiety, manifest thy power with the signs of thine ancient victories, and from thy throne, whence thou dost dispense pardon and graces, mercifully regard the Church of thy Son, His Vicar on earth, and every order of clergy and laity, who are sore oppressed in the mighty conflict. Do thou, who art the powerful vanquisher of all heresies, hasten the hour of mercy, even though the hour of God's justice is every day provoked by the countless sins of men. For me who am the least of men, kneeling before thee in supplication, do thou obtain the grace I need to live righteously upon earth and to reign among the just in heaven, the while in company with all faithful Christians throughout the world, I salute thee and acclaim thee as Queen of the most holy Rosary:
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
TO OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
O Virgin Mary, grant that the recitation of thy Rosary may be for me each day, in the midst of my manifold duties, a bond of unity in my actions, a tribute of filial piety, a sweet refreshment, an encouragement to walk joyfully along the path of duty. Grant, above all, O Virgin Mary, that the study of thy fifteen mysteries may form in my soul, little by little, a luminous atmosphere, pure, strengthening, and fragrant, which may penetrate my understanding, my will, my heart, my memory, my imagination, my whole being. So shall I acquire the habit of praying while I work, without the aid of formal prayers, by interior acts of admiration and of supplication, or by aspirations of love. I ask this of thee, O Queen of the holy Rosary, through Saint Dominic, thy son of predilection, the renowned preacher of thy mysteries, and the faithful imitator of thy virtues. Amen.
FOR THE CRUSADE OF THE FAMILY ROSARY
The Family Rosary Crusade, organized and directed by Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., sought to revive the practice of families reciting the Rosary daily within their homes. The Crusade has the encouragement and support of Pope Pius XII and it is succeeding admirably in realizing the desire of the Pope that no family would allow a day to pass without the recitation of the Rosary. This prayer was composed by Cardinal Spellman when the Crusade visited his Archdiocese.
O Queen of the most holy Rosary: with hearts full of confidence we earnestly beseech you to bless the Crusade of the Family Rosary. From you came the grace to begin it. >From you must come the grace to win souls to it. We beg you to bless this Crusade so that from every home the incense of this prayer will daily rise before you, O admirable Mother.
O Queen of Homes: by the power of the Rosary we beseech you to embrace all the members of our family in the love of your Immaculate Heart. May you abide with us and we with you, praying to you while you pray for us. May you preside in our homes as once you did at Nazareth with Jesus and Joseph, filling them with the holiness of your presence and inspiration.
O Queen of Peace: it is you who have placed the Rosary in our hands. It is you who bid us to recite it daily. By the power of the Family Rosary we beseech you to obtain peace for uspeace within our hearts, our homes, our country and throughout the world. Through the daily recitation of the Family Rosary we beg you to keep sin from our souls, enmities from our hearts and war from our shores. By the graces received from the devotion of the Family Rosary we pray to be made helpful to one another in following the paths of virtue so that we may be found worthy to be called children of your family, children of your home. Amen.
Cardinal Spellman
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. >From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Tips on Praying a Family Rosary
SRI LANKA CATHOLICS START ROSARY CHAIN FOR PEACE
Rosary Aids Spiritual Growth, Says Pope
Rosary to Mark St. Martha's Feast
Estimated 50,000 recite rosary in event at Rose Bowl
Father Benedict Groeschel on the Rosary
Catholic Caucus: The Holy Rosary
The Power of the Rosary - A Weapon Against Terrorism
Rosary May Contribute to Unity Says Protestant Theologian
Papal Address on the Rosary as a Weapon of Peace
John Paul II Makes a Rosary Appeal [Our Lady of the Rosary]
October: Month of the Holy Rosary
Archbishop Sheen Today! -- Praying the Rosary
THE ORIGIN OF THE ROSARY _______________________________ Tradition has long connected Saint Dominic and his Order with the preaching of the Rosary. Dominic’s followers have been called the “Friars of Mary.” The fifteen-decade Rosary adorns their habit with the frequent reminder that they are united to the Son of God in the living presence of our Blessed Mother.
From: Matthew 18:1-5, 10
The “Little Ones” and the Kingdom. The Lost Sheep
[1] At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the
greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” [2] And calling to Him a child,
He put him in the midst of them, [3] and said, “Truly, I say to you,
unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the
Kingdom of Heaven. [4] Whoever humbles himself like this child,
he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
[5] “Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.
[10] “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell
you that in Heaven their angels always behold the face of My Father
who is in Heaven.
Commentary:
1-35. The teachings of Jesus recorded in chapter 18 of St. Matthew
are often called the “discourse on the Church” or “ecclesiastical
discourse” because they are a series of instructions on the way in
which His Church is to be administered.
The first passage (Matthew 18:1-5), addressed to leaders, that is, the
future hierarchy of the Church, warns them against natural tendencies
to pride and ambition: even though they have positions of government,
they must act with humility. In verses 6-10 Jesus emphasizes the
fatherly care which pastors of the Church should have for the “little
ones”—a term which covers everyone in need of special care for what-
ever reason (because they are recent converts, or are not well groun-
ded in Church teaching, or are not yet adults, etc.)... God takes
special care of the weak and will punish those who harm them.
Our Lord shows similar concern for those who are experiencing
spiritual difficulties. Every effort, even an heroic effort, must be made
to seek out the “lost sheep” (verses 12-14). If the Church in general
and each Christian in particular should be concerned to spread the
Gospel, all the more reason for them to try and see that those who
already embraced the faith do not go astray...
Thus, the whole of Chapter 18, the “discourse of the Church”, is a
survey of the future history of the Church during its earthly stage,
and a series of practical rules for conduct for Christians—a kind of
complement to the Sermon on the Mount, (Chapters 5-7), which is
a “magna carta” for the new Kingdom established by Christ.
1-6. Clearly the disciples still suffer from human ambition: they want
to occupy key positions when Jesus comes to establish the Kingdom
on earth (cf. Acts 1:6). To correct their pride, our Lord shows them a
child and tells them that if they want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven,
they must decide to be like children: children are incapable of hating
anyone and are totally innocent of vice, particularly of pride, the worst
vice of all. They are simple and full of trust.
Humility is one of the main pillars of the Christian life. “If you ask
me”, St. Augustine says, “what is the essential thing in the religion
and discipline of Jesus Christ, I shall reply: first humility, second
humility and third humility” (”Letter 118”).
3-4. Applying these words to our Lord’s virtues, Fray Luis de Granada
makes the point that humility is superior to virginity: “If you cannot
imitate the virginity of the humble, then imitate the humility of the
virgin. Virginity is praiseworthy, but humility is more necessary. The
former is recommended to us, the latter is an obligation for us; to the
former we are invited, to the latter we are obliged [...]. And so we see
that the former is celebrated as voluntary sacrifice, the latter required
as an obligatory sacrifice. Lastly, you can be saved without virginity,
but not without humility” (”Summa De La Vida Cristiana”, Book 3,
Part 2, Chapter 10).
5. Receiving a child in Jesus’ name is the same as receiving Jesus
Himself. Because children reflect the innocence, purity, simplicity
and tenderness of our Lord, “In children and in the sick a soul in love
sees Him” ([St] J. Escriva, “The Way”, 419).
10. Jesus warns that giving scandal to little children is a very serious
matter, for they have angels who guard them, who will plead a case
before God against those who led them to commit sin.
In this context He speaks of children having guardian angels. However,
everyone, adult or child, has a guardian angel. “By God’s providence
angels have been entrusted with the office of guarding the human race
and of accompanying every human being so as to preserve him from
any serious dangers [...]. Our Heavenly Father has placed over each
of us an angel under whose protection and vigilance we are” (”St. Pius
V Catechism”, IV, 9, 4).
This means that we should have a trusting relationship with our guar-
dian angel. “Have confidence in your guardian Angel. Treat him as
a lifelong friend—that is what he is—and he will render you a thousand
services in the ordinary affairs of each day” ([St] J. Escriva, “The Way”,
562).
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”.
Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate.
Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University
of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin,
Ireland.
Reprinted with permission from from Four Courts Press and Scepter
Publishers, the U.S. publishers.
|
|
Angel of God,
my guardian dear, To whom God's love commits me here, Ever this day, be at my side, To light and guard, Rule and guide. Amen. |
- from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 336.
Prayer to My Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom His love commits me here,
Ever this day (night) be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.
Prayer to One’s Guardian Angel
Dear Angel,
in His goodness God gave you to me
to guide, protect, and enlighten me, and
to bring me back to the right way when I go astray.
Encourage me when I am disheartened, and
instruct me when I err in my judgment,
Help me
to become more Christlike,
and so some day to be accepted
into the company of Angels and Saints in heaven.
Amen.
Saint Gertrude’s Guardian Angel Prayer
O most holy Angel of God,
appointed by God to my Guardian,
I give you thanks for all the benefits
which you have ever bestowed on me in body and soul.
I praise and glorify you that you condescended
to assist me with such patient fidelity,
and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemy.
Blessed be the hour
in which thou were assigned me for my Guardian,
my defender and my patron.
In acknowledgment and return for all your loving ministries to me,
I offer you the infinitely precious and noble Heart of Jesus,
and firmly purpose to obey you from now on,
and most faithfully to serve my God.
Amen
Prayer to the Guardian Angel
Angel sent by God to guide me;
Be my light and walk beside me;
Be my guardian and protect me;
On the paths of life direct me.
Prayer to the Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel
Pure and bright
guide me safely
by day and night,
Send wisdom
for my life and
Give me patience,
through my strife.
Night Prayer for a Child
Angel sent by God to guide me,
be my light and walk beside me;
be my guardian and protect me;
on the paths of life direct me.
A Prayer For Friends
Guardian Angel,
of those whose names you can read in my heart,
watch over them with every care;
make their way easy and their labours fruitful;
dry their tears, if they weep;
raise their courage, if they weaken;
restore their hope, if they lose heart,
restore their health, if they be ill,
restore truth, if they err,
restore repentence, if they fall.
sanctify their joys.
Amen.
Send Your Angel to Holy Mass
O Holy Angel at my side, go to church for me,
Kneel in my place at Holy Mass, where I desire to be.
At Offertory, in my stead, take all I am and own,
And place it as a sacrifice, upon the altar throne.
At holy consecration’s bell, adore with Seraph’s love,
My Jesus hidden in the Host, come down from heaven above.
Then pray for those I dearly love, and those who cause me grief,
That Jesus’ blood will cleanse all hearts, and suffering souls relieve.
And when the priest Communion takes, oh bring my Lord to me,
That His sweet Heart may rest on mine, and I His temple be.
Pray that this Sacrifice Divine, may mankind’s sins efface,
Then bring me Jesus’ blessing home, the pledge of every grace.
Prayer to all Guardian Angels
O pure and happy spirits whom the Almighty selected to become the Angels and Guardians of men, I most humbly prostrate myself before thee to thank thee for the charity and zeal with which thou dost execute this commission. Alas, how many pass a long life without ever thanking their invisible friends, to whom they owe a thousand times their preservation!
O charitable Guardians of those souls for whom Christ died, O flaming spirits who cannot avoid loving those whom Jesus eternally loves, permit me to address thee on behalf of all those committed to thy care, to implore for each of them a grateful sense of thy many favors and also the grace to profit by thy charitable assistance.
O Angels of those happy infants who as yet are “without spot before God,” I earnestly beseech thee to preserve their innocence.
O Angels of youth, conduct them, exposed to so many dangers, safely to the bosom of God, as Tobias was conducted back to his father.
O Angels of those who employ themselves in the instruction of youth, animate them with thy zeal and love, teach them to emulate thy purity and continual view of God, that they may worthily and successfully co-operate with the invisible Guardians of their young charges.
O Angels of the clergy, of those “who have the eternal Gospel to preach to them that sit upon the earth,” present their words, their actions and their intentions to God and purify them in that fire of love which consumes thee.
O Angels of the missionaries who have left their native land and all who were dear to them in order to preach the Gospel in foreign fields, protect them from the dangers which threaten them, console in their hours of discouragement and solitude, and lead them to those souls who are in danger of dying without Baptism.
O Angels of infidels and pagans, whom the True Faith has never enlightened, intercede for them, that they may open their hearts to the rays of grace, respond to the message delivered by God’s missioners and acknowledge and adore the one true God.
O Angels of all who travel by air, land or water, be their guides and companions, protect them from all dangers of collision, fire, and explosion and lead them safely to their destination.
O Guardian Angels of sinners, charitable guides of those unhappy mortals whose perseverance in sin would embitter even thine unutterable joys, wert thou not established in the peace of God! Oh join me, I ardently beseech thee, in imploring their conversion!
And thou, O Guardian Angels of the sick, I entreat thee especially to help, console and implore the spirits of joy for all those who are deprived of health, which is among God’s most precious gifts to man. Intercede for them, that they may not succumb to despondency or lose by impatience the merits they can gain in carrying with resignation and joy the cross which Christ has laid upon them as a special token of His love.
O Angels of those are at this moment in the agonies of death, strengthen, encourage and defend them against the attacks of their infernal enemy.
O faithful Guides, holy spirits, adorers of the Divinity, Guardian Angels of all creatures, protect us all; teach us to love, to pray, to wage combat on earth, so that one day we may reach Heaven and there be happy for all eternity! Amen.
O Angels of those who are lingering in Purgatory, intercede for them that God may permit thee to bring them some balm; console them that they may know that we are praying for them and that we ask thee to join in our entreaties.
Promise to The Guardian Angel
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts,
Heaven and Earth are full of Thy Glory.
Kneeling
before Thy majesty,
we thank Thee, O God,
that Thou hast given to each of us
a heavenly companion to be at our side,
one who leads us according to Thy will,
directs us in Thy paths and manifests to us Thy love.
We resolve
here in Thy presence
to love our holy companion as a brother
and to obey him when he speaks to us
through the voice of conscience.
He will surely lead us
to heaven.
Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
take my hand and place it in the hand of my Guardian Angel
and make the sign of our Redemption over it.
Thy blessing, for our salvation.
In the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Consecration To The Guardian Angel
Holy Guardian Angel,
who has been given to me from the beginning of my life
as my Guardian and Companion.
I, a poor sinner, desire to consecrate myself to you
before my Lord and God,
my heavenly Mother Mary
and all the angels and saints,
I wish to take your hand and never let it go!
In your hand,
I promise to be always loyal and obedient
to my Lord and God and to our holy Mother the Church.
In Your hand,
I promise always to acknowledge Mary
as my Mistress, Queen and Mother,
and to imitate Her way of life.
In Your hand,
I also promise to acknowledge you, my holy Guardian,
and to promote, as much as lies in my power,
the veneration of the holy angels
as the protection and the help which is given to us
in a very special way in these days of spiritual combat
for the kingdom of God.
I beg you,
holy angel of God, obtain for me
a love so strong that I may be inflamed by it,
a faith so firm that I may never falter.
I beg you
to assist me against the enemy’s assaults.
I beg you
for the grace of Mary’s humility
so that I may escape all dangers and,
guided by you, reach the gates
of our heavenly home.
Amen.
A Mother’s Prayer to the Guardian Angel of Her Children
I humbly salute you, O you faithful, heavenly Friends of my children! I give you heartfelt thanks for all the love and goodness you show them. At some future day I shall, with thanks more worthy than I can now give, repay your care for them, and before the whole heavenly court acknowledge their indebtedness to your guidance and protection. Continue to watch over them. Provide for all their needs of body and soul. Pray, likewise, for me, for my husband, and my whole family, that we may all one day rejoice in your blessed company.
Amen.
Prayer to Our Holy Guardian Angels
Heavenly Father, Your infinite love for us has chosen a blessed angel in heaven and appointed him our guide during this earthly pilgrimage. Accept our thanks for so great a blessing. Grant that we may experience the assistance of our holy protector in all our necessities. And you, holy, loving angel and guide, watch over us with all the tenderness of your angelic heart. Keep us always on the way that leads to heaven, and cease not to pray for us until we have attained our final destiny, eternal salvation. Then we shall love you for all eternity. We shall praise and glorify you unceasingly for all the good you have done for us while here on earth. Especially be a faithful and watchful protector of our children. Take our place, and supply what may be wanting to us through human frailty, short-sightedness, or sinful neglect. Lighten, O you perfect servants of God, our heavy task. Guide our children, that they may become like unto Jesus, may imitate Him faithfully, and persevere till they attain eternal life.
Amen.
Invocations to the Holy Guardian Angel
Holy Angel, my counselor, inspire me; Holy Angel, my defender, protect me;
Holy Angel, my faithful friend; intercede for me;
Holy Angel, my consoler, fortify me; Holy Angel, my brother, defend me;
Holy Angel, my teacher, instruct me;
Holy Angel, witness of all my actions, purify me;
Holy Angel, my helper, support me;
Holy Angel, my intercessor, speak for me;
Holy Angel, my guide, direct me; Holy Angel, my light, enlighten me;
Holy Angel, whom God has assigned to lead me, govern me.
Prayer to Guardian Angel
Dear Angel at my side, my good and loyal friend, you have been with me since the moment I was born. You are my own personal guardian, given me by God as my guide and protector, and you will stay with me till I die.
He who created you and me gave me to you as your particular charge. You assisted in great joy at my baptism, when I became part of the Mystical Body of Christ, and was made a member of the household of God and an heir of heaven. You saw the dangers that beset my path, and, if I sinned, it was in spite of you.
You envied me when Christ came to me in Holy Communion. Even though you probably were there among the angels that adored Him the night that He was born, you have not been able to receive Him as I can. O, help me to appreciate these gifts! Help me to realize, as you do, with every fiber of my being, that to serve Christ is to be a King! Help me steadfastly to avoid evil and do good and always guard my soul from sin.
Protect me as well from physical evils as I go about my daily work. You will be with me all my life, and at the hour of my death. Help me to face death bravely, patiently, with great love of God, knowing that it is only through death that I can come to Him in heaven! Then, come with me to my Judge, and when the hour of my salvation comes, take me home to my Father, God.
Amen.
Prayer to Guardian Angel
O Angel of God, my blessed protector, to whose care I have been committed by my Creator from the moment of my birth, unite with me in thanking the Almighty for having given me a friend, and instructor, an advocate, and a guardian in thee.
Accept, O most charitable guide, my fervent thanksgiving for all thou hast done for me; particularly for the charity with which thou didst undertake to accompany me through life; for the joy with which thou wert filled when I was purified in the waters of Baptism; and for thy anxious solicitude in watching over the treasure of my innocence.
Thou knowest the numberless graces and favors which my Creator has bestowed on me through thee, and the many dangers, both spiritual and temporal from which thou hast preserved me. Thou knowest how often thou didst deplore my sins, animate me to repentance, and intercede with God for my pardon. Ah! why have I so little merited a continuance of thy zealous efforts for my salvation? Why have I so often stained my soul by sin, and thereby rendered myself unworthy of the presence and protection of an angel, of so pure a spirit as thou art, who never sinned? But as my ingratitude and thoughtlessness have not lessened thy charitable interest for my salvation, so neither shall they diminish my confidence in thy goodness, nor prevent me from abandoning myself to thy care, since God Himself has entrusted thee with the charge of my soul.
Penetrated with sorrow for the little progress I have made in virtue, though blessed with such a Master, and sincerely determined to correspond in future with thy exertions for my salvation, I most earnestly entreat thee, O protecting spirit, to continue thy zealous efforts for my eternal interest; to fortify my weakness, to shield me from innumerable dangers of the world and to obtain by thy powerful prayers that my life may rather be shortened, than that I should live to commit a mortal sin.
Remember, O most happy spirit, that it was one act of profound humility, and one transport of ardent love for thy Creator, that caused God to establish thee forever in glory; obtain that those virtues may be implanted in my soul, and that I may seriously endeavor to acquire docility, obedience, gentleness and purity of heart. Conduct me safely through this world of sin and misery; watch over me at the awful hour of my death; perform for my soul the last charitable office of thy mission, by strengthening, encouraging, and supporting me in the agonies of dissolution, and then, as the angel Raphael conducted Tobias safely to his father, do thou, my good angel and blessed guide, return with me to Him who sent thee, that we may mutually bless Him, and publish His wonderful works for a happy eternity.
Amen.
Guardian Angel Prayer
O Holy Angel, attendant of my
wretched soul and of mine afflicted
life, forsake me not, a sinner,
neither depart from me for mine
inconstancy.
Give no place to the evil demon to
subdue me with the oppression of
this mortal body; but take me by my
wretched and outstretched hand, and
lead me in the way of salvation.
Yea, O holy Angel of God, the
guardian and protector of my hapless
soul and body, forgive me all things
whatsoever wherewith I have
troubled thee, all the days of my
life, and if I have sinned in
anything this day.
Shelter me in this present night, and
keep me from every affront of the
enemy, lest I anger God by any sin;
and intercede with the Lord in my
behalf, that He might strengthen me
in the fear of Him, and make me a
worthy servant of His goodness.
Litany of The Holy Guardian Angel
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of Angels, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who art my guardian, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, whom I revere as my superior, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost give me charitable counsel, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost give me wise direction, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost take the place of a tutor, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost love me tenderly, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who art my consoler, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who art attached to me as a good brother, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost instruct me in the duties
and truth of salvation, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who art to me a charitable shepherd, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who art witness of all my actions, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost help me in all my undertakings, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost continually watch over me, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost intercede for me, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost carry me in Thy hand, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost direct me in all my ways, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost defend me with zeal, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost conduct me with wisdom, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost guard me from all danger, Pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost dissipate the darkness
and enlighten the mind, Pray for me.
V. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
R. Spare us, O Lord.
V. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
R. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
V. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Jesus, hear us.
R. Jesus, graciously hear us.
V. Pray for us, O Guardian Angel,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V. Let us pray.
R. Almighty and eternal God, Who by an effect of Thine bounty hast given to each of the faithful an angel to be the guardian of body and soul, grant that I may have for him whom Thou hast given me in Thy mercy, so much respect and love that, protected by the gifts of Thy graces and by his help, I may merit to go to Thee in Heaven, there to contemplate Thee with him and the other happy spirits in the brightness of Thy glory.
Amen.
Another Litany to the Guardian Angel
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy .
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of Angels
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my guardian
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my prince
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my monitor
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my counselor
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my defender
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my steward
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my friend
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my consoler
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my brother
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my teacher
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my shepherd
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my witness
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my helper
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my watcher
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my negotiator
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my intercessor
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my patron
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my ruler
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my protector
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my defender
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my leader
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my preserver
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my preacher
pray for us.
Holy Angel, my enlightener
pray for us.
Holy Angel, guard and keep us
pray for us.
From every sin
guard and preserve us!
From every danger
guard and preserve us!
From every snare of the devil
guard and preserve us!
From every enemy, visible and invisible
guard and preserve us!
From pestilence, hunger, and war
guard and preserve us!
From the works of darkness
guard and preserve us!
From sluggishness in the service of God
guard and preserve us!
From sadness and anxiety
guard and preserve us!
From hardness of heart
guard and preserve us!
From the unworthy reception
of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord
guard and preserve us!
From a sudden and unprovided death
guard and preserve us!
From the eternal death
guard and preserve us!
Lamb of God,
who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God,
who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God,
who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us,
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Hail, Mary! Full of grace,
The Lord is with thee;
Blessed are thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
V. He has commanded his Angles to watch over thee,
R. That they may guard thee in all thy ways.
V. Lord, hear my prayer,
R. Let my cry come before Thee.
Let us pray;
Almighty and eternal God,
who hast created me in Thy image,
though unworthy that I am,
and hast assigned Thy holy Angel as my guardian,
grant me, Thy servant,
that I may happily pass over the dangers of every evil,
both of body and soul,
and after the course of this life,
to come to eternal joy.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
| Tuesday, October 2, 2007 Guardian Angels (Memorial) |
||
|
Mass bump.
| Mt 18:1-10 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 1 | At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who, thinkest thou, is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? | in illa hora accesserunt discipuli ad Iesum dicentes quis putas maior est in regno caelorum |
| 2 | And Jesus, calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them. | et advocans Iesus parvulum statuit eum in medio eorum |
| 3 | And said: amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. | et dixit amen dico vobis nisi conversi fueritis et efficiamini sicut parvuli non intrabitis in regnum caelorum |
| 4 | Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. | quicumque ergo humiliaverit se sicut parvulus iste hic est maior in regno caelorum |
| 5 | And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. | et qui susceperit unum parvulum talem in nomine meo me suscipit |
| 6 | But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. | qui autem scandalizaverit unum de pusillis istis qui in me credunt expedit ei ut suspendatur mola asinaria in collo eius et demergatur in profundum maris |
| 7 | Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. | vae mundo ab scandalis necesse est enim ut veniant scandala verumtamen vae homini per quem scandalum venit |
| 8 | And if thy hand, or thy foot, scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. | si autem manus tua vel pes tuus scandalizat te abscide eum et proice abs te bonum tibi est ad vitam ingredi debilem vel clodum quam duas manus vel duos pedes habentem mitti in ignem aeternum |
| 9 | And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. | et si oculus tuus scandalizat te erue eum et proice abs te bonum tibi est unoculum in vitam intrare quam duos oculos habentem mitti in gehennam ignis |
| 10 | See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. | videte ne contemnatis unum ex his pusillis dico enim vobis quia angeli eorum in caelis semper vident faciem Patris mei qui in caelis est |
Beautiful!
Guardian Angels
Memorial
October 2nd
Pietro da Cortona
The Guardian Angel, 1656
Oil on canvas, 225 x 143 cm
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome
Prayer:
Angel of God, my Guardian dear,
to whom His love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide, Amen.Latin:
Angele DeiÁngele Dei,
qui custos es mei,
me, tibi commíssum pietáte supérna,
illúmina, custódi,
rege et gubérna.
Amen.
History:
That every individual soul has a guardian angel has never been defined by the Church, and is, consequently, not an article of faith; but it is the "mind of the Church", as St. Jerome expressed it: "how great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it."In the Bible this doctrine is clearly discernible and its development is well marked. In Genesis 28-29, angels not only act as the executors of God's wrath against the cities of the plain, but they deliver Lot from danger; in Exodus 12-13, an angel is the appointed leader of the host of Israel, and in 32:34, God says to Moses: "my angel shall go before thee." At a much later period we have the story of Tobias, which might serve for a commentary on the words of Psalm 90:11: "For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways." (Cf. Psalm 33:8 and 34:5.) Lastly, in Daniel 10 angels are entrusted with the care of particular districts; one is called "prince of the kingdom of the Persians", and Michael is termed "one of the chief princes"; cf. Deuteronomy 32:8; and Ecclesiasticus 17:17.
This sums up the Old Testament doctrine on the point; it is clear that the Old Testament conceived of God's angels as His ministers who carried out his behests, and who were at times given special commissions, regarding men and mundane affairs. There is no special teaching; the doctrine is rather taken for granted than expressly laid down; cf. 2 Machabees 3:25; 10:29; 11:6; 15:23.
But in the New Testament the doctrine is stated with greater precision. Angels are everywhere the intermediaries between God and man; and Christ set a seal upon the Old Testament teaching: "See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10). A twofold aspect of the doctrine is here put before us: even little children have guardian angels, and these same angels lose not the vision of God by the fact that they have a mission to fulfil on earth.
Without dwelling on the various passages in the New Testament where the doctrine of guardian angels is suggested, it may suffice to mention the angel who succoured Christ in the garden, and the angel who delivered St. Peter from prison. Hebrews 1:14 puts the doctrine in its clearest light: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?" This is the function of the guardian angels; they are to lead us, if we wish it, to the Kingdom of Heaven.
(Principal source - Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 edition )
Collect:
God our Father,
in your loving providence
you send your holy angels to watch over us.
Hear our prayers,
defend us always by their protection
and let us share your life with them for ever.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.First Reading: Exodus 23: 20-23
"Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and hearken to his voice, do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him.
"But if you hearken attentively to his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
"When my angel goes before you, and brings you in to the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I blot them out.Second Reading(places where it is a Solemnity): Revelation 12:7-12
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:1-5, 10
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Related Article: The Church and the Holy Angels(Michaelmas 2007 Issue)
| First reading | Exodus 23:20 - 23 © |
|---|---|
| I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says. Offer him no defiance; he would not pardon such a fault, for my name is in him. If you listen carefully to his voice and do all that I say, I shall be enemy to your enemies, foe to your foes. My angel will go before you and lead you to where the Amorites are and the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, the Jebusites; I shall exterminate these. | |
| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 90 |
| Gospel | Matthew 8:1 - 10 © |
|---|---|
| After he had come down from the mountain large crowds followed him. A leper now came up and bowed low in front of him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And his leprosy was cured at once. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Mind you do not tell anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering prescribed by Moses, as evidence for them’. When he went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those following him, ‘I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this.’ |
|
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 36 (37) |
|---|
| The fate of the evil and the righteous |
| Do not envy the wicked; do not be jealous of those that do evil. They will dry up as quickly as hay; they will wither like the grass. Put your trust in the Lord and do good, and your land and habitation will be secure. Take your delight in the Lord, and he will give you what your heart desires. Entrust your journey to the Lord, and hope in him: and he will act. He will make your uprightness shine like the light, your judgement like the sun at noon. Take your rest in the Lord, and hope in him: do not envy the one who thrives in his own way, the man who weaves plots. Abstain from wrath, abandon anger: do not envy him who turns to evil, for those who do evil will be destroyed, but those on the side of the Lord will inherit the earth. A moment yet – and the sinner will be gone: you will look where he was and find nothing. But the needy will inherit the land and delight in abundant peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 36 (37) |
|---|
| The wicked will plot against the righteous and gnash his teeth at him; but the Lord will deride him in his turn, for the Lord has seen what awaits him. The wicked have pulled out their swords, the wicked have drawn their bows, to throw down the poor and the destitute, to murder whoever follows the straight path. But their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will splinter. For the righteous, the little they have is better than the abundant wealth of the wicked. The limbs of the wicked will be broken while the Lord gives his strength to the just. The Lord knows when the day of the perfect will come; and their inheritance will be eternal. They will not be troubled in evil times, and in times of famine they will have more than enough. For the wicked will perish: the enemies of the Lord will be like the flowers of the fields, and like smoke they will vanish away. The wicked man borrows and does not return; but the righteous takes pity and gives. The blessed ones of the Lord will inherit the earth, but those whom he curses will be cut off. It is the Lord who strengthens the steps of man and chooses his path. Even if he trips he will not fall flat, for the Lord is holding his hand. I was young and I have grown old, but I have not seen the righteous man abandoned nor his children seeking for bread. All day long he takes pity and lends, and his seed will be blessed. Shun evil and do good, and you will live for ever. For the Lord loves right judgement, and will not abandon his chosen ones. The unjust will be destroyed for ever, and the seed of the wicked will be cut off, but the righteous will inherit the earth and live there from age to age. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 36 (37) |
|---|
| The mouth of the righteous will speak wisdom, and his tongue will utter right judgement. The law of his God is in his heart and his steps will not stumble. The wicked man watches the just and seeks to kill him; but the Lord will rescue the just man from his hands and not condemn the just in the time of judgement. Put your hope in the Lord and follow his paths, and he will raise you up and make the land your inheritance, let you watch as the wicked are cut off. I have seen the sinner triumph, flourish like a green cedar, but he is gone, he is there no longer: I have looked for him but have not found him. Preserve innocence, follow uprightness: for the future belongs to the man of peace. The unrighteous will be destroyed altogether, their posterity will be cut off. The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, and their protection in time of trouble. The Lord will come to their help and free them, rescue them from the wicked and save them, because they have put their trust in him. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Reading | Philippians 1:27 - 2:11 © |
|---|---|
| Avoid anything in your everyday lives that would be unworthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come to you and see for myself, or stay at a distance and only hear about you, I shall know that you are unanimous in meeting the attack with firm resistance, united by your love for the faith of the gospel and quite unshaken by your enemies. This would be the sure sign that they will lose and you will be saved. It would be a sign from God that he has given you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well. You and I are together in the same fight as you saw me fighting before and, as you will have heard, I am fighting still. If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, So that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus: His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
|
| Reading | A sermon by St Bernard |
|---|---|
| That they might guard you in all your ways | |
| He has given his angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways. Let them thank the Lord for his mercy; his wonderful works are for the children of men. Let them give thanks and say among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them. O Lord, what is man that you have made yourself known to him, or why do you incline your heart to him? And you do incline your heart to him; you show him your care and your concern. Finally, you send your only Son and the grace of your Spirit, and promise him a vision of your countenance. And so, that nothing in heaven should be wanting in your concern for us, you send those blessed spirits to serve us, assigning them as our guardians and our teachers. He has given his angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways. These words should fill you with respect, inspire devotion and instil confidence; respect for the presence of angels, devotion because of their loving service, and confidence because of their protection. And so the angels are here; they are at your side, they are with you, present on your behalf. They are here to protect you and to serve you. But even if it is God who has given them this charge, we must nonetheless be grateful to them for the great love with which they obey and come to help us in our great need. So let us be devoted and grateful to such great protectors; let us return their love and honour them as much as we can and should. Yet all our love and honour must go to him, for it is from him that they receive all that makes them worthy of our love and respect. We should then, my brothers, show our affection for the angels, for one day they will be our co-heirs just as here below they are our guardians and trustees appointed and set over us by the Father. We are God’s children although it does not seem so, because we are still but small children under guardians and trustees, and for the present little better than slaves. Even though we are children and have a long, a very long and dangerous way to go, with such protectors what have we to fear? They who keep us in all our ways cannot be overpowered or led astray, much less lead us astray. They are loyal, prudent, powerful. Why then are we afraid? We have only to follow them, stay close to them, and we shall dwell under the protection of God’s heaven. |
|
| Concluding Prayer |
|---|
| O God, in your infinite providence you deign to send your holy angels to be our guardians. Grant to us who pray to you that we may be defended by them in this life and rejoice with them in the next. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
Perhaps no aspect of Catholic piety is as comforting to parents as the belief that an angel protects their 
little ones from dangers, real and imagined. Yet guardian angels are not just for children. Their role is to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer and to present their souls to God at death.
The concept of an angel assigned to guide and nurture each human being is a development of Catholic doctrine and piety based on Scripture but not directly drawn from it. Jesus' words in Matthew 18:10 best support the belief: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."
Devotion to the angels began to develop with the birth of the monastic tradition. St. Benedict gave it impetus and Bernard of Clairvaux, the great 12th-century reformer, was such an eloquent spokesman for the guardian angels that angelic devotion assumed its current form in his day.
A feast in honor of the guardian angels was first observed in the 16th century. In 1615, Pope Paul V added it to the Roman calendar.
Comment:
The concept of an unseen companion has given rise to many childish titters about leaving room for an angel in a crowded seat and teacher-induced terrors about the danger of sudden death for a child who fails to honor the angel with prayer. But devotion to the angels is, at base, an expression of faith in God's enduring love and providential care extended to each person day in and day out until life's end.
Quote:
"May the angels lead you into paradise;
may the martyrs come to welcome you
and take you to the holy city,
the new and eternal Jerusalem."
(Rite for Christian Burial)
Collect: God our Father, in your loving providence you send your holy angels to watch over us. Hear our prayers, defend us always by their protection and let us share your life with them for ever. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Old Calendar: The Holy Guardian Angels
The idea that each soul has assigned to it a personal guardian angel has been long accepted by the Church and is a truth of our faith. From the Gospel of today's liturgy we read: "See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:10). The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls 'angels' is a truth of faith (328)." From our birth until our death, man is surrounded by the protection and intercession of angels, particularly our guardian angel: "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life (336)." The Church thanks God for our helpers, the angels, particularly on this feast day and September 29. Today's feast appeared in Spain during the sixteenth century. It was extended to the universal Church and made obligatory in 1670.
"Be alert in your every action as one should be who is accompanied by angels in all your ways, for that mission has been enjoined upon them. In whatever lodging, in whatever nook or corner you may find yourself, cherish a reverence for your guardian angel. In his presence do not dare to do anything you would not do in mine. Or do you doubt his presence because you do not see him? Would it really help if you did hear him, or touch him, or smell him? Remember, there are realities whose existence has not been proven by mere sight."Brethren, we will love God's angels with a most affectionate love; for they will be our heavenly co-heirs some day, these spirits who now are sent by the Father to be our protectors and our guides. With such bodyguards, what are we to fear? They can neither be subdued nor deceived; nor is there any possibility at all that they should go astray who are to guard us in all our ways. They are trustworthy, they are intelligent, they are strong — why, then, do we tremble? We need only to follow them, remain close to them, and we will dwell in the protection of the Most High God. So as often as you sense the approach of any grave temptation or some crushing sorrow hangs over you, invoke your protector, your leader, your helper in every situation. Call out to him and say: Lord, save us, we are perishing." — St. Bernard
Patron: Spanish police officers.
Symbols: usually portrayed as beardless, sexless beings, winged, human in form and barefooted, usually carrying objects such as a pilgrim's staff, scroll, book, a sceptre or a sword.
Things to Do:
Devotion to the Holy Angels gives rise to a certain form of the Christian life which is characterized by:
- devout gratitude to God for having placed these heavenly spirits of great sanctity and dignity at the service of man;
- an attitude of devotion deriving from the knowledge of living constantly in the presence of the Holy Angels of God;— serenity and confidence in facing difficult situations, since the Lord guides and protects the faithful in the way of justice through the ministry of His Holy Angels. Among the prayers to the Guardian Angels the Angele Dei is especially popular, and is often recited by families at morning and evening prayers, or at the recitation of the Angelus.
217. Popular devotion to the Holy Angels, which is legitimate and good, can, however, also give rise to possible deviations:
- when, as sometimes can happen, the faithful are taken by the idea that the world is subject to demiurgical struggles, or an incessant battle between good and evil spirits, or Angels and daemons, in which man is left at the mercy of superior forces and over which he is helpless; such cosmologies bear little relation to the true Gospel vision of the struggle to overcome the Devil, which requires moral commitment, a fundamental option for the Gospel, humility and prayer;
- when the daily events of life, which have nothing or little to do with our progressive maturing on the journey towards Christ are read schematically or simplistically, indeed childishly, so as to ascribe all setbacks to the Devil and all success to the Guardian Angels. The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained in Holy Scripture.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
