Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2nd Mt. 18: 1-5, 10 Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels “He has given his angels orders to watch over you in all your ways.”
- Saint Bernard in today’s Liturgy of the Hours says, “Those words should fill us with respect, inspire devotion, and instill confidence because of their protection. The angels are at your side, with you, and present on your behalf. They are there to protect you and to serve you. But even if it is God who has given them this charge, we should nonetheless be grateful to them for the great love with which they obey and come to help us in our great need.”
- We each have our own Guardian Angel chosen by God to help us reach our eternal home in heaven, where our Guardian Angel will join us in glory as an eternal companion and friend. If through our own fault we go to hell, our angel will leave us and we will receive instead a demon who will torment us forever. Our Guardian Angel understands better than we do that our life on earth is a fight for eternal life!!!
- Our Guardian Angel knew us from the moment of our conception and rejoiced at our birth. At our Baptism, we became even dearer to our Guardian Angel, for the Blessed Trinity came to dwell within us and our soul shone with glory!
- Since the day of our First Holy Communion, our Guardian Angel rejoices to accompany us to the holy altar to adore Jesus every time we receive Him in Holy Communion worthily. “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” (St. Maximilian Kolbe)
- Our Guardian Angel grieves when we sin as if they themself are guilty of the offense! And they do all they can to disturb our peace until we are reconciled with God by a good Confession.
- Our Guardian Angel rejoices with us when times are good, and sorrows with us when times are difficult. Over the years, they have prevented many near accidents and protected us from many near occasions of sin! One day they will assist us in our last and greatest conflict. They will be there to help us fight against the devil’s final attempt to ensnare our soul before it leaves our body.
- On the threshold of eternity, as the light of earth fades and the brightness of eternity bursts upon us, our Guardian Angel will present our soul to Jesus for judgment and faithfully plead our cause.
- If we need purification in the flames of Purgatory, our holy Angel will visit and console us there. They will inspire family and friends to intercede on our behalf, bringing the prayers, penances, and good works done on our behalf to the very throne of God! Finally, when our time of purgation is ended, they will joyfully escort us to our eternal bliss in heaven!
- Let us praise and thank God today for the presence of our heavenly companion! Let us beg for the grace to be docile to the inspirations of this holy Angel who is our guide, our protector, and our most worthy friend!
ANGELS PAVING OUR HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
We cannot see ANGELS with our physical eyes, but they truly exist. They were created by God out of pure love. All of us have a Guardian Angel that God gave to us at the very moment of our conception. How few people know of these powerful friends, much less pray to them!
In this very simple article we invite all of our readers to strive to give more attention to your GUARDIAN ANGEL. He is your dear friend on earth and desires more than anything else to help you get to heaven. What then can we do to foster our knowledge, love, and attention to our Guardian Angel? We will offer five simple but very concrete ways to foster this union with our Guardian Angel.
1. PICTURE, PAINTING OR STATUE. Given that our Guardian Angel is invisible to our physical eyes, it is important that we call attention to them by means of some sacramental such as a painting, picture, or statue. In your room, in the car, in your office or study, on your Bible – all of these are places where you can post an image of your Guardian Angel and call attention to their presence.
2. BIBLE AND THE ANGELS. Pay attention to the many times that Angels are mentioned in the Bible – both Old and New Testaments, and meditate upon their presence, their purpose and role in the history of salvation. Just to mention a few, we would like to direct you to the Mysteries of the most Holy Rosary. In many of the Mysteries we encounter the presence of an Angel. The Annunciation in which the Archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be the Mother of God. The birth of Jesus announced by a Choir of Angels to the Shepherds watching over their sheep at night. St. Matthew tells us that an Angel spoke to Joseph more than once in his dreams: to take Mary as his wife since the child she bore was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; to take Mary and the child Jesus and flee to Egypt because Herod sought to kill the child – and then when it was safe to return to the land of Israel. After Jesus fasts 40 days and nights in the desert, and is tempted three times by the devil, Angels come and attend to Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, as Jesus sweats Blood for our redemption and the Apostles sleep, an Angel comes to console Him. Of course at the Resurrection, the Angels are present at the empty tomb. And much more. As you read through the Bible and encounter the Angels, stop and think about them, then talk to them and ask for their help. You will feel and experience their presence in your life!
3. REMEMBER OCTOBER 2nd! We should never forget that the Catholic Church officially celebrates the presence of the Guardian Angels on October 2nd. Why not make a novena to our Guardian Angels every year? By the way, this novena to our Guardian Angels can be made at any time. Our Guardian Angels are always waiting for us to call upon their assistance.
4. LIGHT. One of the primary purposes of the Guardian Angel is to communicate to us LIGHT. We all have moments of darkness, obscurity, confusion, blurred spiritual vision. Why not call upon your Guardian Angel to cast out the darkness? Imagine going through a tunnel, a very dark tunnel. Finally, the tunnel comes to an end and you enter into the light of day. What a relief! Our life sometimes casts us into the shadows, better yet tunnels! Turn to your Guardian Angel and beg for the grace to exit those dark moments so as to live in the Light of God’s presence. This darkness might even become desolation in your soul. Beg your Guardian Angel to bring you to consolation. They will not fail you, if you call upon them. They are waiting for you to ask!
5. AN ANGELIC MISSIONARY. Talk to others about the reality of the Angels, especially our Guardian Angels! We live in a world dominated by an almost all-pervasive materialism where money, buying, and consuming dominate the hearts of many. It is time to invoke the Angels to pull us out of this sewage of materialism. Many people do not believe in Angels, possibly even many Catholics, due to a lack of good catechesis. It is time to speak out in honor of the Angels, to honor them, pray to them, and promote their presence and power.
MARY AND THE ANGELS. The Hail Mary that we pray every day has another official name—THE ANGELIC SALUTATION! Why this name? For the simple reason that it was the Archangel Gabriel who came to greet or salute Mary and with these exact words: “Hail Mary”. May Our Lady, Queen of the Angels, help us to be more aware of the presence of the Angels in our daily lives, most especially our own Guardian Angel!
Let us pray: 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, to rule and guide. Amen.
Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA