For he commands his angels with regard to you,
to guard you wherever you go.
With their hands they shall support you
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
– Psalms 91:11-12
The first part of our Angels Among Us blog last Friday allowed us to understand more about angels, specifically the Archangels and the fallen angels. Let us continue our reflection to help us appreciate them and their unique ministry.
What other important aspects of Angels do we need to ponder?
They have the gift of being in God’s Presence where they can see, praise, and worship God in His Divine Presence. Most of the angels were created by God to remain in adoration of Him. They are spirits who are always at the service of God and adoring Him. Angels have also been given intercessory powers to pray and intercede for us since they are always before our Heavenly Father.
Their very name means messenger, and this is one of their roles in interacting with the world and mankind. But this ministry of messenger has another important aspect as to how angels interact with humanity – to guard and protect. We spoke of the specific protection of St. Michael the Archangel where he fights off the Evil One and his powers. His protection is such a gift to us that we often overlook it but must become more aware of.
There is another special kind of angel that many of us learn about as kids but tend to not reflect on enough in adulthood. Each of us have been given a Guardian Angel. “‘From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their (the angels) watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united to God.” CCC 336
In Matthew 18:10 Jesus allows us to consider the great worth of each soul and that we each have angels to represent and guard us when He states, “See that you never despise one of these little ones. I assure you, their angels in heaven constantly behold my heavenly Father’s face” (Matthew 18:10) God loves us so much that He even provides a special protector – our own Guardian Angel.
What is the purpose of our Guardian Angel?
Our Guardian Angel is an “instrument of Providence.” (Angels 101) Angels, especially our Guardian Angel, is not designed to provide for our wants/needs/happiness but rather to work fully towards the desires God has for our lives for holiness. They help to keep us on our path to holiness in the ways that God ordained them to. Their protection is very specific to our own walk of faith and often we do not even realize how much they guide and protect us each day from sin and situations that might lead us away from God.
Let us recall the Daily Prayer to our Guardian Angel that many of us learned as children. Consider praying this prayer especially on the upcoming Feast of Guardian Angels on October 2.
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
(Catholic Prayer)
Though there are so many more things to share about angels, I leave us to reflect on some inspiring quotes by saints to aid in our reflection on the importance of the angels among us:
“If you remembered the presence of your angel and the angels of your neighbors, you would avoid many of the foolish things which slip into your conversations.”
–St. Josemaria Escriva
“We should show our affection for the angels, for one day they will be our coheirs just as here below they are our guardians and trustees appointed and set over us by the Father.”
–St. Bernard of Clairvaux
“I have great reverence for Saint Michael the Archangel; he had no example to follow in doing the will of God, and yet he fulfilled God’s will faithfully.”
–St. Faustina Kowalska
“The powers of hell will assail the dying Christian; but his angel guardian will come to console him. His patrons, and St. Michael, who has been appointed by God to defend his faithful servants in their last combat with the devils, will come to his aid.”
–St. Alphonsus Liguori
“Let us be like the holy angels now. … If one day we are to be in the angelic court, we must learn how, while we are still here, the manners of the angels.”
–St. Vincent Ferrer
With gratitude and inspiration, we raise our hearts to Heaven to join with the choirs of angels praising God for His marvelous plan!
Archangels Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, pray for us!
Guardian Angels, pray for us!
All holy angels of God, pray for us!
References:
Angels 101 retrieved from https://www.ncregister.com/blog/angels-101
Catholic Prayer retrieved from https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=281
Saint quotes retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/angel-quotes-from-saints-4002835
Author: Laura Stephens
