Today Sunday October 2nd 2016. We Celebrate the feast of Holy Guardian Angels
Collect
O GOD, who of thy ineffable providence dost vouchsafe to send thy holy Angels to be our guardians: grant to us thy humble servants; that we may in this life ever be defended by their protection, and rejoice in their everlasting company in heaven. Through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
The Bible is full of passages about miraculous events where the Holy Angels have been involved in helping, guiding, warning, healing, speaking, fighting, protecting and announcing to God’s holy people.
At the instant of our conception in our mother’s womb, when the soul is infused by God into our bodies, God gives each one of us a one a Holy Guardian Angel. He is unique, unlike any other Angel, whom God has lovingly created and custom made just for us and our unique soul.
His main job is to protect us from the constant bombardment of evil spirits who work on our soul and bodies to entice us to sin and bring the incurring death curse upon us. “Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
But he is also there to protect us from physical dangers from evil people, animals, and accidents (that are constantly approaching us), as soon as we wake up, walk, travel, work, pray, play or sleep.
St. Frances of Rome wrote down this vision: “The devils of the air often instigate storms, winds and thunders to frighten souls, causing their wills to weaken and cede to inconstancy, thus preparing them to falter in the Faith and to doubt Divine Providence. The devils who live on earth among men to tempt us are the fallen angels of the lowest choir. The faithful angels of this choir are our guardian angels.”
The biblical evidence is: “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
We pray to our Guardian Angel and then thank him for all he did for us that day.
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.
we hath given his Angels, saith the Psalmist, charge over thee. O wondrous graciousness! Wondrous outpouring of love! For consider who hath given this charge? and what charge? and unto whom? and over whom? Let us carefully consider this, my brethren. Let us carefully hold in mind this so great charge. For who hath given this charge? To whom belong the Angels? whose commandments do they obey, and whose will do they do? The Psalmist taketh answer: He hath given his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. And he chargeth them to take great care, thus: They shall bear thee up in their hands. The Highest Majesty, therefore, hath given a charge unto Angels, and he giveth the same to them because they are his; not to angels merely, but to his Angels. Unto these beings so excellently exalted, so blessed, so near to himself, even as his own household, unto these hath he given charge over thee. And who art thou? What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Yea, the stars are not pure in God’s sight. How much less man, that is a worm, and the son of man, that is a worm. But what charge hath he given them over thee? To keep thee in all thy ways.
From a sermon by Saint Bernard the Abbot : What respect, what thankfulness, what trust, ought these w
ords to work in thee? Respect for their presence, thankfulness for their kindness, confidence in their safe-keeping. Walk carefully, for Angels do walk with thee in all thy ways, as hath been laid in charge upon them. In every lodging, in every nook, have reverence for thine Angel. Dare not to do in his presence what thou wouldst not dare to do in God’s. Or dost thou doubt whether he be indeed present, because thou seest him not? What if thou couldst hear him? What if thou couldst touch him? What if thou couldst detect his heavenly fragrance? But consider that not by outward manifestations alone is the presence of reality attested.
Let us then, brethren, dearly love God’s Angels, as them with whom we are one day to be joint-heirs, and who in the meanwhile are tutors and governours set over us by the Father. With such powerful guardians, whereof shall we be afraid? Such as they, that keep us in all our ways, can neither be overpowered nor led astray. Much less can they be afraid. Only let us follow them, only let us cleave unto them, and we shall abide under the shadow of the God of heaven. As often then as thou perceivest a heavy temptation in store for thee, or a grievous tribulation hanging over thee, call upon God that keepeth thee, thy Helper and Refuge in times of trouble. Call upon him, and say: Lord, save us; we perish.
Source http://www.anglicancatholic.org/liturgicalcalendars/352
