Tribute to our Angels: 2 Oct. – Feast of Guardian Angels

AM+DG

Happy Feast Day my dear Guardian Angel

Today is the feastday of our Guardian angels.

At Mass this morning we sang the hymn (see video above). I love this version of the hymn. It brings tears to my eyes- especially the last 2 verses (I don’t know why- just that I do love and appreciate my angel).

THE GUARDIAN ANGELS IN SACRED SCRIPTURES

Jesus attests that humans are protected by Angels since Childhood.

Matthew 18:10 “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”

John 1:51/Genesis 28:12: “Angels ascend & descend between Heaven & Earth.”

God sent Angels to protect the People of God

Exodus 23:20-22: “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Bewared of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him [“My authority resides in him” – NAB]. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. [Exodus 33:2]

Psalm 34:7: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivered them.”

God commanded His Angels to protect those who are under His protection

Psalm 91:11-12 “For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a ston”

CHOIRS OF ANGELS

St Paul mentions some of the Choirs of Angels (Colossians 1: 16)

“For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and in him”.

He also tells us (in Ephesians 1:21), that Christ is raised up “above all principality, and power, and virtue, and dominion”

Angels in charge of nations

(Deuteronomy 32:8) “When the Most High divided the nations, when He scattered the children of Adam, He established the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God”.

Angel of Macedonia appears to St. Paul (Acts 16:9)

“And a vision was showed to Paul in the night, which was a man of Macedonia standing and beseeching him and saying: Pass over into Macedonia and help us”.

The Cherubim

Ezekiel’s vision of the Cherubim

In Ezechiel’s vision, the cherubim are described at great length (Sirach 49:10) “It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shown him upon the chariot of cherubims”

(Ezekiel 1:5-13) “And in the midst thereof the likeness of four living creatures: and this was their appearance: there was the likeness of a man in them. 6Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. 7Their feet were straight feet, and the sole of their foot was like the sole of a calf’s foot, and they sparkled like the appearance of glowing brass. 8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides: and they had faces, and wings on the four sides, 9 and the wings of one were joined to the wings of another. They turned not when they went: but every one went straight forward. 10 And as for the likeness of their faces: there was the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side of all the four: and the face of an ox, on the left side of all the four: and the face of an eagle over all the four. 11 And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies: …13 And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps”

Cherubim guard the Ark of the Covenant

(1 Samuel4: 4-5) “So the people sent to Silo, and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, sitting upon the cherubims: and the two sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, were with the ark of the covenant of God”.

Archangels:

The archangel Raphael (Tobit 12:12) accompanies Tobias’ son on a long and dangerous journey to collect some money from a relative, and to find a wife. The father‘s eyes are also healed by Raphael: “The angel says: “I offered thy prayer to the Lord”

Water is stirred by an angel at the Pool at Bethsaida (John 5:2-4)

2 Now there is at Jerusalem a pond, called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered: waiting for the moving of the water. 4 And an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under.

St Michael is mentioned in the Letter of St Jude: 9

“When Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he dared not bring against him the judgment of railing speech, but said: The Lord command you.”

Archangels are mentioned by St Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:15

“For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment and with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ shall rise first.”

The angel Gabriel instructs Daniel (Daniel 8:16), though he is not called an angel in either of these passages, but “the man Gabriel” (9:21).

“And it came to pass when I, Daniel, saw the vision, and sought the meaning, that behold there stood before me as it were the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between Ulai: and he called, and said: Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.”

Message to Zachary (Luke 1: 11- 13)

“And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zachary seeing him, was troubled: and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for your prayer is heard: and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son. And you shall call his name John”

The Annunciation (Luke 1: 26-38)

“ And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women. 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God. 31 Behold you shall conceive in your womb and shall bring forth a son: and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. 33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon you and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold your cousin Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren. 37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.a nd Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from him.”

The message to the shepherds (Luke 2:9-12)

“And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: 11 For, this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.”

An angel sent to comfort Jesus in His agony: (Luke 22:43).

“And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer.”

Quotes from St Padre Pio:

“How close to us stands one of the celestial spirits, who from the cradle to the grave never leaves us for an instant. He guides us, he protects us like a friend, like a brother. This should be a source of constant consolation for us, especially during the saddest times of our lives.”

“How many times, alas, have I made this good angel weep! How many times have I lived without the least fear of offending the purity of his regard! Oh, he is so finely mannered, so discreet. My God, how many times did I respond to the ample, more than maternal care of this good angel without any sign of respect, affection or acknowledgment!”

“Your tears were collected by angels and were placed in a gold chalice, and you will find them when you present yourself before God,”

‘Your guardian angel is there and he’s protecting you! Pray heartily to him, pray heartily to him!’

“Invoke your guardian angel that he will illuminate you and will guide you,” Padre Pio advised. “God has given him to you for this reason. Therefore use him!”