Guardian Angels
ONE
Today is the Feast of the Guardian Angels. The Church celebrates this day to honor these luminous creatures who have a three-fold purpose: to praise God, to act as His messengers, and to watch over mortal men. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says, “See that you do not 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.” (Mt 18:10.) From this passage and others like it (cf. Psalm 91:11; Mt 4:6; Lk 4:10; Heb 1:14; Rev 14:6, etc.) it’s clear that God our Father assigns tasks for the angels to accomplish in His kingdom. One such task is for angels to look after each of us individually, from the moment of our existence. Think of this: from the beginning of time, God chose your guardian angel just for you; just to watch over you, just to aid you in your prayer, and your angel will present your soul to God at death. God of course is powerful enough to perform these roles Himself, and He certainly loves and cares for each of us individually, but the gift of these guardian angels reveals something about Him: He desires to create free beings to participate in His work. When God created the angels, he bestowed on them great wisdom, power, and holiness. Our angels use these special heavenly gifts to light, guard, rule and guide us in this life. To experience the wonderful help for your guardian angel, start taking time every day to pray to and ask for their special assistance so that we can avoid sin, Satan, and the harm of evil and therefore rest at peace.
TWO
Our angels intercede for us on behalf of God as would a close friend who has access to the great King. We will never know in this life the extent of their influence, but many saints have remarked that their lives have received tremendous blessings due to the help of their angel. St. Padre Pio had a particular devotion to his angel. Thanks to his guardian angel’s help, Padre Pio was able to understand every language in the world because his angel translated it for him. He wrote, "if the mission of your guardian angel is important the mission of mine is certainly more so because he also has to be my guide and translating languages.” (Letter 1, # 304.) St. Pio was convinced that everyone could have such a relationship with their angel and receive supernatural benefits, albeit perhaps not the same benefit as he. If we aren’t receiving these benefits it is because our relationship with our angel lacks confidence not due to our angel but do to us. We don’t speak to, pray with, cultivate devotion to, our angel. Therefore, we don’t ask, and since we don’t ask, we don’t receive. Dear angel, forgive me for the times I have neglected you, and thank you for never having neglected me, for protecting me from the snares of the devil so many times I am not even aware of. May this day be the day that our relationship, dear angel, turns, grows, and becomes the true, heavenly friendship God in His infinite goodness has always intended.
THREE
St. Isadore the Farmer also enjoyed a miraculous relationship with his angel. Often, he would enter deep mystical prayer but would fall behind in his farming as a result. However, his angel would actually finish his work for him so that Isadore could continue praying. These beings are far superior to us and are permitted at times to offer amazing intercession. But our goal is not to have our angel do cool things, but to grow in knowledge and love of our own particular angel so we can grow in knowledge and love of God! When we possess God, we possess everything!
FOUR
In addition to each of us having our own personal guardian angels, there are even guardian angels for places and countries.
In the spring of 1916, the Guardian Angel of Portugal appeared three times to the children of Fatima. The first time he said, ‘Do not be afraid! I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.’ Kneeling on the ground, he bowed down until his forehead touched the ground and made the children repeat these words three times:
‘My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.
Then rising he said,
‘Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.
"…So Pray, pray very much! The Most Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer prayers and sacrifice constantly to the Most High. The hearts of Jesus and Mary have a mission for you"
Lucy, one of the children visionaries of Fatima asked the Angel: “How are we to make sacrifices?”
The Angel replied, "Make of everything you can a sacrifice and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners.”
“In this way, you will draw peace upon your country. I am its Guardian Angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and bear with submission the sufferings which the Lord will send you."
Thus, to be as spiritually fruitful as possible, and to pray for our country, do the following:
· Patiently accept and endure all of the sufferings that come your way;
· Especially those which you did not choose, do not like, and cannot change;
· yet, which God in His mysterious providence sends you.
Further, we can also take on voluntary little acts of self-denial for the same end. Adding these little acts of self-denial along with our prayer will change the world!
FIVE
Your angel knows you better than anyone else, save God and perhaps Our Lady. Your angel knows you better than your mom does. They know our tendencies, our strengths, and our weaknesses. They know each and every instance when we are steering towards danger. They watch out for us and protect us because that’s who they are; that’s what they do. They are our greatest ally, and they fight for us even when we don’t realize it. We are engaged in a terrible battle right now---right this very second. St. Peter warns us, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8.) And St. Paul tells us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12.) Do you fear Satan? Do you fear hell? Satan and hell are real. They are the end result of being able to freely reject God and His plan for us. Then let us resolve to fight along-side our angel who fights for us. Let’s bring the real power to this battle and let’s win! Our angel and Our Lady’s Holy Rosary are weapons we must utilize for victory!