Friday, September 4, 2015

Deuteronomy, Chapter 3, Verse 2

The LORD said to me; do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your power with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.

Again in Deuteronomy we are told to not be afraid of giants. Giants, where thought to be the children of angels that were born to attractive women, by the Israelites of Moses time. Even during our times many people are influenced by new age beliefs about angels.

The church traditionally honors angels during the month of September. Paul in Colossians states of Christ, “He is the image* of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.”

St. Michael and the Angels is an excellent book on devotion to angels.

St. Michael and the Angels is a beautiful and inspiring book telling all about the angels. Filled with stories from the lives and writing of the saints, it tells of the role which the good angels play in the divine economy of saving souls. Led by St. Michael, the Prince of the heavenly host, the angels act as our guardians, serve as messengers from God to us and from us to God, surround the altar during Mass, and bear the graces of the Mass like incense to the altar of God on high. Here is explained the relationship of the angels to the Blessed Virgin Mary and how, if she is to send them to our aid, we must request her to do so. Included too is the prayer to our guardian angel asking him to go in our place to attend Mass when we cannot, plus the way the good angels protect us against the evil spirits. The book also discusses in detail the pre-eminent role of St. Michael as "Champion of the Church," "Defender of Christians," "Guardian of Purgatory," and "Helper of the Sick and Dying." Finally are included prayers to the angels and a litany to our Guardian Angel, to St. Michael, St. Raphael, and St. Gabriel. In all, St. Michael and the Angels is a treasure trove of information and inspiration about the holy angels-our silent partners in the way of salvation.