FEAST OF OUR HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS
John,
Chapter 10,
Verse 17
This
is why the Father loves me, because I
lay down my life in order to take it up again.
This is
probably a reference to the manna in the desert, which elsewhere is seen as a
type of the Eucharist. In the Gospel of John Christ states, “I
have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the
disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to
eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of
the one who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4: 32-34).
We like
our Lord should have the same desire to build the Kingdom of God; to create a
New Jerusalem in our home, at our work and in our communities. Our Lord asks
that we prepare ourselves for the work by eating the food he gives us which is
the new covenant.
We need
this food to create a change in us from the old man to become sons of God in
and through Christ which is the new covenant of His blood. Those who love him
frequent Mass and take the food He gives us through His Priests. For this is
real food indeed. It is not food to give pleasure to the body but it is
intended by God to give joy to the soul. According to the late Bishop Fulton
Sheen, "You can quickly become tired of pleasures, but you can never tire
of joys." Joy comes by finding God. You cannot satisfy a soul with
husks![1]
THIS
feast was instituted:
1. To
thank God that to each one of us He has given a guardian angel to conduct him
unharmed through the dangers of this world.
2. To
inspire us with gratitude to the angels who do us such great good, and to
incite us to efforts to render ourselves worthy of their guardianship.
What
is the office of a guardian angel? To guard men against dangers of soul and
body. The Psalmist says: He hath given His angels charge over thee to keep thee
in all thy ways; in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest thou dash thy
foot against a stone (Ps. xc. 11); that is, that thou mayest neither fall into
sin nor misfortune. Oh, what great regard for us, hereupon exclaims St.
Bernard, what wonderful love!
Who
is it that has given charge? God.
To
whom has He given charge? The angels, those noble spirits of His own household.
What
charge has He given them? To guard and defend us, poor men. O Lord, what is man,
that Thou art mindful of him? St. Paul calls the angels ministering spirits
sent to minister to them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation (Heb.
i. 14). In innumerable other places in the Bible they are represented as
friends of children, guides of youth, defenders of innocence, promoters of good
deeds, monitors against evil, guardians of the pious, protectors against
misfortune, comforters in need, deliverers in danger, helpers in combat,
companions of the souls in everlasting joy.
What
should we do every day, but particularly this day? We should thank
God for having given us guardians so holy and powerful, and our guardian angel
himself for the help he has rendered us; should think of and call upon him
often, especially in the hour of temptation; finally, we should promise
fidelity and obedience to his admonitions. Whatever in this regard is at any
time binding upon us should especially be done today.
Prayer
O God, who
by an unspeakable providence dost vouchsafe to send Thy angels to guard us,
grant to Thy suppliants to be ever defended by their protection, and to rejoice
eternally in their society. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.
Prayer
to the Guardian Angel
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.
(100
days indulgence each time).
Read
from the Catholic Culture Library[3]
Redwood National Park Establish 1968
Think
of the giant Redwoods they are the largest trees in the world. These trees
survive by intertwining their roots because the ground is so hard the Redwood
cannot strike a taproot to hold itself up but by supporting each other they
become the largest trees in the world.
World
Farm Animals Day[4]
Farm animals are cute, and they also play
an important role in modern society. Take some time to appreciate them this
World Farm Animals Day. Created in memory of Ghandi, who believed in treating
all living beings with respect, World
Farm Animals Day was founded to highlight the poor conditions suffered
by some farm animals and promote awareness in the hope something may be done to
improve their lives.
While World Farm Animals Day has an
important, and sad, origin, in the sense it was created to raise awareness of
suffering, it can be celebrated in different ways with children. Taking
children for a visit to a farm is a great way to teach them about farm animals,
and it’s a good chance to instil in them the message of treating animals with
respect. Another great way to celebrate is by donating to an animal protection
charity of your choice
10. “I am the
resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will
live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe
this?”
– John 11:25-26
– John 11:25-26
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
89.
It is Jesus who speaks: 'Amen I
say to you: ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it
shall be opened to you.' Pray. In what human venture could you have greater
guarantees of success?
Daily Devotions
·
Total
Consecration Day 21
[1] Fulton Sheen, Finding True Happiness.
[2]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.
[6]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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