Three 20-something women trying to figure out what it means to be lay, Catholic, and modern all at once.


October 2, 2009

Feast of the Guardian Angels



October is full of so many fabulous feast days!! Today is the feast of our Guardian Angels, and I am so particularly fond of this feast. I have always wanted to know the name of my Guardian angel...my poor angel has so much to put with! Just getting me out of bed each morning must be a challenge! I swear, it is only by the grace of God through my angel that I have woken up some days! Here's a few snippets from some articles on angels that give us an idea of their ever presence in our lives, and their desire to lead us always to Christ!

First, from an interview with Fr. Thomas Rosica:
The notion of angels is [to be] mysteriously in the presence of God on our behalf, and simultaneously with us on our behalf. What a tender gesture of our loving Creator! Guardian angels provide free, womb-to-tomb guidance—lighting and guarding, ruling and guiding ... all the days of our lives.

Angels move our imaginations with good thoughts and impulses, and impel us toward goodness ... through secret impulse, intuition, without the benefit of [our] actually seeing or hearing them. They pray with us and for us, and in transporting our prayers to God, they may alter them ever so slightly to make them more perfect. They protect us in times of danger, in the physical as well as in the spiritual life, because not all is sweetness and light here below. . . . If the angels teach us anything, they show us what it means to put on the mind of Christ. What a great privilege is theirs, to stand constantly in God's presence, to feast their eyes on Jesus, to know his face and even more, his mind. They look upon the world, and on each of us, with the mind of Christ.
From Fr. Gino Conceiti:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims that "from infancy to death human life is surrounded by their [angels'] watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God" (CCC, n. 336).

Such protection will benefit those who respond to the Holy Spirit's direction and for those who willingly collaborate. In her liturgy, the Church prays to the angels for herself and others, calling upon their protection and intercession: it is sufficient to follow the liturgy of the Mass to be convinced.
Finally: The Guardian Angel Prayer

Angel of God,
My Guardian Dear,
To whom God's love,
Commits me here.
Ever this day,
Be at my side,
To light, to guide,
To rule, to guard. Amen

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Any ideas on what it means in the prayer "To whom God's love, commits me here"? I could never figure this out.

Margaret E. Perry said...

I think it means: Gaurdian Angel commit me to God's Love.

commits = entrust
here = now

at least, that's how i've always prayed it.

Angela Miceli said...

I've always thought it meant that God, because of His love, committed our guardian angels to us to guard us, light our way, guide us, and protect us. But Margaret's is lovely too! Perhaps it's a bit of both!

Anonymous said...

I just like how it rhymes :)

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