Additional Information about Guardian Angels[1]
Readings for the Memorial of Guardian Angels[2][3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
(for Thursday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time)
Commentary:
Reading 1: Job 19:21-27
These familiar verses (“I know that my vindicator (redeemer) lives…”) are taken from Job’s fifth response. Job is now utterly deserted. His family, neighbors, and even (apparently) God has deserted him. Yet, in a leap of faith, he expresses hope in the vision of God who will vindicate him and confidence that he will one day meet him, face to face. It is this salvation and consolation that Job desires above all else.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27 is an individual lament. Here the signer calls to the Lord, imploring Him to hear the desperate prayer. The psalmist expresses faith in God who is the refuge of the faithful, longing to find the ultimate safety and bounty of God’s heavenly kingdom
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10
This Gospel passage is used on the Feast of the Guardian Angels each year. The event is also recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel at Luke 9:46-50. The major difference is that here, in St. Matthew’s Gospel the Lord speaks directly of the Guardian Angels who protect and watch over the children in the presence of the Heavenly Father as opposed to going on to another saying of Jesus. The emphasis in this passage changes from a treatise on humility to one which emphasizes God’s care for those who are most helpless, His children.
Reflection:
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.
Today as the Church celebrates the Memorial of Guardian Angels we hear this simple children’s prayer with which we teach our children not to fear, that God is with them always in the person of the guardian angels. We hear Jesus in the Gospel today tell his disciples that the Lord so protects them as he says;
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
In the history of the Church, our belief in these spirits (as St. Jerome called them) has evolved. St. Thomas Aquinas published a whole section in his great work, the Summa Theologica. While the belief and study of angels has waned in recent years as we have become more rational and less mystic (one might call that trend a loss of innocence) the current teaching document of the Catholic Church still teaches our belief (although not as an article of faith):
335 In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the funeral liturgy's In Paradisum deducant te angeli. . .["May the angels lead you into Paradise. . ."]). Moreover, in the "Cherubic Hymn" of the Byzantine Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).[4]
Where do we take ourselves with this celebration today? We join in Job’s profession – “I know my vindicator lives.” We hope in God’s protection and support through his embracing spirit of holiness. We are, however, forcefully reminded that there is also an evil spirit, Satan, who comes; “From roaming the earth and patrolling it.” If we believe that there is an evil mystical presence can we not have hope that the Lord has maintained his vigilance with his angels. Perhaps today we should remember an adult prayer and let it be our own today;
Dear Angel, in his goodness God gave you to me to guide, protect and enlighten me, and to being me back to the right way when I go astray. Encourage me when I am disheartened, and instruct me when I err in my judgment. Help me to become more Christlike, and so some day to be accepted into the company of Angels and Saints in heaven. Amen.
Pax
[1] The picture today is “The Guardian Angel” by Pietro Da Cortona, 1656
[2] ALTRE
[3] Note – the first reading from Job and the Psalm with its response are taken from the proper of the season (Thursday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time # 458). The Gospel from Matthew is taken from the proper of the day (Guardian Angels Memorial #650).
[4] CCC 335
Readings for the Memorial of Guardian Angels[2][3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
(for Thursday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time)
Commentary:
Reading 1: Job 19:21-27
These familiar verses (“I know that my vindicator (redeemer) lives…”) are taken from Job’s fifth response. Job is now utterly deserted. His family, neighbors, and even (apparently) God has deserted him. Yet, in a leap of faith, he expresses hope in the vision of God who will vindicate him and confidence that he will one day meet him, face to face. It is this salvation and consolation that Job desires above all else.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27 is an individual lament. Here the signer calls to the Lord, imploring Him to hear the desperate prayer. The psalmist expresses faith in God who is the refuge of the faithful, longing to find the ultimate safety and bounty of God’s heavenly kingdom
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10
This Gospel passage is used on the Feast of the Guardian Angels each year. The event is also recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel at Luke 9:46-50. The major difference is that here, in St. Matthew’s Gospel the Lord speaks directly of the Guardian Angels who protect and watch over the children in the presence of the Heavenly Father as opposed to going on to another saying of Jesus. The emphasis in this passage changes from a treatise on humility to one which emphasizes God’s care for those who are most helpless, His children.
Reflection:
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.
Today as the Church celebrates the Memorial of Guardian Angels we hear this simple children’s prayer with which we teach our children not to fear, that God is with them always in the person of the guardian angels. We hear Jesus in the Gospel today tell his disciples that the Lord so protects them as he says;
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
In the history of the Church, our belief in these spirits (as St. Jerome called them) has evolved. St. Thomas Aquinas published a whole section in his great work, the Summa Theologica. While the belief and study of angels has waned in recent years as we have become more rational and less mystic (one might call that trend a loss of innocence) the current teaching document of the Catholic Church still teaches our belief (although not as an article of faith):
335 In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the funeral liturgy's In Paradisum deducant te angeli. . .["May the angels lead you into Paradise. . ."]). Moreover, in the "Cherubic Hymn" of the Byzantine Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).[4]
Where do we take ourselves with this celebration today? We join in Job’s profession – “I know my vindicator lives.” We hope in God’s protection and support through his embracing spirit of holiness. We are, however, forcefully reminded that there is also an evil spirit, Satan, who comes; “From roaming the earth and patrolling it.” If we believe that there is an evil mystical presence can we not have hope that the Lord has maintained his vigilance with his angels. Perhaps today we should remember an adult prayer and let it be our own today;
Dear Angel, in his goodness God gave you to me to guide, protect and enlighten me, and to being me back to the right way when I go astray. Encourage me when I am disheartened, and instruct me when I err in my judgment. Help me to become more Christlike, and so some day to be accepted into the company of Angels and Saints in heaven. Amen.
Pax
[1] The picture today is “The Guardian Angel” by Pietro Da Cortona, 1656
[2] ALTRE
[3] Note – the first reading from Job and the Psalm with its response are taken from the proper of the season (Thursday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time # 458). The Gospel from Matthew is taken from the proper of the day (Guardian Angels Memorial #650).
[4] CCC 335
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