The Guardian Angel | Marcantonio Franceschini
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mt 18:1-5, 10
The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “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.”
REFLECTION
“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.”
Throughout the Old and the New Testament, angels are mentioned. They are messengers of God given to each individual soul. The angels are not only executors of God's wrath but also protectors of the individual souls. They come to the help of those in need. The angels closed the earthly paradise, protected Lot, saved Hagar and her child and stayed the hand of Abraham.
The Word Incarnate has always been surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. They sang praise at His birth, protected Jesus during the massacre of the Holy Innocents and spoke to Joseph in a dream. The angels ministered to Jesus when He spent 40 days in the desert. The angel freed Peter from prison. They evangelized the Good News of Christ's Incarnation and Resurrection. They will be present when Jesus returns. They lead and protect cooperative souls on their journey to salvation, ending in Heaven.
Saint Padre Pio would always ask a person to have his guardian angel talk to his.
Pope Paul V on September 27, 1608, placed the Feast of the Guardian Angels into the Liturgical Calendar of the Catholic Church. We honor the angels as God in His infinite Divine Wisdom has given each one of us an angel to attend to our spiritual and physical needs. We thank God for the angels. We thank the angels for their help, care, leadership and protection in our lives and in our journey to heaven.
Prayer to our Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits thee here.
Ever this day, be at my side,
to light, to guard, to rule, to guide.
Amen.
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