“From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their 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 #336)
On this day, October 2, the Catholic Church celebrates our Guardian Angels. The above quote from the Catechism reminds us that from the moment our life begins we are surrounded and guarded by the angels and in particular our Guardian Angel. The place of angels in the life of the Church is very specific, beginning with their presence in both the Old Testament and of course in Jesus’ own words of teaching in the Gospels, in the New Testament and the tradition of the Church, about angels in the service of God’s creative goodness.
Let’s talk about our Guardian Angels. First and foremost…Angels exist. We are not talking about the pretty delicate figures that are often drawn in artist renderings…nor are we talking about the sweet little cherubs nakedly floating about shooting the lovelorn with arrows of desire…and we are not talking about the angels that are depicted in the movies and television programs of popular culture…we are talking about the angels created by God who surround us in grace and peace.
“St. Augustine says: “‘Angel’ is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ‘angel’: from what they are, ‘spirit’, from what they do, ‘angel.’ With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they “always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” they are the “mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word”” (CCC #329)
We often hear people say, “She/he is my guardian angel” of friends and family members who care for a person in a holy and grace filled manner. But once again we are not talking about that. Angels exist and I have heard many stories of mysterious encounters with strangers who show up out of no where and help in a time of need and then just as mysteriously slip away.
Sr. Maria del Rosario MESST, shared with me the story of when she and another sister were driving through the Andes Mountains and their jeep slipping off the road and was perched precariously on a steep hillside above a deep ravine when a stranger, a strong young man, shows up with a rope and pulls the jeep to safety. They thank him and as they drive off, they look back and he is gone.
Others have told stories of being injured or lost and a stranger shows up in kindness to care for them for a short while and then seems to be gone before being thanked.
I was once told a story by a young man who was in hospital with a serious injury and for days was comforted by the words, actions and presence of a nurse only to be told when he asked about her that no one knew who she was or any of the nurses fit this particular description.
An old sailor once told me that during World War II his ship was struck by a torpedo and with fire raging about him he thought he would surely die, only to have a had reach out and grab him and pull him to safety. He thanked the sailor who helped him only later realizing that he had never seen the person before in the ships company and never saw him again.
Oh, and I am positive and sure that my guardian angel has helped me get home, kept me safe and turned me from certain paths during the foolishness of my youth and certainly has guided me in my continued search for holiness and blessing today.
Angels are real….and don’t forget to thank you Guardian angels and ask for their help.
God bless
Fr. Mark