The Holy Guardian Angels. Feast Day 2 October (Part Four).

Italic Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.

Non-Italic Text is taken from The Liturgical Year by Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.

(Translated from the French by Dom Laurence Shepherd, O.S.B.)

Time After Pentecost, Book V, Fourth Edition, Volume 14. from

ST. BONAVENTURE PUBLICATIONS

Illustrations taken from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,

unless otherwise stated.

The Holy Guardian Angels.

Feast Day 2 October.

Greater-Double.

White Vestments.

"The Guardian Angel Home",
a Catholic Home for Orphans,
in Kumamoto, Japan. 

Private Louis Miller, Sister Saint Paul and the Children,
dressed in their best clothes.

Date: 25 October 1945.

Source: National Archives ARC#532567 Record Group:127.

Author: Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. U.S. Marine Corps.

(Wikimedia Commons)

In conclusion, let us listen to the Abbot of Clairvaux [Saint Bernard of Clairvaux], who here gives free rein to his eloquence: 'In every place, show respect to thy Angel. Let gratitude for his benefits incite thee to honour his greatness. Love this, thy future co-heir, the guardian appointed for thee by The Father during thy childhood.

For, though we are sons of God, we are as yet but children, and long and dangerous is our journey. But God hath given His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk; and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon. [Ps. xc. 11 - 13.]

English: Guardian Angel, German postcard 1900.

Deutsch: Schutzengel, deutsche Postkarte um 1900.

Polski: Anioł Stróż, niemiecka pocztówka ok. 1900.

Author: Unknown. Similar to works by Fridolin Leiber.

(Wikimedia Commons)

"Angel" means "Messenger" in Greek.

Yes; where the road is smooth enough for a child, they will content themselves with guiding thee, and sustaining thy footsteps, as one does for children. But, if trials threaten to surpass thy strength, they will bear thee up in thy hands.

Oh, those hands of Angels ! Thanks to them, what fearful straits we have passed through, as it were, without thinking, and with no other impression left upon us, than that of a nightmare suddenly dispelled ! ' [Bern. in Psalm. xc. Sermon xii.]

Image: PICTURING ANGELS

Artist: Gabriel-Joseph-Marie-Augustin Ferrier
(1847 - 1914).

And, in his Commentary on The Canticle of Canticles, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux thus describes the triumph of the Angel: 'One of the companions of the Spouse, sent from Heaven to the chosen Soul, as mediator, on witnessing the Mystery accomplished, how he exults, and says: "I give Thee thanks, O God of Majesty, for having granted the desire of her heart ! " 

Now, it was he that, as a persevering friend, had not ceased, on the way, to murmur into the Soul's ear: "Delight in the Lord, and He will give thee the requests of thy heart;" and again: "Expect the Lord, and keep His way"; and then: "If He make any delay, wait for Him, for He will surely come and will not tarry."

Meanwhile, he represented to Our Lord the Soul's desire, saying: "As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so this Soul panteth after Thee, O God; have pity on her, hear her cries, and visit her in her desolation."

And now the Faithful Para-Nymph, the Confidante of ineffable secrets, is not jealous. He goes from the Spouse to the Bride, offering desires, bringing back gifts; he incites the one, he appeased the other. Sometimes, even in this world, he brings them into each other's presence, either by raising up the Bride in ecstasy, or by bringing down the Bridegroom; for he is one of the household, and well-known in the Palace; and he fears no rebuff, for every day he beholds the Face of The Father.' [Bernard. in Cant. Sermon xxxi.]

PART FIVE FOLLOWS