Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.
The Holy Guardian Angels.
Feast Day 2 October.
Greater-Double.
White Vestments.
English: Archangel Michael Reaching To Save Souls In Purgatory, by Jacopo Vignali,
Italiano: Jacopo Vignali, San Michele Arcangelo libera le anime del Purgatorio,
(17th-Century).
Source: Giovanni Piccirillo (a cura di),
La Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano, Becocci Editore, Firenze, 2006.
Author: sailko.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Holy Guardian Angels.
Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY
Artist: René de Cramer.
"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".
Used with Permission.
This Feast, Solemnised by The Spaniards in the 16th-Century, was extended to the whole Church by Pope Paul V in 1608. Pope Clement X, in 1670, appointed it to be kept on the first free day after The Feast of Saint Michael, namely 2 October.
The Angels, already in Glory, have for their mission to Adore The Divinity (Introit, Offertory, Communion). Wherefore, in The Preface, The Church makes us ask God to permit our voices to join with theirs in praising God.
But, as their name indicates, The Angels are also messengers of Divine Commands (Offertory). The Holy Fathers that they preside over all Created Things, and Saint Paul declares "that their mission is to serve the future heirs of Salvation".
This is why they are called Guardian Angels (Collect). It is generally thought that Kingdoms, Provinces, Families, Dioceses, Churches, Religious Communities, each have their Protecting Angel. That there is one for each Just Man, there can be no doubt, and The Church applies to the Souls that are under The New Law what is written about the people under The Old Law: "I shall send My Angel to march before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you into the land which I have prepared for you" (Epistle).[Saint Bernard. Sixth Lesson at Matins.]
Our Guardian Angel has for his mission to protect us and defend us in order that, under his protection, safe from the snares of the enemies of our Souls and from all adversities, we may reach The Promised Land of Eternal Life (Collect, Secret, Post-Communion).
This faithful companion deserves our gratitude and the Veneration due to one who already enjoys The Beatific Vision (Gospel). It is to encourage us to the habitual practice of this Devotion that The Church instituted The Feast of The Guardian Angels.
Mass: Benedicite Dominum.
Creed.
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