Abbot Guéranger Discourses Upon The Holy Guardian Angels. Feast Day 2 October. White Vestments.

“Guardian Angel”.

By Pietro da Cortona (1656).

Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, Rome.

Source/Photographer: Web Gallery of Art

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from “The Liturgical Year”.
   By: Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.
   Volume 14.
   Time After Pentecost.
   Book V.

Althought the Solemnity of 29 September Celebrates the praises of all the Nine Glorious Choirs of Heaven, yet the piety of The Faithful, in the latter ages, desired to have a special day Consecrated to The Guardian Angels.

Several Churches having taken the initiative, and kept the Feast under various Rites and on different days, Pope Paul V (1608) authorised the Celebration “ad libitum”.

Pope Clement X (1670) established it by precept as a Feast of Double Rite [Editor: It has been a Greater-Double since 1883] on 2 October, the first free day after Michaelmas, on which it thus remains in some way dependent.

It is of Faith, on the testimony of the Scriptures and of unanimous Tradition, that God commits to His Angels the guardianship of men, who are called to contemplate Him together with these Blessed Spirits in their common Fatherland.

Catholic Theology teaches that this protection is extended to every member of the human race, without any distinction of Just and Sinners, Infidels and Baptised.

To ward off dangers; to uphold man in his struggle against the demons; to awaken in him Holy Thoughts; to prevent him sinning, and even, at times, to chastise him; to Pray for him, and present his Prayers to God.

Such is the Office of The Guardian Angel.

So special is his mission, that one Angel does not undertake the guardianship of several persons simultaneously; so diligent is his care, that he follows his ward from the first day to the last of his mortal existence, receiving the Soul as it quits this life, and bearing it from the feet of the Sovereign Judge to the place it has merited in Heaven, or to its temporary sojourn in the place of expiation and purification.

It is from the lowest of the Nine Choirs, the nearest to ourselves, that The Guardian Angels are, for the most part, selected. God reserves to the Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones, the honour of forming His own immediate Court.

The Dominations, from the steps of His Throne, preside over the government of the Universe; the Virtues watch over the course of Nature’s laws, the preservation of species, and the movements of the heavens; the Powers hold the Spirits of Wickedness in subjection.

The human race in its entirety, as also its great social bodies, the Nations and the Churches, are confided to the Principalities; while the Archangels, who preside over smaller communities, seem also to have the Office of transmitting to the Angels the commands of God, together with the love and light which come down even to us from the first and highest hierarchy.

O the depths of the Wisdom of God ! Thus, then, the admirable distribution of Offices among the Choirs of Heavenly Spirits terminates in the function committed to the lowest rank, the guardianship of man, for whom the Universe subsists.

Such is the teaching of the School; and the Apostle, in like manner, says: “Are they not all Ministering Spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of Salvation ?”

In conclusion, let us listen to the Abbot 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 of 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 [Editor: Psalm 90].

“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 their 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 !”