Angels do exist. The Catholic Church has always taught the faithful to have devotion to the angels and we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Angels every year on October 2nd..
Unfortunately, many of the faithful today seldom think about the presence of angels, much less invoke their aid. We need to be reminded from time to time to have devotion to the angels. It has been said that devotion to the angels is a sign of predestination.
Of the millions and billions of angels that exist, the only names we know are Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Saint Michael is the protector of the Church and of the faithful. He is also known as the angel of social justice. Saint Gabriel, known as the angel of the Annunciation, is the patron of modern communications. And Saint Raphael, known as the angel of travelers, the angel of joy, the angel of healing, the angel of happy meetings is also the special patron of youth.
The first and primary function of the angels is to glorify God, to worship Him in heaven. Even when they do other chores entrusted to them, they are always in the Divine Presence, adoring God.
God has placed the angels in charge of the universe as a whole, and of the various parts of it. He uses His angels to implement His will in relation to the whole functioning of the laws of nature and of grace. There is not one minute detail they do not look after.
Every country has its own guardian angel. In the pre-Fatima Apparitions of 1916, the angel identified himself as the guardian angel of Portugal. If we have dealings with any country, we can call on the guardian angel of that country to help his people. "Guardian angel of France, help France." "Guardian angel of Italy, help Italy."
All human beings, be they either Christian or pagan, are entrusted with an angel to protect and guard them for their entire life from the moment of conception. The guardian angels assist us during life, at the moment of death, and after death, if we need it. Angels are given to us by Divine Providence to help us, but we must be willing to let them work their good in us.
They have a great love for man. They know God loved mankind so much that He sent His only Son to suffer and die for us, so the angels are delighted to serve us.
The angels protect us, they inspire us with holy thoughts and desires, they offer our prayers, our good works, our sufferings and our tears to God, and they pray for us. The angels ask God's blessing on all our undertakings and they help us to fulfill our tasks and obligations. They are always with us, ready to assist.
"We don't give the angels the importance they possess," said Father Lamy. "We don't pray to them enough. They're very touched when we pray to them. There is great benefit in praying to the angels."
Pray to the angels, morning and evening. When you are lonely or in sorrow or have trials, they are willing to help us — if only we would think of them more. They are our most faithful companions. As St. Bernard says, the angels come to us continually "to console us, to visit us, to help us."
Because an angel cannot read our minds, we have to talk to him; we have to tell him what we are thinking. Let him in on your decisions and on your feelings. He is your companion; he will never abandon you. Treat him as the intimate friend that he is, let him know that you love him. Say often during the day: "I love you, holy angel."
Always show confidence in your angel by calling on him in times of temptation, when in danger, or in affliction. Show him respect by avoiding every offense against God, remembering that he is always in your presence. Foster devotion to him by following his inspirations, by bringing him into our life more and more, treating him as a confidant.
On our deathbed, the angels are there to console us, to remind us of God's infinite mercy and love. After we die, the first person we meet is our guardian angel who will present our soul before the throne of God.
If we have to spend time in Purgatory, the angels continue to love us and to care for us, continually offering up prayers for us to the Eternal Father.
Thank your angel often for his services, even if he is invisible. He is in the presence of God, and from that center of divine tenderness he helps us, we who are so small. He is our friend; he wants to keep us on the road to heaven.
When we pray for our friends, we can also commend them to their angels. We can, with confidence, pray to the angels of those who have lost the faith to help them to return back to the sacraments. When we think of our loved ones who may be far away we can pray to the angels at their side, to ask them to guide and protect those who are dear to us.
If you pass a church or see a church steeple in the distance, think about the countless angels who constantly adore Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. When you attend Mass, think about the angels who fill the sanctuary to adore the Divine Victim immolated on the altar.
When we receive Holy Communion, there is something we can do to please our angel and indeed the nine choirs of angels; we can offer our Holy Communion in their honor. It gives them unparalleled joy. We please God when we honor the angels.
St. Francis de Sales reminds us to honor especially "the angel guardian of the diocese in which you live, and those of your neighbors, and above all, your own. Call on them and honor them frequently and ask their help in all your affairs, temporal as well as spiritual."
Teach others to have devotion to their angels. Parents, teach this to your children. Say often the prayer to the guardian angel with them. Teachers, reinforce this devotion in the classroom. Put up pictures of the angels and speak of them often to your students.
Holy angels, help us, guide us, protect us, inspire us. We have confidence in you. Melvin Sickler
(Resource: "I believe in Angels" by Michael Heneghan, Irish Messenger Publications, 37 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.)
aous, protégez-nous, inspirez-nous. Nous avons confiance en vous. v
Melvin Sickler
Melvin Sickler is a remarkable apostle. He does the door-to-door Rosary Crusade all over Canada and the United States to solicit subscriptions to Michael, and hold meetings.
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