Feast of the Guardian Angels (October 2)

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Please give thanks to God for His angelic protection as we honor our guardian angel on this special day!

Daily Prayer to Guardian Angel

Angel of God
My guardian dear
To Whom His love
Commits me here
Ever this day
Be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide.

Amen


Regarding angels, one of the most dramatic stories of God's angelic protection is found in Scripture, the Acts of the Apostles.

About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the people he proceeded to arrest Peter also. It was the feast of Unleavened Bread. He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayers by the church was fervently made to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him saying, "Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandels" He did so. Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me." So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter recovered his senses and said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting." Acts 12:1-11

Stained glass window photographed inside Saint Peter the Apostle Church, Parsippany, NJ, USA.

Photograph Copyright Loci B. Lenar
www.Christian-Miracles.com

The Angels Are Our Invisible Friends

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

News excerpt from National Catholic Register

September 29th is the Feast Day of the Archangels

By Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle

"Make friends with the angels, who, though invisible, are always with you. ... Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs." So encouraged St. Francis de Sales.

 

And as the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, "The Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every human being" (352).

 

How blessed we are to be so close to angels. From our birth and all throughout our lives, marvelously, an invisible companion has taken a personal interest in us and our salvation: our guardian angel.

 

St. Basil the Great reassures us, "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd, leading him to life." Yet, so often, we forget all about the presence of these mysterious creatures — the angels — simply because we can’t see them.

Read more: The Angels Are Our Invisible Friends