Blogger Priest

We attend the liturgy in a church, not just for our private and personal prayer, but for the prayer of the whole family. The saints and angels also pray with us. How many times do we advert to the presence of the angels at Mass just before the Canons at the “Holy, Holy, Holy,” when we say “with the Angels and all the Saints we declare your glory, as with one voice we acclaim….” We pray also that the angels will take this sacrifice to the altar in heaven. At the funeral Mass we say, “May the angels lead you into paradise.” Many churches have angels on either side of the tabernacle and/or in the stained-glass windows. The angels of God constantly sing God’s praises because they see the face of God. How many turn to the personal guardian angel which we each have? When was the last time you spoke to your guardian angel? They are not just for children, but for all of us. There was a prayer that many of us used to say: “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.” Your angel prays and praises God with you in the liturgy. All of God’s saints and angels are with us in our prayers. As the familiar prayer here says, they guard, protect and guide. They have been given this commission by God to care for us. Are we conscious of praying to them (for intercession and help) and praying with them at Mass? Many years ago, we used to say a prayer at the end of Mass to St. Michael the Archangel. His name means “he who is like to God.” Archbishop Michael Curley was the Ordinary and he regularly referred to his patron saint name in catechesis about the importance of this special messenger from God. As sort of an inside joke, if you look at the archbishop’s chair at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in the sanctuary, you will see the words, “Quis ut Deus,” which means “who is like to God.” We place great confidence in Michael. Michael drove Satan into hell. Is not our world in need of invoking him again to protect the Church (that’s us) from the diabolical time and atmosphere in which we live? We should be saying, “Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.” You are not alone at Mass. In addition to your fellow Catholics, you are with your guardian angels. Sing with them. Rejoice with them. Speak to them. Do this so that you may one day stand with them at the throne of God, just as they stand at your side during your mortal pilgrimage to the home prepared for you in your Father’s house.

Filed under: Awalt Papers |