And only where God is seen does life truly begin.Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we know what life is.We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution.Each of us is the result of a thought of God.Each of us is willed;each of us is loved;each of us is necessary.
There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel – by the encounter with Christ.
There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him.
(Our Holy Father Pope Benedict)
Bishop Anthony writes:We are called not just to speak of Jesus to others but,in a real sense,to be Christ for others.And in the same way that we are called to be Christ for both neighbour and stranger,we must also be a ministering angel to those among whom we live.This month we think specially of the holy angels and their prayers for us and very real protection of us.We know from the Book of Daniel that the angels number many millions: “…a thousand thousand they were that waited on His<God’s>bidding,and for every one of these a thousand others were standing there before Him…” Yet the angels are not only in Heaven – they are here amongst us.Everyone of us has his or her own personal Guardian Angel who walks closely with us every single day of our life.It was St.John of Damascus who said that angels take different earthly forms at the bidding of their Master,God.Thus they reveal themselves to human beings and unveil the Divine Mysteries to them.This,I believe,means that it is our Guardian angel who promotes and encourages whatever there is of Christly goodness within us,spurring us on more and more to greater Christian effort.We all often fail and fall,yet our Guardian angel still remains loyally by our side,protecting us and whispering the “things of God” into our ear – if we will but listen more often! In other words,the angels not only take our petitions to God – they bring God’s messages and God’s inspiration to us.As Psalm 91 tells us: “He will give His angels charge over thee,to keep thee in all thy ways.”
+++
Let us pray: O God:Who in a wonderful order hast established the ministry of Angels and of men,mercifully grant that even as Thy holy Angels ever do Thee service in Heaven,so at all times they may succour us upon earth.And grant,we beseech Thee,that,finding true safety in their protection,we may in eternity share their blessed happiness.Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
+++
And a passing thought.
Remember that no penitent soul can perish.And no soul that loves God can be lost. (Cardinal Manning)
+++
SACRED HEART OF JESUS,THY KINGDOM COME!
HOLY MICHAEL ARCHANGEL,DEFEND US IN THE DAY OF BATTLE!
+++
OUR LADY OF VICTORIES,SAINT PANCRAS AND ALL HOLY ANGELS,PRAY FOR US!
+++
|
