DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR SEPTEMBER  2008.

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+A Meditation for the Month of September in which we contemplate the Protection of the holy Angels+

How shall I sing that Majesty which Angels do admire?
Let dust in dust and silence lie; sing, sing, ye heavenly choir.
Thousands of thousands stand around Thy Throne, O God most high;
Ten thousand times ten thousand sound Thy praise; but who am I?

Thy brightness unto them appears, whilst I Thy footsteps trace;
A sound of God comes to my ears, But they behold Thy face.
They sing because Thou art their Sun; Lord, send a beam on me;
For where heaven is but once begun, there Alleluyas be.

[John Mason; 1645-1694]

Doubt, gloom, impatience have been expelled; joy has taken their place, the hope of heaven and the harmony of a pure heart and a contented mind. How can charity towards all men fail to follow, being the mere affectionateness of innocence and peace? Thus the Spirit of God creates in us the simplicity and warmth of heart which children have, nay, rather the perfections of His heavenly hosts, high and low being joined together in His mysterious work; for what are implicit trust, ardent love, abiding purity, but the mind both of little children and of the adoring Seraphim!

[Cardinal Newman]

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Bishop Anthony writes: How often do we acknowledge the constant presence with us of our own Guardian Angel? How often do we greet that Guardian, returning His/Her love for us and asking for protection? The angels behold God face to face and yet they watch over all faithful Christians night and day! John Mason’s famous hymn puts their heavenly glory and our earthly state into perspective! But our human condition is temporary and one day we too, if we remain faithful to JESUS, will see God face to face. No priest is ever alone when offering Holy Mass without a congregation for many angels are present. That is why at a private Mass  the priest still says: Dominus Vobiscum. It is the angels who return this greeting with: Et cum spiritu tuo. Cardinal Newman compares the innocence of small children with the pure love of the angels. “Unless ye become like little children…….” Let us pray to our Guardian Angel daily to give us deeper and deeper love of God so that we may truly know our utter dependence on Him and desire after this earthly life to be with Him for eternity when we too shall sing with unspeakable joy because, as the hymn says, “Thou art their Sun.”     +Amen+

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Let us pray: God of all wisdom Who dost direct the ministry of angels and of human beings in a wondrous way: grant that the angels who ever minister to Thee in heaven may defend us always throughout our earthly life.  Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.  Amen

And a passing thought
The angels are the shepherds of our souls. Not content with bringing our messages to God, they also bring God’s messages to us. They nourish us with their delightful inspiration. [St.John of the Cross]

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HOLY MICHAEL ARCHANGEL DEFEND US, WE PRAY, IN THE DAY OF BATTLE!
O THOU GUARDIAN ANGEL OF MINE, WATCH OVER ME AND PRAY FOR ME!
JESUS, GRANT THAT I MAY ALWAYS ABIDE IN THY LOVE!

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