DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR SEPTEMBER  2007.

+Thoughts for the Month in which we honour the Archangels and all the Holy Angels

Thou Angel of God who hast charge of me from the dear Father of mercifulness,
The shepherding kind of the fold of the saints, to make round about me this night.

Drive from me,angels,every temptation and danger; surround me on the sea of unrighteousness;
And in the narrows,crooks and straits, keep,good angel, my coracle and keep it always.

Be thou a bright flame before me,a guiding star above me; be thou a smooth path below me.
And be a kindly shepherd behind me – today, tomorrow and for ever.

I am tired, dear, loving angel, and I am a stranger: lead thou me at last to the land of angels;
In that day when it is time to go Home to the Court of Christ, to the peace of Heaven!

(Carmina Gadelica. Volume 1)

Bishop Anthony writes: The angels are our constant companions and we remain in their perpetual care throughout our earthly life – our own dear guardian angel never far from us by night or day! We  know this already, yet for many Christians this annual reminder of the angels in all their glory, as well as in their God-given task of protecting us, is necessary. Necessary because even some devout Catholics neglect the angels! When did you last pray to your own guardian angel and ask him or her to keep you safe? And thank your guardian angel for such a constant watch over you?  Now was it recently? …
As the above poem reminds us, the angels are indeed the shepherds of our souls, round about us as they do all they can to keep us “in all His ways”. Not content just to take our prayers and petitions to the throne of God, they also bring God’s messages to us. Here we think particularly of the Archangel Gabriel who announced his AVE! to our Lady and told her that she was to bear in her womb the son of God – God Himself. We think too of the Archangel Raphael who came to Tobias to lead him and to heal him. Read again the beautiful book of Tobit.  In Chapter 12 the blessed Archangel tells Tobias: “God hath sent me to heal thee and Sara,thy daughter-in-law. I am Raphael…” In that same chapter Raphael tells Tobias that it is better to give alms than to “lay up gold”. The giving of alms to those in need will purge us from sin – a message from God indeed! And we know from the Book of Revelation how Holy Michael,the Chief of all the angels, fought with Satan and his minions and Michael cast them out. Pray daily to the Archangels and they will save you from all the powers of evil that roam the world! They are our health, help and medicine and will bring us at last to our divine Redeemer, Christ Himself.  +
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Let us pray: Lord of the Heavenly Hosts, grant that Thy angels may ever protect us in this life and bring our devout prayers before Thy Throne and Thy grace upon us. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen
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And a passing thought

Christians should always remember that the value of their good works is not based on number and excellence. Their value is based on the love for God that prompts them to do the works.
(Saint John of The Cross)

HOLY MICHAEL, ARCHANGEL, DEFEND US EVERY DAY AND IN THE DAY OF BATTLE!
O GOOD GUARDIAN ANGEL OF MINE, WALK WITH ME AND KEEP ME SAFE!
SACRED AND EUCHARISTIC HEART OF JESUS, MY KING, O HAVE MERCY UPON ME!

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