The Glories of the Holy Angels
Venerable Henri Boudon, Archdeacon of Evreux
MOTIVE SECOND
The incomparable goodness of the Angels.
“Nothing,” says the holy Bishop of Geneva, St. Francis de Sales, “nothing more affects a good heart than to see itself loved; but if the lover be of superior rank, it greatly enhances the motive of reciprocal love.” If this be true, we must either love the Angels, or renounce love altogether. These great princes, of whom we have said such wonderful things in the preceding chapter, not only love us, but also in such a manner that it would seem they are determined to bear away the prize of love.
They manifest towards us every species of affection ; they love us with the love of a father—always seeking our interest, always promoting our welfare, and never omitting any occasion of procuring us that celestial inheritance which has been purchased for us by the merits of the adorable Jesus.
They love us with a maternal love —for it is written, that “ they bear us up in their hands” they take care of our souls and bodies ; they have their eyes ever fixed on us, and caress us continually with all the tenderness that love can inspire.
They love us with the love of a brother, regarding us as the younger members of the family; and, what is more wonderful, and more worthy of heaven than of earth, they are not sorry to see us their equals in glory; nay, our Angel Guardians do all they can to render us more glorious in paradise than they are themselves.
They love us with the love of impassioned lovers —incessantly seeking our friendship, continually thinking of us, and even quitting the blissful regions of immortality to abide with us here on earth.
They love us as good pastors—for is it not of them we can say, that “ they neither slumber nor sleep who keep Israel.”
They love us as physicians, healing our wounds, curing our maladies, and restoring us to health; they love us as advocates, negotiating all our affairs, in heaven and on earth; as faithful guides, conducting us in the true way to perfection; as good masters, abundantly rewarding the little services we render them; as bountiful kings, defending us from our enemies, and causing us to live in peace and security.
O my God ! are we not then overpowered with motives to love your Angels! But when did they begin to love us ? The moment we began to live—nor have they since, nor will they to the last moment of our existence, cease to love us. They love us in all times and places—in Heaven, on Earth, in Purgatory even in our moments of ingratitude they are immutable in our love! It is thus certain that these blessed spirits are our best friends; that their love is the most faithful, constant, amiable, patient, universal, which can possibly be.
All in it is great—all in it is charming— all in it is admirable—all in it is disinterested—for what do they receive for this wonderful kindness ? Injuries, ingratitude, forgetfulness. Infidels know them not— heretics refuse to honour them—nor are Catholics even mindful of them. Ah! who can comprehend this monstrous return for so much love ! Such an impression does this consideration make upon me, that I would wish to go through the world bewailing the obduracy of the human heart. Here it is indeed, that the obduracy of the human heart is in its last excess. O men ! O men ! deliver yourselves now at least to these attractions—return from your unhappy stat —love the Angels—again I say, love the Angels, and love the God of the Angels, for it is in him alone all that is good and amiable deserves to be loved.
