The Glories of the Holy Angels
Venerable Henri Boudon, Archdeacon of Evreux
PRACTICE EIGHTH
To labour for the Conversion of Sinners and the release of Souls from Purgatory—and to practise Virtue in honour of the Angels.
What can we do more agreeable to the Angels than to labour with them for the glory of our common Master? It is his glory which causes this almost infinite number of blessed Spirits to watch so indefatigably over us poor sinners ; and what wonder, when even the shadow of the interests of this divine being should be upheld at the risk of the annihilation of all creatures. O my God ! why are you not known by us ! This world is indeed a land of forgetfulness in your regard. A God-man having sacrificed his life, in the midst of an infinity of sufferings, for your divine interest, we should either renounce Christianity, or endeavour to advance it by every possible means. Here it is we should pour out floods of tears over the insensibility and blindness of men.
Great expenses are incurred for decorating and pampering a body which will in a few days become the food of worms—and nothing, or less than nothing, is done for the soul! Immense revenues are expended for the support of vanity and ambition, and scarcely will a pound be given to advance the glory of God! The greatest ignorance prevails among the peasantry—whole villages are desolated by the reign of sin—the establishment of schools would be the grand remedy —but, alas ! few or none care to contribute towards it. They can find money enough to purchase rich plate and precious furniture !—it is only for the interest of God that they have none. O horror of horrors! I plainly see, my God! the truth of your divine words — that though “many are called, few are chosen.”
The example of the blessed Spirits should animate us to do and suffer all, in order to save our souls : it should also encourage us to labour for the salvation of others. Let us act in concert with these blessed Spirits for this end. The holy Angels faithfully continue their labours, and care for us during 40, or 60, or 80 years, or whatever be the term of our lives, though they are sure the object of them will reap no fruit or advantage, through his own malice. Hence, confessors, preachers, and all who labour in any shape for the extension of the reign of God, should be singularly devout to these holy Spirits. The charity of these blessed Spirits extends beyond the grave. It is doing them a great favour to pray for the poor souls in Purgatory. Let us succour them as much as we can, by the holy mass, alms, indulgences, &c. They are truly deserving of our compassion, and the Angels will not fail, as being interested for them, to reward our charity with the most precious graces.
The practice of chastity is absolutely necessary to gain the friendship of the Angels. Virginity is their favourite virtue, as it has been of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the two St. Johns. O Virgins! whoever you may be, remember you possess a treasure of inestimable price—one which assimilates you to the Angels. But, as in proportion to its excellence, you should have a more lively apprehension of its loss, so adopt more earnestly the necessary means in order to its preservation. These are mortification, guard of the senses, flight of the world, and true and sincere humility. This virtue of humility is one which the Angels require in those devoted to them; they cannot bear the proud. The practice of recollection and prayer is also most pleasing to them; they have been visibly seen assisting persons in this holy exercise. St. Bernard saw them noting the manner in which his religious made their prayer. But if we would be truly devout to the Angels, we should once for all take the resolution of avoiding deliberate faults and imperfections, of searching out and overcoming our predominant passion, the source of our most frequent irregularities.
Endeavour every day to sacrifice some inclination of yours in honour of the Angels. If we remembered that our Angel witnesses all our actions, and that he abhors sin, it would be some restraint on us, as even pagan philosophers, who believed that an invisible guide presided over their thoughts and action, acknowledged. If this was the sentiment of a pagan, what ought to be that of a Christian?
