The Glories of the Holy Angels
Venerable Henri Boudon, Archdeacon of Evreux
OCTOBER FIFTEENTH.
Let us devote thin day to the veneration of the Angels who appeared at the Sepulchre of Jesus.
We may piously imagine, that after the body of our crucified King was laid in the tomb, the holy Angels stood and guarded the sacred deposit, quite motionless at this his prodigious annihilation, until the morning of the Sabbath, when the Maries, on coming to the door of the monument, found the stone rolled away, and an Angel sitting thereon, whose countenance was as lightning, and his garments like snow.” This conduct of the Angels should make us like the great saint of this day, St. Teresa, most assiduous in visiting Jesus in his holy Sacrament, the tomb of his love. He is there night and day, suffering with infinite patience the irreverences of some, and the total forgetfulness of almost all.
Practice—A visit to the Holy Sacrament, to beg a great devotion towards it, and the Angels.
Asp.—Ah ! blessed Angels ! teach us to honour Jesus in the Sacrament of his love.
OCTOBER SIXTEENTH.
Let us this day honour the Angels who appeared at the Ascension of Jesus Christ.
The time being come in which Jesus was to pass out of the world, and ascend to his Father, he led his disciples to Olivet, and having given them his last instructions, he was taken up into heaven, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And as they continued to look after him, two men stood by them clothed in white, who said. “You men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus, whom you have seen ascend there, will one day return.” It is not by a devotion merely speculative, as those Angels insinuated, we are to prepare for this coming. We must pray, act, suffer, lest we be found with our hands empty when the Lord will descend to judge us.
Practice—Examine for five minutes if your devotion be in accordance with the Spirit of God—whether it show itself by the subjection of the passions, &c., or in mere external forms only.
Asp.—O ! blessed Spirits ! render us adorers in spirit and truth.
Lecture—10th Motive
OCTOBER SEVENTEENTH.
This day is dedicated to our good Angel.
Blessed for ever be that infinite goodness, which, not content with all that it has done for us, has deputed an Angel for our guide—and woe be to us if insensible to the favour. It is indeed true that “God has given his Angels charge of us that they are always at our side, that they “ bear us up in their hands’ and lose not sight of us day or night. Let us be grateful to these blessed Guardians, and, as St. Bernard recommends, demonstrate respect for their presence, affection for their services, confidence in their guardianship. Let each of us often say to his Guardian Angel, with sincere regret for past indevotion—too late have I loved you, O, good Angel!
Practice—The Litany of the Angel Guardian.
Asp.—O Blessed Angel! I love you, and I wish to love you more.
Lecture—Half 5th Motive
OCTOBER EIGHTEENTH.
The Angel of our Patron Saint.
Let us this day honour the Angel Guardian of our Patron, as this blessed Intelligence has done so much for his or her sanctification. It is gratifying to them that we may pay them our respects; they will not fail to acknowledge it.
Practice—Visit the Angel of your Patron, to thank him, and beg his intercession.
Asp.—Holy Angel of my Patron; I venerate you.
Lecture—Finish yesterday’s Motive in preceding work.
