To honour specially the Powers, Virtues, and Dominations.
The Second Hierarchy of Angels is composed of the Powers, Virtues, and Dominations. The Dominations, as the principal Choir, give or dispense the orders which they receive from the higher Angels—the Virtues enable us to execute them— and the Powers to surmount the obstacles which the Devils oppose thereto. We have elsewhere demonstrated the malicious arts of these wicked spirits; it is to the Powers that God has given the special grace to defeat them. Hence it is of the greatest importance in the spiritual life to honour these blessed spirits. We cannot detail the happy effects which proceed from it. When we see storms raised in the Church, or opposition excited against those who labour for the increase of divine glory—if we recur to the holy Powers, we shall soon perceive how wonderful they are in overturning; and defeating the machinations of hell.
With all our good desires, we do very little; our tongues are longer than our arms. It seems as if nothing could arrest our course—and when we make a few steps, we grow tired and think of reposing. Poor, weak creatures! Our senses and inclinations overcome us; we yield to them for a trifle, and yet we are still weaker than we think. Let devotion to the Virtues be then our resource. St. Gregory supposes that it is by them God generally operates the greater number of miracles. Let us invoke them in our weaknesses, and counsel those who often fail, notwithstanding their good desires, to do so too. Let us call on them in the hour of temptation, and praise and thank them when we have gained the victory.
If the Dominations dispense the orders of God to the other Angels, they manifest his holy will to man. O! how happy should we be, if we always discerned this blessed will! But alas ! we often mistake for it the will of the creature, and still oftener, when we know it, we find it difficult to submit to it. We wish that the will of God may be done, but in such a manner as we wish. This is not true conformity. A soul touched with the love of God would fly to the remotest corner of the earth at his nod; she wishes that God may be absolute in her and in all creatures—that his will may be done as he pleases, and because he pleases. If at any time she is ignorant of this will, and prays to the Dominations, they will not fail to manifest it to her, being Secretaries of State to the great King Jesus.
O my God ! how just it appears, that all should serve and be subject to you ! “All the nations are before you as a drop of dew.” He who knows your will, and does it not, deserves punishment indeed. O! may it be done in all things—and may we seek our peace only in its accomplishment. Amen.
To have a singular Devotion to the holy Spirits of the First Choir—the Angels, Archangels, and Principalities.
The third or last Hierarchy of the Holy Angels is formed of three Choirs Angels, Archangels, and Principalities. They are particularly applied to the affairs of kingdoms and provinces, and in general to all that regards the happiness of man. Their goodness and kindness is so great, that we can never make them a suitable return. The principalities are so called, says St. Gregory, because they are the princes of the other two choirs, and communicate to them those lights and intelligences which they receive from the higher Hierarchies. The Archangels watch over kingdoms and provinces and the Angels are appointed the guardians of men.
Let us have a great devotion to this blessed choir, honouring not only our own Angels but also those of others. Let us honour the Angels of Infidels, and often go in spirit to the countries they inhabit, to pay our respects to them. These poor blind people know not even that there are Angels, and behold the unwearied patience and love of these blessed Spirits in guarding and defending them. Do make atonement to them, communicate sometimes, give alms, hear mass, for this intention—and let your heart often salute these holy Angels. The more they are slighted, the more they will love and acknowledge your services. If a great king, in the revolt of his subjects, received considerable services from foreigners, he would not fail to acknowledge them gratefully, when reinstated in his dominions : hence judge what you may expect from the princes of the celestial realm. Do the same for the Angels of Heretics—for those of uninstructed Catholics, the greater number of whom know as little about these holy Spirits, as Pagans and Infidels. Pray for their conversion, that knowing the adorable Jesus, whom God has sent, and Mary his amiable mother, they may also know and honour the Angels.
Be devout to the Angels of your friends; these often render you services, which you would not receive from your own guardian. As, in the number of your friends, your confessor holds the first place, honour particularly his Angel, and pray him to bear on his mind a perfect knowledge of the designs of God on those whom he directs. Honour the Angels of your parents, relations, benefactors, and- of all with whom you have to do; they have more part than you think in the favours you receive by means of those persons. Be devout to the Angels of your enemies—it is the true way to gain them—or, if God wills that you should suffer the effects of their hatred, it is the best means of obtaining grace to love them cordially and make a good use of your sufferings. In fine, revere the Angels of the Sovereign Pontiff, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all persons in authority—that they may fitly discharge their obligations.
From the Angels, let us ascend to the Archangels, who watch over empires. Let us not only honour those among them who guard our own city or kingdom, but also those of the places through which we pass—as Father le Fevre, the first companion of St. Ignatius, used to do. The Angelic Doctor teaches, that God generally makes use of the ministry of the Angels for all that he does on earth : let us invoke them in time of plague, famine, war, and other public calamities, and we shall soon perceive the effects of their charitable cares.
Our churches and altars have Angels, not only to render homage to the Divine Sovereign who resides in them in his Sacrament, but also to guard and defend them. A holy solitary once learned from the mouth of an Angel, that he had been appointed to watch over an altar, and had never departed from it since the moment of its consecration. It is to these Angels we should recur to supply our negligences and tepidities—to atone for our irreverences and disrespects before, the Divine Sacrament. It is well to unite in the love and homage which they continually render to it, and like the Psalmist, to “sing canticles of praise to our God in the presence of his Angels.”
O my Lord and my God! here permit me to bewail, in the presence of your Divine Majesty, the deplorable blindness of Christians, who are the children of light, regarding your holy Sacrament. Is it then true, that they still believe you to be really present in this adorable mystery and behave as they do ? We are seized with horror when we reflect on the irreverences committed against you by Heretics and Infidels but those offered to you by Christians, who profess themselves ready to sacrifice their lives in defence of this adorable truth, are inconceivable. We have seen, with astonishment, tabernacles full of dust and cobwebs—chalices, from which the precious blood of God is received, most mean and despicable—and these covered with such tattered linen as to excite disgust. If we enter our churches, we find them either totally deserted, or crowded with persons whose sentiments and conduct ill befit the sanctity of the place. This is not all—the sufferings which love has imposed on our Sovereign stop not here. Many, by a malice which should cause the pillars of Heaven to tremble, receive the body of the God of Heaven and Earth in the state of mortal sin, either because they conceal them in confession, or had not a true sorrow for them, or a firm purpose to avoid those occasions which would lead them anew to their commission. We weep over the passion of the Son of God—we loudly condemn Judas who betrayed him to the Jews—but the sin of the unworthy communicant is much greater, since he delivers him up to the Devil!
O ! Angels of Paradise ! I address myself to you—knowing the obduracy of men, inspire them with all that respect for the adorable body of your Sovereign, which they are capable of conceiving—give them a knowledge of the dispositions with which it should be received:—that this abominable crime, this sin more hellish than human, may be no more committed. Inspire the rich to provide churches and altars, with suitable decorations—and repair, by your unceasing homage, the insults which have been offered to this mystery of inconceivable love.
These holy Spirits, knowing so perfectly the divine excellence of that Lamb without spot whom love, incomprehensible love, has caused to take up his abode among us, have great zeal for the decoration of his altars. It is giving them as great joy to make presents which contribute thereto, as it inspires them with regret to see them so much neglected. They cannot comprehend how Christians, enlightened by faith, can be so anxious about the decoration of their houses and persons, and so utterly indifferent to the ornamenting of the house of God.
Let us also be devout to the Principalities. Man is in himself a little world; he should rule over his passions and appetites, as a king over his subjects; but, as his empire is so weakened by sin, he stands in need of support and assistance. The Principalities will render him their aid, provided he do not render himself unworthy of it by neglecting devotion to them.
The great helps the Holy Angels afford us at the Hour of Death & Devotion to the Holy Angels is a sign of predestination to singular glory in Heaven
If to a pagan philosopher death appeared of all terrible things the most terrible, in what light should it be viewed by a Christian, to whom God has revealed its consequences ? When a person thinks seriously, that on the moment of death depends a happy or miserable eternity, his heart must be obdurate indeed, if he be not struck with fear; for “if the just be scarcely saved, where will the sinner appear?” O Lord ! “ enter not into judgment with thy servant, for no one living can be justified in thy sight!” The holy abbot Agatho, being seized with trembling at his last hour, and his religious having asked him the cause—he replied, that though by the great mercy of God, his conscience did not reproach him with anything, yet that the divine judgments being very different from those of men, he was in great alarm. No wonder he should have felt so—all our good works being imperfect in the sight of the Divine Majesty. If the Angels succour us in this dread moment, do they not prove themselves our true friends? It is in the time of affliction a person knows a sincere friend; and behold in the hour of death, when all abandon us to our fate, when our body is consigned to the solitary tomb, and our soul goes to the house of its eternity, the Angels, faithful to their charge, never depart from us.
—Our Lord once revealed, that souls devoted to the Angels during life shall receive extraordinary helps from them at the hour of death. And it is most just that the King of kings should thus evince his sense of the honours paid to his courtiers. Oh! blessed are those who by their love for and devotion to the Angels, and submission to the holy lessons which they have inspired, find themselves encompassed with their protection at the last hour, as with “a tower of defence.”
Woe to those, who have seldom thought Heaven ! How many say, that they care not, provided they may be in Heaven at all, what place they hold there. No doubt, the last place there is too high for persons who once deserved an everlasting hell; but since our merciful God calls us to aspire after the highest, it would betray great baseness of soul to be indifferent about it.
Be ambitious of the better gifts says the Holy Ghost. St. Teresa and St. Francis Borgia declared, that for one sole degree of increased glory in heaven, they would consent to burn in the flames of Purgatory till the day of judgment. These enlightened souls well knew its excellence—whereas we are incapable of discerning it, our sight being obscured by the vapours of flesh and blood. If it be asked, are not all the blessed perfectly content?—we reply, they are—but their joy is not equal. As one star differs from another in brightness, so the resurrection of the dead. The great spiritualist, Thaulerus, says, that there is more difference between one of the blessed who holds the first rank in the celestial empire, and another in an inferior degree, than between a mighty sovereign and an abject peasant. This should excite us to great and noble exertions, although there were no other motive than that by our greater glory and happiness God will be more glorified eternally. One sole degree of the glory of God would cause a soul who truly loves him to endure ten thousand deaths; and here it is not only one degree there is question of, but as many as there are moments in that eternity which is to be the term of our happiness.
Devotion to the Angels contributes wonderfully to the perfection of divine love, and consequently to the increase of glory in Heaven. These holy Spirits are all fire, and it is impossible to approach them often, without catching fire and participating in their ardours. If, with the Saints, we become sanctified— with the Angels, we are rendered celestial.
When St. Teresa was about to enter a more perfect life, a celestial voice said to her, that she should no longer hold converse with men, but with Angels. If intercourse with men be an obstacle to sanctity, familiarity with the Angels helps to our progress in it. Thus the greatest Saints have been the most devoted to the Angels. Let us endeavour to become so too, and we shall speedily advance in the ways of true sanctity, and enjoy in Heaven an eminent degree of glory.
The Protection afforded to us by the Angels against the enemies of our Salvation.
The life of man is a warfare; he has to fight against temptations within and temptations without—temptations from the world, and temptations from himself. It is a strange thing, that we ourselves are our most dangerous enemies, and that it would give us quite enough to do to wage war against ourselves. Yet this is not all; we have other combats to sustain. We must combat against the devils, powerful in might, cruel in rage, countless in number, indefatigable in pursuit.—Being spiritual beings, they strike invisibl —enter all places—see all things—leave no art, no wile, untried, to effect our ruin, and triumph in our defeat. O ! you who read these lines ! do you not tremble at the idea of such combats? On your victory depends your eternal fate. Consider what it is to be damned for ever, and the danger in which you are of being so, by the malice of the devils—and then you will be convinced of the necessity of being devout to their powerful adversaries, the holy Angels.
The devils are cruel in their rage; the destruction of our corporeal existence would not suffice to glut their malice: they unceasingly seek to take away the life of our souls, and “ go about” continually “ seeking whom they may devour.” This infuriate malice is accompanied by such power, that, as we learn from the Book of Job, no force on earth can be compared to it: millions of armed men could do nothing against the efforts of a single evil spirit. The Scripture calls them the powers and princes of this world and of darkness the greater part of mankind being subject to their detestable tyranny.
These wicked spirits study the designs of God on a soul, in order to hinder it from corresponding with them. They often divert persons from following their vocation—induce others to embrace states to which they are not called—they tempt parents to oppose the vocation of their children—in line, through the artifices of these subtle enemies, the greater number of persons do anything but what they should do.
If they cannot turn us from the ways of grace, they try to mingle in them ; prompting us to pray, when God will have us labour for him; to be angry and impatient when hindered from a good work; to be disquieted at our faults; to confess and communicate through imperfect motives; to irritate ourselves with an unquiet zeal at the faults of others, and to forget our own. As they are without peace or order among themselves, they labour all they can to render us so too—often exciting scruples, doubts, anxieties—inspiring us with fears as to the validity of our past confessions—prompting us to make them all anew, and still to be dissatisfied. They give false ideas of piety—and if they see true devotion gain ground in any place, by means of prayer and frequent communion, they will cause some of those who use these means to fall into great faults, to furnish others with a pretext for declaiming against them.
These wicked spirits, as we have already said, often represent things to us quite differently from what they are. They persuade persons in the world, that devotion is only for those who live in monasteries, and quite incompatible with their state. They not only persecute those who are employed actively in gaining souls to God, but those also who live in solitude, when possessed of extraordinary virtue, knowing that, by their prayers, and constant union with God, they will help to save and sanctify many other persons.
Are you not now convinced of your want of superior force against such enemies, in order to be victorious ? Having seen so many wiles laid for your destruction, are you not resolved to make use of that succour which our good God has provided for you in his holy Angels? Every time that you feel pressed by temptation, go to your Angel and say to him, as St. Bernard exhorts you, “Lord! save me, or I perish! God has given my soul in charge to you— bear it up in your hands—make it trample on the lion and the dragon,” and, as kings put thieves and outlaws to death, in order to preserve the lives and properties of their subjects—the blessed spirits will destroy the schemes of their apostate brethren for our eternal ruin; and with them we shall sing a canticle of joy and a psalm of jubilation, because we shall have obtained the victory.
MOTIVE SEVENTH The Angels assist us in spiritual things.
Properly speaking, man has but one affair—that of eternity. All that tends not to this great end is not worth a single thought. O ! how wretched and contemptible are all things which the world calls great! how unworthy the occupation of a Christian soul are its honours and pleasures ! It were well that this truth, “the world and its concupiscence passes away,” never departed from our minds: eternity would then occupy us, and the means of acquiring a happy one, among which the patronage of the Angels is not the least, would be more fully appreciated.
It is indeed true, that these blessed Angels do all that they can to procure for us a glorious immortality. They have been known to press apostolic men, as St. Paul and St. Francis Xavier, to announce the Gospel to those who sat in the shades of death.” They have often assisted evangelical labourers. How many children receive baptism by their means, who would otherwise perish in original sin ! Behold a wonderful example : In January, 1634, in the city of Vienna, three souls, freed from Purgatory, appeared, says Father Loret, of the Society of Jesus, to one of our religious, to thank him, for having by his prayers and mortifications, procured their release. On the day of your birth, said they, our good angels revealed to us, that you would one day be our liberator; and know that you are greatly indebted to your Angel Guardian, for without his care you would have been suffocated, through the carelessness of the attendant, before you received baptism.
After procuring for us the life of grace, the Angels endeavour to conserve us therein; and hence they prompt us to receive often the adorable Eucharist, which is the life of lives. They have often carried this vivifying sacrament to solitaries and recluses—St. Stanislas Kotska, S. J., received this favour. Nor do they forget the other means of our salvation. Prayer is one of the most powerful ; and it is by the Angels our petitions are carried before the throne of God : there is no exercise in which they are more present with us than this. Mortification is the sister of prayer—and what have not the Angels done to engage us to practise it? They have often visibly given their clients instructions thereon, suitable to their great lights, and convinced them of the absolute necessity of this virtue in all true Christians.
They are most anxious to inspire us with a love for that virtue which assimilates us to them, virginal purity.—What have they not done in its defence ? They have sometimes combated and destroyed those who attacked it—they have rendered invisible those who possessed it, to preserve them from danger—they, in fine, have sometimes procured from their Creator a temporary suspension of nature’s laws, to preserve a virtue, which, raising man above himself, causes him to live in a mortal body a life wholly divine.
But their great object is to inspire us with love for Jesus and his amiable Mother, knowing that the love of these sacred persons is the source of all good to our souls. St. Dominic, being one of the most fervent lovers of Jesus and Mary that ever existed, was in consequence the great favourite of the Angels. He received from them all sorts of assistance, during the long nights that love chained him to the altar steps, whilst pouring out his soul in the presence of his good Master, and invoking the patronage of his glorious Mistress. They were once seen, when the Saint happened to lodge in the house of the Bishop, lighting him with flambeaux from his chamber to and from the church, the doors of which they opened for him.
But this is not all. As for the practice of virtue, it is necessary that the will should be moved and the understanding enlightened, they often effect both. Thus they reveal the sublimest mysteries. It was an Angel who gave the law to Moses—an Angel who announced to the glorious Virgin the incarnation of the Word—to the Marys his resurrection, and to the apostles his last coming. They endeavour to preserve us from sin, or to free us from it, after having fallen into it.—Those lights which sometimes beam suddenly on the soul a clear knowledge of holy truths— those unforeseen movements which surprise us when we least expect them, and which move us so efficaciously to good, come to us by the agency of these blessed spirits.
In those happy moments, wherein we find ourselves strangely pressed to give ourselves to God, without knowing why, let us recognise the exertions of the Angels. They obtain for us a victory over our passions, the conquest of our bad inclinations, a knowledge of our faults and imperfections, and of our most hidden oppositions to grace—they invite us to penance, solicit us to make a good confession, and fully satisfy the divine justice. In fine, they support us in the way of virtue, console us in sufferings, quiet our fears, remove our scruples, and impart to us that holy joy and “divine peace, which surpasses all understanding.” When Raphael met Tobias, he wished him continual joy, and in leaving him, everlasting peace – Let us disengage ourselves from all created things, and the wishes of these holy Spirits for our happiness will be accomplished. To enjoy true and continual peace, it is necessary to live to God alone.
After having spoken in a general way of the benefits accruing to us from the Angels, let us descend to particulars, that the hearts of men may be inexcusable, and be obliged to love these amiable spirits. If favours be to love, what wood is to fire with what ardour should we not burn for the holy Angels, overwhelmed as we are with their kindnesses and benefactions, even in temporal things.
They provide for our education—They were these glorious spirits who trained up the little Baptist in the desert, after the death of his holy mother, which took place forty days after she had fled with him from the persecution of Herod. They provide for our bodily nourishment—as in the case of the holy martyrs Firminian and Busticus, and the prophets Elias and Daniel. They procure for us honours: a great number of Angels attended at the death of St. Agatha, and composed her epitaph. They recreate our senses :—for six months preceding the death of St. Nicholas of Tolentine, they played for him on musical instruments. And during the three days that intervened between the death of the Holy Virgin and her Assumption into Heaven, they made most melodious concerts near her sacred remains, for the consolation of those who approached them. They accompany us in our journeys—as is evident from the case of Tobias. They visit and console us—as the lives of the Fathers of the desert, and those of St. Lidwine and St. Francis testify, as well as the acts of the martyrs. And think not, says Abbe Kupert, that they never visited these servants of God, but when they visibly appeared; they have often been invisibly present, supporting them in their trials, consoling them in their sorrows, and assuaging their torments.
If they procure us benefits, they also deliver us from evils. They freed St. Peter from his chains, delivered Daniel from the lions, and Isaac from the sacrificing knife. In the Book of Machabees, we have prodigious examples of the zeal with which they espouse the cause of man, often openly combating for him against his enemies. In fine, there is no want, natural, moral, or physical, in which the holy Angels do assist us. Let us here consider and admire the protection afforded by the Angels to the Hebrew people. It was an Angel who conducted them in the wilderness for the space of forty years, by means of a cloud during the day, and a pillar of fire by night—and by the movement given to it by him, they were sheltered from the scorching rays of the sun, and preserved from the hands of Pharaoh and his Egyptians.
I leave it to the piety of those who read these truths, to reflect at leisure on this admirable conduct. However slightly they are considered, it is impossible not to be convinced that the services rendered to man by the Angels are incomparable—and that the name of the Lord should be magnified, who operates these wonders by the agency of the ministers of his celestial court.
A pious woman having one night received information that a poor person in the suburbs was lying in extreme necessity, and none of her domestics being within, sent her son with something for her relief. The boy being very young, was greatly afraid, going, by himself to such a lonely place, until a page appeared, bearing a flambeau, and conducted him safely to his destination. His mother doubted not that it might be his good Angel who had rendered him the charitable office. These blessed Spirits have often appeared visibly to man. The learned interpreter of the Holy Scripture, Cornelius a Lapide, supposes, that after the resurrection, they will sometimes assume bodies of exquisite beauty to recreate us. It is amazing to see them take every form to render services to us. They have appeared in various shapes, as pilgrims, &c., to serve and benefit man, who does almost nothing to testify his gratitude.
If it were only at certain times they rendered us assistance, it would not be so wonderful; but to be conferring favours on us every moment we exist, is inconceivable—and it is this our good Angel does for us. If a prince of the royal blood came and spent some time in waiting on an humble peasant, in a poor cabin, every one would be amazed; but if this peasant was his enemy, one from whom he could expect nothing like gratitude—if, moreover, he not only passed some months with him, but even resolved on remaining in his service as long as he lived, notwithstanding all the vicious propensities and vile habits which he discovered in him, the wonder would be infinitely greater. Yet it is in this manner, O my soul! thy good Angel guards thee.
O excessive bounty !—even while we sleep, they watch over us they are always at our side—though we are sinners, and consequently their enemies—though our interior deformity is so great, that if we saw it we could not support the sight— though we spend our lives in sin, or in such frivolous occupations as certainly excite the pity of these blessed spirits—though we corrupt our best actions by numberless defects, they are never weary of our company. Even after death, they visit us in Purgatory, and render us in its flames very great consolations. Is not this to be our slaves ? Where would we be able to find persons who would sacrifice their liberty so perfectly in the service of kings ? O bounty of our God ! the Princes of Paradise our slaves and servants! Well, indeed, did the holy Vincent of Caraffe say, that the life of a Christian was a life of astonishment.
But the Angels not only protect man, they also give their cares to everything that is destined for his service. According to St. Augustine, these blessed Spirits preside over every animate and inanimate thing in this visible world. The stars and the firmament have their Angels—the fire, the air, the water, have their Angels—kingdoms have their Angels, as is seen in the Scriptures provinces have their Angels, for the Angels who appeared to Jacob, says Genesis, were the guardians of the provinces through which he passed towns and cities have their Angels—altars, churches, nay, even particular families, have their Angels. Thus the world is full of Angels, and it seems that the sweetness of Divine Providence renders it necessary; for if, as some say, there be in the air so great a number of evil spirits, that if they were permitted to assume bodies, they would obscure the light of the sun, how could men be safe from their malicious arts, unless protected by the Angels ?
Whatever Eliseus might say to his servant of the protection of these blessed Spirits, the poor man could not believe it, until God miraculously opened his eyes, and manifested them to him under visible forms. If the same favour is not given to us, still have we not faith ? and can we not behold with our interior eyes these amiable spirits, and acknowledge them as our greatest benefactors, and the faithful ministers of God alone, whom we adore, who is admirable in all his works, and deserves for them eternal, everlasting praise ?
The Glories of the Holy Angels Venerable Henri Boudon, Archdeacon of Evreux
MOTIVE FOURTH All Men are assisted by the Angels
It is unnecessary to seek any other motive to love God than love itself—as our Lord revealed to Mother Magdalen of St. Joseph, a Carmelite religious. But why does God love men so much? Let it be published among the nations, says St. Bernard, and let them confess that the Lord has determined to treat them magnificently. O my God ! what is man, that you condescend to give him your only Son, to send him your Holy Spirit, and depute your Angels to guard and defend him ! ‘ Behold then an Angel, who is as a great king, endowed with all imaginable glory and perfection, in the service of man—a being compounded of misery and imperfection—a worm of the earth—dust and ashes ! But that man, when in the state of sin, should still be protected by the Angels, is far more wonderful. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves: the greatest saints have fallen, through weakness or inadvertence, into venial faults— and would to God that there were no greater committed Hell itself being less terrible than a single offence against the Divine Majesty; but, alas ! men in general have little horror of mortal sin, and easily fall into it.
The Angels, though struck with amazement at these diabolical excesses, are nevertheless not deterred from assisting these unhappy beings. O soul! who readest these truths, is it not wonderful that the blessed Spirits should lend their aid to those who offend God, considering the knowledge they possess of his unspeakable greatness ? Is it not amazing that they are content to remain with those who every day trample on the blood of their God, “and make void the sufferings by which they have been redeemed.’
Let us go further : Heretics and Infidels have Angels who guard them, though their sin be so incomprehensible, that we can never in this world attain anything like a notion of it. The Turks, the professed enemies of the Christian name, have their Angels—nay, Antichrist himself will have an Angel Guardian, says St. Thomas, who will hinder him from committing several evils. The Angels serve all these people as their masters, though they know them to be slaves of the devil and victims of hell. Where is the gardener who would water a tree, if he knew it would never produce fruit! Where is the friend who would continue to demonstrate his friendship, after repeated insults and affronts ? Yet all the injuries, revolts, contempt and ingratitude of men diminish not in the least degree the charity of these blessed Spirits. They go to seek them in the forests of Canada, in the remotest deserts, in the most gloomy caverns, at the extremities of the earth.
You would say that they are beside themselves with love for men, who have nothing of man but the shape and appearance, their lives being wholly earthly and sensual. These celestial beauties give their affections to deformity itself, and yet meet with no other return than ingratitude and contempt. How shocking—how deplorable!
I confess that continuing to write of the Angels, my heart is insensibly touched with their love; and no wonder if it all were liquefied before these blessed spirits, who are, as the Psalmist says, “a devouring fire.” O amiable Spirits ! here permit my poor soul to sigh for love. Either suffer me to die, or to live as you wish. May I love you with a love according to the heart of Jesus, the King of love, and of Mary, the Queen of holy love. We should cease to live, or breathe only the purity of this love. To resume—Are not the foregoing motives sufficiently powerful to engage us to love the Angels ? But we can furnish many others. It is not one, nor a certain number, of these celestial spirits that are employed in our service. St. Paul says, that they are all deputed for our salvation. All the Angels, says St. Augustine, are employed in our defence, since they and we make but one same city of God. It is not alone the Angels of the last choir, says St. Chrysostom, that watch for the safety of men; the higher choirs are also deputed to defend them.
Some question if the higher Angels descend upon earth to assist man; but how will these explain the testimonies which the holy Scripture gives us to this effect? St. Raphael, who guided Tobias when going to Rages, said of himself, that he was one of the seven spirits who stand before the throne. They were the Cherubim who appeared to Ezechiel. It was to a Cherub that God committed the care of the terrestrial Paradise—and it was a Seraph who purified the lips of Isaiah. Ecclesiastical History, too, teaches the same truth: It was one of the highest Angels who imprinted the sacred stigmas of our Lord’s passion on the body of St. Francis, and another who wounded, with a golden dart, the heart of St. Teresa. But this is not the essential point : it is quite enough for us to know, that in some manner or another, all the Angels are in our service. And what a host of defenders for us ! Holy Job says, that their number is without number. Some writers affirm, that it surpasses that of the stars of Heaven, of the birds of the air, of the drops of water in the ocean, and of all visible creatures. St. Gregory of Nyssa says that there is an infinity of millions of Angels: and St. Dionysius the Areopagite, that God alone knows the number of these holy Spirits.
What movements of love—what sentiments of consolation do not these truths, if well penetrated, impart to our poor hearts! If it were said to you who read these lines, that the King had deputed to your service one of his principal courtiers, with strict orders to render to you all the manner of favours and services, what would be your gratitude, your amazement, your joy ! But history furnishes no such instance of kindness; it is only the King of kings who operates such a prodigy of love. O my soul ! my soul! have you ever seriously considered, that not only one but all the princes of the God of Paradise watch over you with ineffable care and tenderness—that “all minister to those who are to receive the inheritance of salvation.” ’
O the love of that God who has sent them ! O the love of those Spirits whom he has sent ! What consolation for us! Why, after this, should we be sad or troubled? One alone of these blessed princes is more than sufficient to defend us, and behold millions of millions—nay, an infinity of millions of them watching for our safety ! But remember, if such powerful protection places you in security, that the friendship of these illustrious princes should serve you for occupation. It is better to form acquaintance with these pure spirits than to amuse one’s self with creatures. Their friendship is so much the more holy and advantageous, as there is nothing in them but God alone.
“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.
MOTIVE THE FIRST The admirable perfections of these Blessed Spirits
We have already said, and again repeat, that the perfection of the Angels is like to an immense sea without shore or bottom. Enlightened souls feel that all they can say of them is nothing, their greatness being above the reach of human thought. The angelic nature contains in itself a world of perfections: but if we add to it the consideration of their grace and glory, it is truly admirable. However perfect human nature may become, it is still, as faith teaches, very inferior to the angelic nature. A certain theologian has asserted, (although indeed it be not the common opinion,) that the least of the Angels exceeds in glory the greatest of the saints—and he grounded his opinion on this text of the Holy Scripture, “He who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist.”
The Angels are spiritual beings, incorruptible in their nature, perfectly disengaged from matter, and quite free from the miseries to which we are incident. They possess wonderful intelligence; what the greatest geniuses have not been able to comprehend, is perfectly understood by them. They know many things in one and the same moment, and without the least difficulty. Their manner of understanding is not like ours; at the first sight which they have of a thing, they know its whole import, and all its consequences—hence they are called by excellence “Intelligences.” Scripture, to declare to us this admirable faculty of theirs, says that they are clothed in burning fire. In the Apocalypse they are represented in the habits of the ancient pontiffs, to give us to understand, that to these holy spirits the most sacred mysteries of religion are revealed, and as if enveloped in clouds, their lights being too brilliant for our weak vision. The most learned men are ignorant, if compared with these pure intelligences.
The power of the Angels is incredible—one alone of these blessed spirits being able to defeat millions of armed men—nay, the whole world put together. [We are told in the Book of Kings, that an Angel slew in one night 85,000 of the Assyrians the enemies of the people of God.] They can make the winds blow, the rain fall, the thunder roar: they can raise tempests, cause earthquakes, give abundance and famine, cure and inflict all sorts of maladies, and operate many other things, almost in a moment. It is to mark their celerity that they are painted with wings; it surpasses that of the wind : in an instant, they can pass from one end of the world to the other —being thus, in some sense, everywhere, as Tertullian says.
But their beauty is enrapturing: the greatest beauty on earth is deformity in comparison with them, and the least beautiful among the Angels possesses more charms than all earthly beauties together. Here the mind is lost in the contemplation of an infinity of beauties, which are to be found among the angelic choirs; for if the least of the Angels be so charming, and if they be so numerous, my God! what beauty is to be seen in the holy Sion ! To give us some idea of this truth, St. Anselm says, that if God put an Angel in the sun’s orbit, and environed him with as many suns as there are stars, and permitted the blessed spirit to emit in a borrowed form a single ray of his glory, it would at once eclipse all the splendour of the suns, and render them invisible.
All is wonderful in these holy spirits. An Angel, to recreate St. Francis, touched a lute so melodiously, that the saint thought he would have died of joy.
The greatness of these blessed spirits is without baseness—their science without ignorance—their light without darkness— their power without weakness—their beauty without defect—their love without inconstancy—their peace without trouble—their action continual, yet without fatigue— their happiness without alloy—their felicity complete, and without admixture of any evil. Jacob having had a vision of an Angel, says that he had seen the Lord face to face. Will not the consideration of all these perfections of the Angels excite you to love them? You who are so prone to love whatever is beautiful, and noble, and perfect? This truth merits deep consideration, the glory of God, the author of all these excellencies and perfections being concerned in it.
One Minute Reflection – 2 October – The Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, Readings: Ps 102:20, Ps 102:1, Exod 23:20-23, Matt 18:1-10
If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foe, and My Angel will go before you.
Exod 23:20-23
REFLECTION – Come, Lord Jesus, seek your servant; seek your weary sheep; come, my shepherd… While you delay on the mountains, see! your sheep is straying. So leave the ninety-nine that are safe in hand and come, look for the one that has strayed. Come, without seeking a helper, without making yourself known; it is you I am waiting for now. Take no whip; take up your love. Come with the gentleness of your Spirit. Don’t hesitate to leave the ninety-nine that belong to you on the mountains: wolves cannot reach the heights where you have set them. Come to me who have strayed far away from the flocks on high, for you had set me up there, too, but the night wolves made me leave your sheepfolds.
Seek me, Lord, since my prayer seeks you. Seek me, find me, take me up, carry me! He whom you seek, you can find; he whom you find, stoop to take up; and he whom you take up, set on your shoulders. This burden of your love is never a load for you and you unwearyingly make of yourself the toll-keeper of justice. So come, Lord, since, if it is true that I stray, yet “I do not forget your word” and still keep hoping for relief. Come, Lord, for you alone are still able to call your lost sheep and will cause no harm to those you will be leaving behind. They, too, will be happy to see the sinner return. Come! There will be redemption on earth and rejoicing in heaven.
Do not send your menservants, do not send hirelings: come and look for your sheep yourself. Take me up in that flesh that fell with Adam. By this act acknowledge in me, not the child of Eve but the son of Mary, pure virgin, virgin by grace, without stain of sin. Then carry me even to your cross, salvation of the straying, only rest for the weary, sole life of all who die.
St Ambrose
PRAYER – Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits thee here. Ever this day, be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule, to guide. Amen.
In every lodging, at every corner, have reverence for thy Angel. Do not dare to do in his presence what you would not dare to do, if I were there. Or do you doubt that he is present whom you do not behold? What if you should hear him? What if you should touch him? What if you should scent him? Remember, that the presence of something is not proved only by the sight of things.
St Bernard
God is humanity’s universal Teacher and Guardian but His Teaching to humanity is mediated by Angels.
St Thomas Aquinas
When tempted, invoke your Angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him; he trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel.
St John Bosco
See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Give heed to him and hearken to his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority is within him.
Exodus 23:20-21
Beside each believer stands an Angel as protector and shepherd, leading him to life.
St Basil the Great
What joy it is to know that when we go out of the house, we are never alone en route.
AN EXHORTATION TO THE LOVE AND HONOUR OF THE HOLY ANGELS
The science of the sage, says the Holy Ghost, is like in its abundance to an inundation of waters : for, as the land is sometimes overspread by the swelling of the sea over its boundaries—so the mind of a Christian is sometimes so penetrated with the lights of faith, that it is absorbed in wonder and amazement. This assertion is fully verified in the knowledge which revelation gives of the Holy angels. However slightly we consider what it teaches of them, we discover so many and such powerful reasons to love these blessed Spirits, that we cannot refuse to do so.
All possible motives concur in pressing you to love these Spirits of love. If you regard God, you must love his Angels; if you regard yourself, you must love the Angels. Pure love commands it— interested love requires it—God alone wishes it— the holy Virgin and all the Saints desire it. If you live to God alone, you must be devout to the Angels; even though you still live to nature, you must love these blessed Spirits. We are differently affected—some are attracted by honours, some by riches, and others by pleasure. If pleasure attract you, these blessed Spirits can procure it for you, for they are placed at the source of eternal joy. If you wish to have the interest of the mighty, there is nothing in created being more powerful than the angelic nature. If you sigh after greatness, know that these peers of the celestial realms procure for their clients the sceptre of immortal honour and the diadem of unfading glory.
Ah! how different are the dispositions of the Angels, compared with those of the great ones of this earth! These wish to reign alone, whereas the highest ambition of those princes of love is to share their thrones with us, that we may partake in their felicity. If you are captivated by beauty, learn that the Angels are beautiful beyond description, and that their beauty is not subject to decay. Besides, the love and constancy of these amiable friends are incomparable ; the former includes every species of love—the latter is so great that whatever ingratitude we evince towards them, they seem to overlook it, incessantly watching over all that concerns us, defending us against our enemies, and rendering us every service. If you are of those souls who act by the movements of grace, and live to God alone, you must love the Angels. If the motive of the will of God influence you, you must be devout to them, since these blessed Spirits are the objects of his complacency and the masterpieces of his love.
If the kings of the earth were willing to receive you into their friendship, surely you would not refuse it. Now, consider that it depends on yourself to form an eternal alliance with the heavenly Princes, and by their influence to be one day crowned with them in the celestial empire.
Love the Angels, apostolic men ! for they are the missionaries of paradise.
Love the Angels, preachers of the world, they are profoundly skilled in the science of eternity.
Love the Angels, priests! for it is by their ministry the divine oblation is made.
Love the Angels, religious ! those admirable spirits are always retired in God.
Love the Angels, seculars ! those good intelligences pity you in the dangers to which you are continually exposed.
Love the Angels, married persons! the succour afforded Tobias by the Archangel Raphael, evinces the care of your state.
Love the Angels, widows and orphans! they are indefatigable in providing for persons in distress.
Love the Angels, virgins; again I say to you, love the Angels ! they are great friends of virginity, being charmed to see frail mortals live on earth as they live in heaven.
Love the Angels, just souls ! they are infallible guides in the way to God
Love the Angels, sinners ! they will obtain your pardon.
Love the Angels, afflicted souls! they are the consolation of the miserable, and the help of the distressed.
Love the Angels, ye rich and great! they will teach you that nothing is worth regarding but eternity.
Love the Seraphim, O men! they are the princes of pure love.
Love the Cherubim, they are skilled in the science of the saints.
Love the Thrones, they patronize peace of heart and tranquillity of soul.
Love the Dominations, they will teach you the art of self-government.
Love the Virtues,they are masters in the school of perfection.
Love the Powers, they are your defence.
Love the Principalities, they preside over states and kingdoms.
Love the Archangels, they are zealous for your wellbeing, and obtain for you a thousand benedictions.
Love the Angels, they are celestial stars, whose influence we oftener feel, because placed nearer to this nether sphere.
Henceforward be all love for those blessed spirits, who so ardently love you. Bless them, my God! those who are devout to your Angels. Bless those who on reading this poor little work will give themselves to this devotion. Bless them with the benedictions of the just, making them walk in your ways. Bless them with the benediction of Abraham, the spirit of sacrifice—with the benediction of Isaac, the spirit of conformity— with the spirit of Jacob, the spirit of lively faith Bless them -with the benediction of the elect. Bless them with the benediction of the Angels, making them sharers in your neverending joys ! Great and august Queen of Paradise, bless them with your protection that, being all united in seeking the interest of God alone, God alone may reign in their hearts for ever. Amen.
Ye angels, archangels, thrones and dominions, ye principalities and powers, ye virtues of heaven, ye cherubim and seraphim, bless ye the Lord forever.
(300 days every time said)
Bless the Lord, all ye His angels, ye strong in power, who perform His word.
Bless the Lord, all ye his virtues, ye ministers of His, who do His will.
(300 days every time said)
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle, that we may not be lost in the tremendous judgment.
(300 days every time said)
St. Michael, first defender of the Kingship of Christ, pray for us.
(300 days every time said)
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. Restrain him, O God, we humbly beseech Thee, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the divine power thrust into Hell Satan and the other evil spirits, who roam through the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
(3 years every time said)
Vouchsafe, O Lord our God, to send down Thy holy Archangel Raphael for our helper; and may he, whom we believe ever to stand before Thy Majesty, put up our poor prayers to be blessed by Thee. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
(3 years every time said)
Angel of God my guardian dear,
To whom His love commits me here,
Ever this day (or this night) be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.
(300 days every time said. Plenary indulgence at the point of death if the prayer was frequently said during life)
Angel, who didst support Our Lord Jesus Christ, come and support us, too; come, and do not delay.
Accept, mighty Maid, we beseech thee, This prayer with its fragrance of flowers; With one soul we seek thus to reach thee And hail thee, God’s Mother and ours.
Thy heart is made glad by our praying; Thy bounty is generous and wise; Thy hands are enriched for conveying What God’s tender Mercy supplies.
We kneel at thy Shrines in the Churches; Oh, gently look down from above, And welcome the heart that then searches For worthy expressions of love.
Let others present precious caskets Of gems, or heap Altars with gold; Slight prayer-beads shall serve us for baskets To bring thee the garland they hold.
With violets lowly we fashion This wreath and with these combined Red roses–our faith in the Passion With Chastity’s lilies entwined.
Our minds, as the Mysteries vary, Are active, our hands play their part; And always thy name, Holy Mary, Oft-uttered, rejoices the heart.
Be with us, we trust thee to guide us Through life and when labouring breath At the last, seeks thine aid, be beside us To help at the hour of our death.
Among the Angels in Heaven none surpasses St Michael in Glory.
St Michael has the honourable office of presenting to Jesus Christ the Judge, all the souls that depart out of this world in the grace of God.
St Alphonsus Liguori
Whenever a mighty deed is in question, Michael is assigned, so that by his actions and name, which means “Who is like God?” it may be made known that no-one can do what God can do.
St Gregory the Great
Then war broke out in Heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The Book of the Apocalypse
Mary sends the archangel Michael, with all the angels, to the defence of her dying servants, to protect them from the assaults of evil spirits, and to receive the souls of all those who have especially and constantly recommended themselves to her.
St Bonaventure
Michael is the Breath of the Redeemer’s Spirit, who at the end of the world, will combat and destroy the antichrist, as he did Lucifer in the beginning.
St Thomas Aquinas
It was St Michael who took up the defence of the honour of God against Lucifer, in the cause of the Incarnation of the Word; and St John Chrysostom is of opinion, that he was also one of the first to pay his homage to Him in the crib of Bethlehem, on the day of His humble Birth. It is he who is the tutelary Archangel of the Church. If, then, we love the interests of God only, we must love him; for he is the great saint of the cause of God, and of God Incarnate.
Such then are the trees to be found in the first’and the second gardens of Eden. Are any flowers to be found there? Sacred Scripture does not mention the presence of any blossoms in the first garden; yet who can doubt that a garden of delight must have contained flowers in great abundance? It is certain, however, that the garden of Jesus is filled with heavenly flowers, the most beautiful and sweet-scented imaginable. The Heart of Christ’s Mother is a celestial flower-bed dotted with the holy blossoms of all Christian virtues, immortal flowers, which never fade, whose ravishing beauty and delightful fragrance remain in every season. They fill the universe with their sweet perfume and give joy to the Angels, yea, even, to God Himself. They are at once flowers and fruits, for the Holy Ghost inspires the words: “My flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.”
The Eternal King adorns His garden with these flowers, and by means of their divine fragrance attracts innumerable hearts to Himself. He eats of these fruits, which are among the choicest viands of His heavenly table, and gives them as nourishment to His children. He assures us, moreover, that He takes His rest and refreshment in the works of mercy which are among the first flowers of His garden: “This is my rest, refresh the weary, and this is my refreshing.” So also does He feast with delight on the other acts of virtue which proceed from devoted hearts, and especially from the perfect Heart of His glorious Mother. With them He nourishes and strengthens the souls of His children.
This is what God meant when He said that He came into His garden, ate His honey and drank His wine with milk, and then invited His friends and children o eat, drink and be inebriated with Him. Among the flowers in Mary’s Garden for her divine Spouse, St. Bernard admires especially the perfume of violets, the whiteness of lilies and brilliant color of the roses. Here are his words: “Thou art an enclosed garden, O Mother of God, wherein we cull all kinds of flowers. Among them, we gaze with particular admiration on thy violets, thy lilies and thy roses, which fill the House of God with their sweet fragrance. Thou art, O Mary, a violet of humility, a lily of chastity, and a rose of charity.” We may add: “Thou art, O Mary, a carnation of mercy, a double carnation,-because thy wondrous Heart is filled with mercy and compassion, not only for our corporal infirmities, but still more for our spiritual misery, which is infinitely more painful and complex than our bodily ills can ever be. O Mother of Mercy, have pity on all who are miserable, and especially on those who remain unaware of their own misery.”
And now I go on to another object to be envisioned in the earthly paradise. In the second chapter of Genesis, we read that God brought to the first man the animals and the birds He had created that Adam might give them suitable names, as a sign of his dominion over them and of their dependence on him. We may now ask if any qualities of the Heart of the Queen of Heaven can have been symbolized by such humble things as animals and birds? Yes, and this should not surprise you, since her Son, Who is God Himself, willed to be represented by oxen, sheep, lambs, and several other beasts which, under the Old Law, were sacrificed to God.
What, then, is represented by the animals and birds subjected by God to the dominion of Adam in Paradise? They represent the natural passions that have their seat in the corporal and physical heart of man. These passions are of two kinds, that is, the more earthly and animal instincts, such as anger, hatred, fear, sadness, aversion, distrust, which are represented by the animals, and the more spiritual emotions, such as love, desire, hope, courage and joy typified by the birds.
All these passions existed as we have seen, in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Just as they are found in the hearts of all children of Adam, but she enjoyed the great privilege that in her Heart they were completely subject to reason, just as the savage beasts were under the complete con-trol of Adam in the earthly paradise. The spirit of Christ, the new man, reigned so perfectly in Mary’s Heart and so absolutely ruled her passions, that they never experienced any motivation contrary to the will of God. She never employed them except under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit and for the glory of His Divine Majesty. She never loved anything besides God; she never desired anything except to please Him; she feared nothing save to displease Him. All the difficult tasks she undertook were accomplished in His service and for His glory, the sole cause of her joy, even as the offence and dishonor afforded Him by sin were the only motives of her hatred, her aversion, and her anger. So truly were her natural passions uplifted and almost annihilated towards the world and all worldly objects and concerns, even with regard to herself and her own interests, that her emotions existed and vibrated only for what was pleasing to Him who possessed, animated and directed them in all thoughts. From this we learn that the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary was truly the Earthly Paradise, in which there was no war, trouble or disorder of any kind, but peace, tranquility and marvellous order, combined with ceaseless praise and adoration of the God who had established His throne in this Paradise.
Now let us study the gardeners. In the first terrestrial paradise, Adam was appointed “to dress it, and to keep it,” but instead of cherishing his beautiful garden, he sold it to his arch-enemy the serpent, for a mere taste of the forbidden fruit. Instead of cultivating the Garden of Eden, Adam brought sin into it, filling it with thorns and thistles. What an unfaithful guardian! What a wicked gardener!
But in the second Paradise, the enclosed garden of the Heart of Mary, the gardener is Wisdom, eternal, watchful and faithful, and the three assistant gardeners are Love, which digs and prepares the soil to receive the seed of heavenly inspiration, Grace which sows the seed, and Patience that cultivates it to fruition by perseverance. Thus the flowers of Mary’s heart grow ever more beautiful, more admirable to us and more delightful to God, while the fruits of her garden multiply a hundred thousandfold.
In the first garden, God pronounced sentence upon the serpent: “The woman shall crush thy head and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.” In the garden of Mary’s heart, this pronouncement was fulfilled. Her Immaculate Conception crushed original sin, her sanctity routed the powers of evil, and her love obtained the commutation of our death sentence, bringing us the Saviour of the world.
Man, having rebelled against God in the first paradise, was driven from that garden and banished forever with all his posterity, and at the gate was placed an angel with a flaming sword in his hand to prevent the children of Adam from re-entering the Garden of Eden. From this we learn that to enter and share the second paradise, namely the pure heart of the Mother of the new Adam, we must cease to be sons of Adam and become children of Jesus Christ, that is, our old life must die. This death seems fearful; the sword of the cherubim is terrifying; yet actually it is a sword of love, which wounds, or even slays the blessed, in order to heal their souls and make them live the life of God. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” ” says Sacred Scripture, meaning the death that is not death but the beginning of eternal life.
Now that I have shown you, dear reader, the admirable Heart of Mary as the garden of delectation of the God-Man, I would warn you that your own heart must be one of two things, either a hell of torment for yourself, or a paradise of delights for you and for Jesus Christ. If you banish sin and self-love from the garden of your heart, opening wide the door to grace and to the King of Virtue, He will enter in and find repose in that place. If you drive away grace and mortification, letting sin grow in your garden, then the demons will enter and make it their abode, a veritable hell instead of paradise. But if you strive to imitate Mary, your Queen, tending your heart with wisdom, love, grace and patience, God will not refuse you the full measure of His gifts so that you may cultivate your garden fruitfully, and make it, like Mary’s, a paradise of delight for your Lord and Saviour, as well as a place of refreshment, deep sweetness and peace for yourself.
Quote/s of the Day – 8 July – “Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Readings: Ps 118:75; 118:120, Ps 118:1, Prov 31:10-31, Ps 44:3; 44:5, Ps 44.5, Matt 13:44-52.
‘So will it be at the end of the world. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the just, and will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things?‘
– Matt 13:44-52
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; he who finds it, hides it and in his joy, goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Matthew 13:44
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
Luke 12:34
“We have had Your treasure hidden within us, ever since we received baptismal grace, it grows ever richer at Your sacramental table.”
St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Let your door stand open to receive Him, unlock your soul to Him, offer Him a welcome in your mind and then you will see the riches of simplicity, the treasures of peace, the joy of grace. Throw wide the gate of your heart, stand before the Sun of the everlasting Light.”
St Ambrose (c 340-397) Father and Doctor of the Church
“ He who finds Jesus, finds a rare treasure, indeed, a good above every good, whereas he who loses Him, loses more than the whole world. The man who lives without Jesus, is the poorest of the poor, whereas no-one is so rich, as the man who lives in His grace. … Let all things be loved, for the sake of Jesus but Jesus, for His own sake.”
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.”
St John Leonardi (1541-1609)
“You leave the land just as it is when you depart, you do not carry anything away. Our first aim is to go to God, we are not on earth for anything but this!”
Quotes of the Day – 2 October – The Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
“In every lodging, at every corner, have reverence for thy Angel. Do not dare to do in his presence what you would not dare to do, if I were there. Or do you doubt that he is present whom you do not behold? What if you should hear him? What if you should touch him? What if you should scent him? Remember, that the presence of something is not proved only by the sight of things.”
“We should show our affection for the Angels, for one day they will be our coheirs, just as here below, they are our Guardians and Trustees, appointed and set over us, by the Father.”
St Bernard (1090-1153) Mellifluous Doctor
“God is humanity’s universal Teacher and Guardian but His Teaching to humanity is mediated by Angels.”
St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Angelic Doctor
“When tempted, invoke your Angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him; he trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel.”
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