Feast of our Heavenly Friends!

Today with my Sisters I am celebrating the anniversary of my Baptism. At Evening Prayer I will renew the promises made by my godparents at my Baptism. This anniversary is so important because it celebrates the moment when I was immersed in the life of Jesus Christ and became a child of God.

But even before my Baptism, when my life was conceived in my mother’s womb, God sent a Guardian Angel to protect me. Our Sister Servant reminded us this morning that our guardian angel is the revelation of God’s protective care and love for us!

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: “From its beginning until death human life is surrounded by their (the angels’) watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him/her to life. (CCC #336)

Scripture reveals God’s love through His angels: “To His Angels He has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. Upon their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” (Ps 91:11-12)

And Jesus tells us, “See that you never despise one of these little ones. I assure you, their Angels in heaven constantly behold My Heavenly Father’s face.” (Mt 18:10). (See also Lk 16:22 and Ps 34:7, Job 33:23-24)

We can pray to our Guardian Angels. To facilitate that, some years ago I gave my Guardian Angel a name – Mercy! Our angels want us to make it to Heaven so we can call on them any time of the night or day to help us, lead us, protect us, show us the way! St. Bernard says: "They (angels) are loyal, prudent, powerful. Why then are we afraid? We have only to follow them, stay close to them, and we shall dwell under the protection of God's Heaven."

Isn't God good! He stays with us in the Eucharist and comes into our hearts to become one with us; He sends His Holy Spirit to enable us to be holy, and gives us a Heavenly messenger, a guardian to care for us. What more could we ask for!