To read the texts click on the texts: Ex 23:20-23; Mt 18:1-5,10
The English
word Angel comes from the Hebrew ‘malakh’ or the Greek ‘ángelos’ which means
messenger or envoy. The Angel is regarded as a being which bears messages from
God and communicates what God wants to communicate. The Feast of the Guardian
Angels is a reminder that our God is not a God who created the world and left
it to its own designs, but a God who is constantly involved with and in the
world. It is a reminder that when we need succour or help, we can always call
on God’s angels.
The Gospel
of Luke narrates how Angel Gabriel carries God’s message of birth to Zechariah,
the father of John the Baptist and Mary, the mother of Jesus. In the Gospel of
Matthew, when speaking of the ‘little ones’ in Community, Jesus says, “See that
you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their
angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Mt 10:18)
The Feast
was placed in the General Roman Calendar in 1607 by Pope Paul V. The papal
decree establishing the feast was co-signed by Robert Bellarmine, which has led
some scholars to speculate that the feast was created under the influence of
the Society of Jesus.
The Gospel
text for the memorial is similar to the one for the Feast of St. Theresa of the
Child Jesus. However verse 10 is added and speaks of the angels of the ‘little
ones’ who are constantly before the Father.
In a world
where challenges constantly come our way, we need the assurance that the
decisions we make are the right ones. The Feast of the Guardian Angels is a
reminder that God (through the Angels) is willing to be constantly available, whenever
we make a decision to turn to God.
Thanks for the summation! I only just became aware of this lovely feast---and am holding one here in my area tomorrow evening...looking forward to the Angels Blessings. Namaste!
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