Homily, 10-2-23; Memorial of the Guardian Angels:
We heard in the first reading this morning: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice.”
We all have our own guardian angel to protect us and guide us. But how do we “be attentive to him and heed his voice” as God directs us? Last year I answered some questions about guardian angel in my column in the bulletin. To help me answer the questions, I relied on the website of Opus Sanctorum Angelorum (Work of the Holy Angels). So I once again turned to them to see if they had any insights on how angels communicate with us. And sure enough they came though. Rather than paraphrase the answer on their frequently asked questions page, I would like to simply quote it directly.
“There are two main ways that they do this. We could call one the common way, and the other, the less common way. In the common way, the angels communicate with us by putting thoughts into our minds, images into our imaginations, and feelings into our emotions.
“First, they can put thoughts into our minds by sending us words that are received in the interior senses, for example in the imagination. Secondly, they can send us intellectual visions that communicate an abstract truth or the light to make such judgments of the truth. Moreover, the holy angels can communicate to us spiritual consolations (cf. St. Ignatius Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, Rules for the Discernment of Spirits, Second Week, Rule 3). Finally, the angels communicate with us by causing a certain kind of tension or pressure in our soul or body. We may get the strong feeling that we just have to do something, or go somewhere, or help someone, or pray for a special intention. Many of us, to be sure, have experienced these feelings that seem to come out of nowhere, urging us to act decisively in order to help someone who may be in desperate danger or need.
“On the other hand, there is another way by which the angels communicate with us in a sense that we could call less common. That is by using words, and speaking to us out loud in a way that we can clearly understand. It is rare, of course, for an angel to speak to us in a tone of voice that we can easily understand. But there are many examples that we can find in the Scriptures of angels speaking to the persons to whom they have appeared. For example, consider the long conversations between St. Raphael and Tobiah recorded for us in the Book of Tobit; or the extensive revelations given by St. Gabriel to the prophet Daniel; or the announcements given to Mary by St. Gabriel in her home at Nazareth, and to the priest Zechariah in the temple at Jerusalem.”
If I look back at my life, I can think of many times I received promptings or urges to do or say something, although I didn’t always respond appropriately. Some were very clear like my call to become a deacon as I drove down I-75. After responding to such a strong communication, it is probably appropriate that my ordination occurred on October 2, twenty-four years ago today, although I never made the connection at the time. Most of the communications from my guardian angel, however, were much more subtle and, of course, I’m sure I missed some altogether because I was too distracted with things of this world. Let us love, honor, and cherish our guardian angels. Let us strive to be attentive and pray daily to our guardian angels for protection and guidance so that their promptings will lead us safely to the heavenly kingdom where, with our angel, we will praise God forever.
Angels of God, our guardians dear, be ever at our side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.