RBWords

     Devotion to the "Guardian Angels" dates back at least to the seventh century because a prayer that mentions the devotion is found in the oldest "sacramentary" known to exist, which was written in that century. (The "sacramentary" is the book on the altar used by the priest for celebrating Mass.)  The passage from the Gospel According to Matthew in today's gospel scripture is probably the origin of the devotion.  Human imagination has taken over from there.  I can remember Sr. Eugenia Clare SDP telling us first graders to move over in our desks so our guardian angels could sit next to us!

     Angels in the bible are primarily messengers.  At least that is the original meaning of the word.  We have just celebrated three who are mentioned by name in the bible: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.  Not too long ago, there was a brief flurry of books about "encounters" with angels.  I prefer to think of them as  "agents of God's providence."   And I recall a quotation from the famous French Dominican preacher of the 19th century, Lacordaire: "All I know of tomorrow is that Providence will rise before the sun!"  I have a close friend whom I call my "guardian angel," and I pray that the ones assigned to her and to me will continually make God's providence active in our lives.  AMEN