Word to the Wise
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - Oct. 2 - The Guardian Angels
[Exod 23:20-23 and Matt 18:1-5, 10,721]"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." [Matthew]
Catholic faith and piety demand that I leave Job and his friends for a day to reflect on the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. This element of Catholic tradition can make one look around quickly in hopes of spotting that elusive yet always present manifestation of God's loving and inexhaustible care, despite all our efforts to frustrate it! The liturgical feast did not make it onto the universal calendar until 1670, but angels have been a part of Catholic faith, indeed broader Christian faith, for centuries more. However, they have remained figures in paintings and sentiment and biblical stories of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael - the famous archangels. The idea of personal guardian angels brings the reality closer to home!
I have used the term "guardian angel" to describe some of my closest personal friends. Their presence in love and concern may indeed be an incarnation of guardian angels. Books have been written about encounters with "strangers" who appeared at just the right time to help with a crisis and then disappear mysteriously and inconspicuously. Perhaps they can be "present" in many ways - narrow escapes? sudden wisdom? unexpected joy or comfort?, "strangers" who show up, help and go away before we can even say "Thank you?" Sometimes, in Catholic pious practice, children (maybe adults, too?) even give a name to their guardian angel!
All of this touches on something that is woven into our lives as Catholics so that angels do not become distant parts of Catholic tradition but become present parts of daily faith. This feast day is a reminder not to put them on a shelf somewhere in our minds but welcome them as God's gift of present companions. AMEN