Between the years 1928 and 1940, St. Josemaria owned a faulty alarm clock that he couldn't rely on. Not wanting to spend what little money he had on repairing it, he instead asked his angel to get him up at the appointed time. Not once in all those years did the angel fail him, which is why St. Josemaria often referred to his guardian angel as “mi relojerico” (“my dear watchmaker”).
My post a few weeks back on St. Josemaria Escriva and the angels inspired me to do a little further digging into the life of the man whom, I admit, I really only knew as the founder of Opus Dei. My searching came up with gems like the above anecdote (related in an article by Bishop Alvaro del Portillo), as well as much, much more.
The life and wisdom of St. Josemaria are way beyond the scope of this blog. (Read his book, The Way, to see what I mean. It contains 999 points of meditation and prayer. For many of us, enough for a lifetime.) But for my limited purposes here, I thought it appropriate and doable if I shared some of his specific wisdom about the angels. May St. Josemaria's thoughts inspire us all toward a greater love and devotion to our own holy guardians.
My post a few weeks back on St. Josemaria Escriva and the angels inspired me to do a little further digging into the life of the man whom, I admit, I really only knew as the founder of Opus Dei. My searching came up with gems like the above anecdote (related in an article by Bishop Alvaro del Portillo), as well as much, much more.
The life and wisdom of St. Josemaria are way beyond the scope of this blog. (Read his book, The Way, to see what I mean. It contains 999 points of meditation and prayer. For many of us, enough for a lifetime.) But for my limited purposes here, I thought it appropriate and doable if I shared some of his specific wisdom about the angels. May St. Josemaria's thoughts inspire us all toward a greater love and devotion to our own holy guardians.
“Familiarity with, and devotion to, the holy guardian angels is at the heart of our work. It is a concrete manifestation of the supernatural mission of Opus Dei." (St. Josemaria founded Opus Dei in 1928 on October 2, the Feast of the Guardian Angels.)
"Have confidence in your guardian angel. Treat him as a very dear friend–that's what he is–and he will do a thousand services for you in the ordinary affairs of each day."
The Way, 562
'Win over the guardian angel of the one you want to draw to your apostolate. He is always a great 'accomplice'."
The Way, 563
"If you would remember the presence of your guardian angel and those of your neighbors, you would avoid many of the foolish things you let slip into your conversation."
The Way 564
"You seem amazed that your guardian angel has done so many obvious favors for you. But you shouldn't be: that's why our Lord has placed him at your side."
The Way, 565
"You say there are many occasions of going astray in such surroundings? That's true, but aren't there any guardian angels as well?"
The Way, 566
"Turn to your guardian angel at the moment of trial; he will protect you from the devil and bring you holy inspirations."
The Way, 567
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