St. Luke

St. Luke's gospel is my favorite among the four. I think it goes back to my childhood when my family converted to Catholicism and I remember being enchanted with stories about the Blessed Mother. Luke truly brings Mary to life in his gospel. In fact, he alone describes the Annunciation, Mary's visit to Elizabeth, Mary's Magnificat, the Presentation in the temple, and the story of Jesus' disappearance in Jerusalem. It is in Luke that we read the angel's words of greeting to Mary: "Hail Mary full of grace." And it is also only in Luke that we have the story of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. Lest we forget, St. Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles.

Spending a few minutes reading some of St. Luke's accounts in Scripture would be a prodigious way to honor his feast day today. Believed to be a physician by training (St. Paul refers to him as "Luke, the beloved physician" in Colossians 4:14), St. Luke is the patron saint of physicians and surgeons, as well as artists, butchers and students. In art he is often depicted with an ox, symbolizing the sacrifice Jesus made for all the world.

Angels and the Rosary

St. Alphonsus Liguori once said that each time we pray a Hail Mary we attract the angels and repel the devils. Now think about how many times we say the Hail Mary in the Rosary. Hmm. That’s a pretty effective pest repellent, I’d say.

As satisfying as it is to know we’re chasing away sulfurous little creeps when saying the Rosary, it might be more beneficial to focus on the real angels and unite our prayers with theirs, keeping in mind the important roles their kind played in the lives of Jesus and Mary. They were there for every event, major and minor, public and private. Indeed, the angels illuminate the very mysteries we meditate upon during this devotion.

In honor of this month's Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, I'd like to share this reflection from Pope Leo XIII:

The Angels revealed each of these mysteries [of the Rosary] in its due time; they played a great part in them; they were constantly present at them… Gabriel was sent to announce the Incarnation of the Eternal Word to the Virgin. In the cave of Bethlehem, Angels sang the glory of the new-born Savior. The Angel gave Joseph command to fly with the Child into Egypt. An Angel consoled, with his loving words, Jesus in His bloody sweat in the garden. Angels announced His resurrection, after He had triumphed over death, to the women. Angels carried Him up into Heaven; and foretold His second coming, surrounded by Angelic hosts . . .

What more divine, what more delightful, than to meditate and pray with the Angels? With what confidence may we not hope that those who on earth have united with the Angels in this ministry will one day enjoy their blessed company in Heaven?

(From the encyclical, On the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, promulgated on Sept. 12, 1897)

Saint Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese had an intense devotion to her guardian angel. Following the examples and instructions of her parents and sisters, she spoke familiarly to her angel from earliest childhood. Throughout her short life she continued to have a deep and sweet love for her own angel and all the angels of God. Known as she was for her writings, it is only fitting that St. Therese penned a beautiful poem to her angel in 1897, the year that she died from tuberculosis.

Read more about "The Little Flower and the Holy Angels" on the Opus Sanctorum Angelorum website.

To My Angel Guardian

O glorious guardian of my frame!
In heaven’s high courts thou shinest bright,
As some most pure and holy flame,
Before the Lord of endless light.

Yet for my sake thou com’st to earth,
To be my brother, Angel dear;
My friend and keeper from my birth,
By day and night to me most near.

Knowing how weak a child am I,
By thy strong hand thou guidest me;
The stones that in my pathway lie,
I see thee move them carefully.

Ever thy heavenly tones invite
My soul to look to God alone;
And ever grows thy face more bright,
When I more meek and kind have grown.

O thou who speedest through all space
More swiftly than the lightnings fly!
Go very often, in my place,
To those I love most tenderly.

With thy soft touch, oh! dry their tears;
Tell them the cross is sweet to bear;
Speak my name softly in their ears,
And Jesu’s name, supremely fair.

Through all my life, though brief it be,
I fain would succor souls from sin.
Dear Angel, sent from heaven to me,
Kindle thy zeal my heart within!

Naught but my holy poverty,
And daily cross to give have I;
O Join them to thine ecstasy,
And offer them to God on high.

Thine are heaven’s glory and delight,
The riches of the King of kings;
The Host in our ciboriums bright
Is mine, and all the wealth pain brings.

So with the Cross, and with the Host,
And with thine aid, dear Angel Friend,
I wait in peace, on time’s dark coast,
Heaven’s happiness that knows no end.

(February, 1897)

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

Devotion to the sorrows of Mary can be traced back to the 12th century, when the newly formed Servite Order embraced it as their primary devotion. In 1817, Pope Pius VII declared the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows as a feast day for the worldwide Church (not just certain regions, as had been the practice); and in 1913, Pope Pius X fixed the date of the feast as September 15.

In remarks made in 1980, Pope John Paul II reminded us: "Mary Most Holy goes on being the loving consoler of those touched by the many physical and moral sorrows which afflict and torment humanity. She knows our sorrows and our pains, because she too suffered, from Bethlehem to Calvary . . . Mary is our Spiritual Mother, and the mother always understands her children and consoles them in their troubles."

The Seven Sorrows of Mary

1. The Prophecy of Simeon ("and your own soul a sword shall pierce . . .")
2. The Flight into Egypt
3. Loss of the Child Jesus in Jerusalem
4. Meeting Jesus on the Way of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
6. Jesus taken down from the Cross
7. Jesus wrapped and laid in the tomb

“Truly, O Blessed Mother, a sword has pierced your heart.... He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known. She died in spirit through a love unlike any other since His.”      (St. Bernard)

The Watchmaker: More About St. Josemaria Escriva and the Angels

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.

“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

St. Edith Stein

Today is the feast day of St. Edith Stein, also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Edith Stein, a Jewish convert to Catholicism, was a Carmelite nun who died in the gas chambers of Auschwitz in 1942. She is remembered for her intellectualism as well as for her unwavering faith and dedication to her fellow human beings, particularly in her last horrific days. Edith was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 11, 1998.

Right before her canonization, I was privileged to write about Edith Stein and the miracle that confirmed her sainthood for the now defunct magazine Catholic Heritage. In honor of today's feast, I'm reprinting the article I wrote back then. Never having heard of Edith Stein when I started the assignment, I soon became awestruck and inspired by this brilliant woman who viewed her martyrdom as the fulfillment of her Jewish heritage.

Read on after the prayer if you'd like to learn more about the life of this amazing woman who is now our intercessor in Heaven.

Saint Edith Stein, holy martyr, philosopher of the truth, defender of the human person against the evils of this age, enlighten our minds, illumine our hearts, fill our lives with the passion of your love for the Cross. Amen.

 

THE STAR OF DAVID CARMELITE:  REMEMBERING EDITH STEIN

by

Melaine Ryther

(originally published in Catholic Heritage, Sept. 1998)

“Come Rosa, we go for our people.” Gently leading her sister to the waiting S.S. police car, Edith Stein headed toward Golgotha. It was a journey that had been heralded fifty years prior by a chillingly prophetic event—her birth into the world on the solemn Jewish holiday, the Day of Atonement.

Edith Stein was born on October 12, 1891, in Breslau, Germany. The youngest of eleven children in a devout Jewish household, she consistently impressed the adults around her with her razor-sharp intellect. Her father died when she was two, leaving the family’s lumber business to his widow. Although the young girl bore many of her mother’s positive traits, piety was not one of them. In fact, from the ages of 13 to 22, Edith could muster no faith in God at all.

Quotable Wisdom from St. John Vianney

"The Devil writes down our sins - our Guardian Angel all our merits. Labor that the Guardian Angel's book may be full, and the Devil's empty."   (St. John Vianney, the Cure De Ars)

The Curé of Ars and the Angels

My previous post featuring St. John Vianney was short and sweet and seriously in need of a sequel considering the stature of the saint involved.

To that end, and in honor of the Feast of the Curé of Ars (August 4th), I’d like to reflect a bit on the life of this remarkable priest and share some of his more memorable quotes about the angels (including the fallen ones, with whom he had some up-close-and-personal dealings).

~~~~~

St. John Vianney was born on May 8, 1786, in the small French town of Dardilly. He was the oldest of six children born to his parents, Matthieu and Marie. The anti-religious and anti-clerical political atmosphere brought on by the French Revolution made it difficult at that time to practice Catholicism, but the Vianneys managed to keep their faith alive and thriving by opting to teach their children at home instead of sending them to the state-run public schools.

It was in this environment that John’s faith and piety developed. His zeal was such that he was horrified by the large numbers of priests that defected and signed oaths of loyalty to the state. He famously said in response, “Oh, if I were a priest, I should want to win ever so many souls for God.” That desire would soon be made a reality.

After his rise to power in 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte liberated the Church from state power, allowing church doors to reopen and Mass to be celebrated publicly once again. The road to the priesthood had been cleared for John, and at age 19 he entered the seminary. Life as a seminarian was a challenge, however, as academics, particularly Latin, proved difficult for John. Making matters worse, his studies were interrupted by a forced two-year stint in Napoleon’s army.

Upon his return to the seminary, John struggled again with academics and was almost dismissed by his superiors. But there were others in authority who recognized the value of John’s other gifts–his piety, asceticism, modesty, and power of recollection, to name a few. Given another chance to take his exams–this time in French instead of Latin–St. John passed with flying colors and in 1815 was ordained a priest.

At age 31, St. John was sent to the remote backwater village of Ars. Confronted with a staggering amount of immorality, religious indifference, and frivolity among his parishioners, John labored unceasingly to turn the tide back toward God. His success was nothing short of miraculous. It took 25 years, but eventually all 200 villagers “converted,” that is, were observing the 10 Commandments, the Precepts of the Church, and living a daily Christian life. His preaching became so famous for its eloquence and ability to touch even the most hardened hearts that many priests and bishops traveled from great distances to hear him.

But what St. John became most famous for was his ability as a confessor. He would hear confessions for 13-17 hours a day, sometimes hearing as many as 400 confessions in a day. With unparalleled powers of discernment and the ability to read hearts, St. John was able to pinpoint a sinner’s source of trouble and prescribe the exact means to treat or remove it. He also shared extreme empathy with penitents and would sob at the thought of souls being lost forever due to sin.

His long hours in the confessional left him little time for anything else, including eating or sleeping, and he often got by on a few hours of sleep and a couple of boiled potatoes. These sacrifices were nothing to St. John, though, as he regularly performed acts of self-inflicted penances. In fact, if someone gave him a loaf of bread, he would trade it for a crust from a beggar. He was known for giving easy penances in the confessional, saying “I give them a light penance and perform the rest myself.”

St. John also obtained many graces for his beloved Ars through his great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the Blessed Mother, and St. Philomena. One of the things the Curé soon became known for were miraculous cures, not only of the soul but the body as well. But his modesty made him uncomfortable with the attention these acts gained him, and so he made a pact with St. Philomena that he would send all healing requests to her and that he in turn would spread her devotion. St. Philomena reportedly appeared to St. John on occasion, as did the Blessed Virgin. He remarked, “With Our Lady and Saint Philomena we get on well together.”

St. John’s holiness and the good he did for the people of Ars caught the attention not only of Heaven, but (not surprisingly) of the other place as well. For 35 years, from 1824 to 1858, the Curé was subjected to an onslaught of spiritual and physical harassment from the devil, many instances of which were verified by witnesses. The attacks ranged from horrible manifestations, to pulling St. John out of bed by his ankles, to hideously screaming and/or singing in the middle of the night. One morning the Curé’s bed was set on fire while he was hearing confessions. St. John’s comment was, “Unable to catch the bird, he sets fire to the cage!”

The devil did all he could to prevent St. John from getting the rest he needed to do his miraculous work in the confessional. He would go on for hours producing harrowing, ear-wrenching noises, or he would sing, "with a very cracked voice," the Saint said, or whistle for hours on end. Sometimes he would produce a noise as of a horse chomping and prancing in the room. He would bleat like a sheep, growl like a bear, or meow like a cat. At times he would shout under the Curé's window: "Vianney! Vianney! potato-eater!" The Saint, for his part, developed a remarkable sense of humor about these supernatural assaults, saying, “Oh! the grappin’ [his nickname for the devil] and myself? We are almost chums.” In 1845 the devil ceased his physical attacks, but not before revealing that if there were three such priests as the Curé on earth, his (Satan’s) kingdom would be broken.

St. John’s life continued with days full of charity, austerity, and works of wonder. But finally at the age of 73, on July 29, 1859, his severe daily routine proved too much and he collapsed for the last time. The bishop presided over his funeral, which 300 priests and more than 6,000 people attended. In 1925 he was canonized by Pope Pius XI, who then in 1929 declared him “Patron Saint of Parish Priests.”

In 1904 St. John’s body was exhumed and found to be incorrupt. His body is on display above the main altar in the Basilica at Ars.

 The thoughts and sayings of the Curé of Ars are ever popular, and there are volumes upon volumes available containing his sermons and other words of wisdom. Below are some of St. John’s thoughts about the holy angels, to whom he had a great devotion. (There are a few thoughts on the devil as well.)

~~~~~

The first thing about the angels that we ought to imitate, is their consciousness of the Presence of God.

 ***

Ah! if we had the eyes of angels with which to see our Lord Jesus Christ present on the Altar and looking at us, how we should love Him!

*** 

With what humility should we assist at Mass, if we realized that our Guardian Angel was kneeling beside us, prostrate before the majesty of God! With what eagerness should we not ask him to offer our prayers to Jesus Christ!

 ***

Our Guardian Angels are our most faithful friends, because they are with us day and night, always and everywhere. We ought often to invoke them.

*** 

The Angels take great pleasure in helping us with our enterprises, when they are in accordance with God's will.

 ***

If you find it impossible to pray, hide behind your good Angel and charge him to pray in your stead.

 ***

We ought to ask the Blessed Virgin, the angels, and the saints to pray for us that we may receive the good God as worthily as it is possible for us to receive Him. (Sermon on Holy Communion)

 ***

The devil writes down our sins—our Guardian Angel all our merits. Labor that the Guardian Angel's book may be full, and the devil's empty.

*** 

Do not try to please everybody. Try to please God, the angels, and the saints—they are your public.

 ***

Like the saints, let us be very zealous in fulfilling all our duties; let the devil never find us doing nothing, lest we should yield to temptation.

*** 

God , the Blessed Virgin, the angels and saints are about our path; they are at our side and see all we do.

*** 

After thanking our Guardian Angel who has remained by our side during our sleep, we should ask him for his protection during the day.

*** 

How happy is that Guardian Angel who accompanies a soul to Holy Mass!

*** 

We must take great care never to do anything before having said our Morning Prayers.... The devil once declared...that if he could have the first moment of the day, he was sure of all the rest.

*** 

What a comfort to you it is to know that when we go out of the house, we are never alone en route.

*** 

When we are walking in the streets, let us fix our eyes on Our Lord bearing his Cross before us; on the Blessed Virgin who is looking at us; on our Guardian Angel who is by our side.

 ***

It is our angels who ask God to grant us a deep sorrow for our sins.

*** 

Offer your temptations for the conversion of sinners. When the devil sees you doing this, he is beside himself with rage and makes off, because then the temptation is turned against himself.

*** 

Blessed are they who are tempted! It is when the devil sees that a soul is tending towards union with God that he redoubles his efforts.

 ***

If we did like St. Remigius, we should never be angry. Being questioned by a Father of the desert as to how he managed to be always in an even temper, replied: "I often consider that my Guardian Angel is always by my side....."

*** 

If we could only see the JOY of our Guardian Angel when he sees us fighting our temptations!

*** 

In the Sacraments, it is God himself who comes to annihilate our enemy. The devil, seeing Him in our heart, throws himself despairingly into the bottomless pit; which explains why he does all he can to draw us away from them, or to make us receive them badly.

*** 

All the angels and saints are engaged in trying to prevent us from committing sins.

*** 

What happiness it is to a Guardian Angel to have the care of a pure soul. When the soul is pure, all the Court of Heaven looks upon it with joy.

Laughing Angels

The Laughing Angel

Reims Cathedral

While adults often use fancy language and convoluted reasoning to explain things they don't really understand, children prefer a more straightforward and logical approach. Collected from various sources, these quotes are sure to make an angel or two smile.

"Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go south for the winter." - Sara, age 6

"I only know the names of two angels, Hark and Harold." - Gregory, age 5

"What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them." - Sarah, age 7

"My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science." - Henry, age 8

"Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead." - Daniel, age 9

St. Bridget of Sweden

 "If we saw an angel clearly, we should die of pleasure."

 St. Bridget of Sweden

Today is the feast day of St. Bridget of Sweden. Sometimes known as Birgitta, Bridget was born in approximately 1303 into a wealthy yet pious family. As was the custom at the time, she married young, at age 13, and went on to have eight children with her husband, Ulf  Godmarsson, who was also a good and devout man.

From an early age Bridget claimed to have visions and religious inspirations. These intensified after the death of her husband, prompting Bridget to throw herself into religious projects. She is most famous for founding the Order of the Holy Savior (The Brigittines). She voluntarily lived an austere life, looked after the poor and sick, and used her outspoken personality to give advice to the popes regarding political and ecclesiastical problems of the time.

Bridget left behind many writings, most notably her "Revelations" about Christ's sufferings and future events. She died in 1373 in Rome, on her way home from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Bridget is the patron saint of Sweden. 

St. Birgitta, fearless in the service of God, pray for us.
St. Birgitta, patient in suffer­ing and humiliation, pray for us.
St. Birgitta, marvellous in thy love towards Jesus and Mary, pray for us.