Tuesday (October 2): “Their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” “

Mabuhay at Mabuting Balita!
Month of the Most Holy Rosary
Memorial of the Guardian Angels
84 Days Before Christmas

Mary is more blessed because she embraces faith in Christ than because she conceives the flesh of Christ. — St. Augustine, De virginitate 3 http://origin.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration_10oct2012.asp#2

First Reading: Exodus 23:20-23
Psalm 91:1-6, 10-11: Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

“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.” http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100212.cfm

Video Reflection: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/

Reflection: Why does Jesus warn his disciples to “not despise the little ones?” God dwells with the lowly and regards them with compassion. His angels watch over them as guardians. “For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11). God has not left us alone in our struggle “to refuse evil and to choose good” (Isaiah 7:15). The angels are his “ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). Scripture is full of examples of how the angels serve as messengers and protectors. When Peter was chained in prison and kept under guard, an angel woke him in middle of the night, released his chains, and brought him safely out of prison, past several guards and through locked gates. When Peter realized he wasn’t dreaming, he exclaimed: “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me” (Acts 12:11). When Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions, an angel protected him from harm (Daniel 6:22).

John Chrysostom (347-407 AD), an early church father and renowned preacher, compared the guardian angels to the troops garrisoned in cities on the frontiers of the empire to defend it from the enemy. Basil the Great (329-379 AD) said, “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” Angels ministered to Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness and during his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). The angels will be present at Christ’s return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgment (Matthew 25:31). The angels show us that this universe which God created is not just materialistic. The fallen angels (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelations 12:9), described in Scripture as evil spirits or devils (Mark 5:13; Matthew 25:41), seek our destruction (see 1 Peter 5:8). If they cannot persuade us to disown our faith and loyalty to Christ, they will attempt to divert us from doing the will of God by distracting us with good things that weigh us down or make us indifferent towards the things of God. God gives us the help of his angelic hosts and he gives us spiritual weapons, the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness (see Ephesians 6:1-11), to resist the devil and his lies. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we, too, join with the angelic choirs of heaven in singing the praises of God. Do you thank the Lord for his guidance and protection?

“Lord Jesus, you are our refuge and strength. May I always know your guiding hand and the help of your angels in protecting me from all that is evil. Give me strength of will and courage to refuse what is evil and to choose what is good.” http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/oct2.htm

Feast of the Day: Feast of the Guardian Angels

Perhaps no aspect of Catholic piety is as comforting to parents as the belief that an angel protects their little ones from dangers real and imagined. Yet guardian angels are not just for children. Their role is to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer and to present their souls to God at death.

The concept of an angel assigned to guide and nurture each human being is a development of Catholic doctrine and piety based on Scripture but not directly drawn from it. Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:10 best support the belief: “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.”

Devotion to the angels began to develop with the birth of the monastic tradition. St. Benedict (July 11) gave it impetus and Bernard of Clairvaux (August 20), the great 12th-century reformer, was such an eloquent spokesman for the guardian angels that angelic devotion assumed its current form in his day.
A feast in honor of the guardian angels was first observed in the 16th century. In 1615, Pope Paul V added it to the Roman calendar. http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1156

More Saints of the Day
• St. Beregisius
• St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia
• Bl. Francis Chakichi
• St. Gerinus
• St. Leodegarius
• St. Leudomer
• Bl. Louis Shakichi
• Bl. Lucy Chakichi
• St. Theophilus
• St. Thomas of Hereford

Let me be the change I want to be. Even if I am not the light, I can be the spark.