Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
The Holy Guardian Angels. To each human being that is born, God designates an Angel as guardian. Throughout our lives, our Guardian Angels watch over us at every moment, helping us to fulfil our vocation and attain eternal salvation. St. Thomas Aquinas – the Angelic Doctor – was one of the most enlightening of the Church Doctors regarding the nature of Angels, their manner of acting, and their role in creation. Although Guardian Angels have been reverenced from earliest times, with canonical celebrations on a local level, the inclusion of their specific Liturgical commemoration in the General Roman Calendar is a development of the seventeenth century. See also: Angels in the Lives of the Saints, and May Your Good Guardian Angel Protect You.
Featured Saints
St. Beregisius, abbot (†d. 725). In Andage, present-day Belgium, he founded a monastery of Canons Regular, of which he was abbot.
St. Saturius, hermit (†606). He lived in contemplation and penance in a grotto situated in the mountains on the banks of the Douro River in Soria, Spain, where St. Prudentius of Armentia became his disciple.
Blessed Antoine Chevrier, priest (†1879). He founded the Institute of the Fathers of Prado in Lyon, France, in order to form priests dedicated to the teaching the Christian Faith to poor youths.
Blessed Jan Beyzym, priest (†1912). Polish Jesuit who, after having taught for some years in Poland after his ordination, exercised his ministry among the lepers in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar.
Blesseds Louis Shakichi, his wife Lucy and their sons Andrew and Francis, martyrs (†1622). Louis Shakichi, a fervent Christian and benefactor of the Dominicans in Nagasaki, was burned alive after being tortured and witnessing the decapitation of his wife and sons.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ex 23:20-23
Thus says the LORD:
“See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and obey him. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority is within him. If you obey him and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 91:1-2, 3-4ab, 4c-6, 10-11
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty
Say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” R.
For He will rescue you from the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions He will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge. R.
His faithfulness is a buckler and a shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day;
Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,
nor the devastating plague at noon.R.
No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,
For to his angels He has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways. R.
Gospel – Mt 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.”
