The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-16
SEPTEMBER: MONTH OF ANGELS.

Able Pailled in instructions dun
quart dheure" speaks of the care of
angels for the humans they have been
appointed to watch over and the re
Spouse humans ought to make in
gratitude to them.
Busy as we are in the routine of
life, our guardian angel follows us,
accompanies us everywhere, strength
ems and sustains us. He trembles
when we run the least dangers of body
or SOUL He warns us in those mys-
terious presentiments that turn us
from danger. What happiness is his
when we return to friendship with
God! The angles in heaven, says the
gospel, feel greater joy at the CONVEX
sion of a sinner than at the persever-
anCe of ninety-nine just. Are we
afflicted? Then he stays by us as that
other angel who came to our Lord in
the Garden of olives in the midst of
His WEAKNESS and sorrow. But it is
above all at the hour of our death that
he multiplies his cares so that he may
Consummate the work of our saliva
tion. And if our soul is not worthy of
immediate entrance into heaven, he
accompanies it to purgatory, visits it
frequently, and solicits the prayers of
the living for it. When at last the
hour of deliverance comes it is he who
brings the soul to Gods throne. In a
word, the faithful guardian does not
cease to devote himself to us until we
are restored to the arms of God. so
great love eXacts return from us,
said st. Bernard, our guardian angel
ought to inspire us with three feel
ings: respect, gratitude and conf
dence.' We ought to respect his holy
presence. 1t is true we do not see him
with the eyes of the body, since he is
spirit which cannot be perceived by
the senses, but we ought to see him
with the eyes of faith, persuaded he is
always near us. God has given him to
us as a faithful witness, whose in
tegrity we cannot corrupt, whose
vigilance we cannot surprise, and
whose presence we cannot elude
When, therefore, we feel carried
away by desire to do sinful thing
we cannot say: L am alone No one
sees me! For there beside us stands
our guardian, sad and confused. We
ought to be more fearful of wounding
the holiness of his sight than that of
any mortal. The philosopher Seneca
once wrote to a disciple: 1 will give
you advice which will prevent you
from doing evil. Whenever you are
tempted think of a person, whom you
greatly admire, and do what you would
do If he were present. 1t ought to
be still more salutary for us Chris
tians to think of the presence of our
guardian when we are in danger of
wandering out of the paths of decency
and virtue.
Gratitude is the second duty we
have toward our guardian angel. We
would certainly be ingrates if we could
forget his constant care. Tobias,
when he went over in his heart all the
favors which the angel Raphael had
heaped on him, cried out in transport:
What recompense can | make to him
that it may be in proportion to that
which he has done for me?' Pene-
trated with the hottest gratitude
Tobias remained PROSTATE on the
earth for three hours thanking heaven
for the mercy that had been mani
tested toward him.
And lastly, let us give our entire
confidence to our guardian angel. He
is observant enough to know our
needs, powerful enough to assist us to
God, and there is nothing nearer his
heart than to fill those needs and lead
us to heaven. So let us ask him often
and in simple confidence to obtain
light and strength and consolation
from God for u.s."