Guardians of power and love

Feast of Archangels

St Michael~St Gabriel~St Raphael

September 29

 

 

 

"O, angelic spirits, who guard our tabernacles, wherein

lies the adorable treasure of the Holy Eucharist,

defend it from profanation and preserve it for our love."

 

St Josemaria Escriva 

 

   

"Michael and his Angels battled against the dragon...

Satan, the seducer of the whole world, was driven out."

Revelation 12:7, 9

 

 

A Sermon of Pope Saint Gregory
From the Third Nocturne of Matins of the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel

We speak of nine orders of Angels, because we know, by the testimony of Holy Scripture, that there are the following: Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim. It must be realized that "Angel" is the name of their office, not of their nature. For the holy Spirits of the heavenly homeland are always Spirits, but they cannot always be called Angels; they are Angels only when they are announcing something. Those who announce less important things are called Angels, and those who announce the highest things are called Archangels. And so not any Angel but the Archangel Gabriel was sent to Mary; for this ministry, it was fitting to have the highest Angel, since he was to announce the greatest news of all. These Archangels are also given special names to describe their particular virtue. For Michael means "Who is like to God?" Gabriel means "Strength of God," and Raphael "Medicine of God."

Whenever something is to be done needing great power, Michael is sent forth so that from his action and his name we may understand that no one can do what God can do. Hence that old enemy who through pride desired to be like God is shown at the end of the world, left to his own strength and about to undergo the final punishment, as destined to fight with Michael the Archangel, as John says, "There was a battle with Michael the Archangel." Similarly, Gabriel was sent to Mary; he who is called "Strength of God" came to announce Him who deigned to appear in humility to conquer the powers of the air. And Raphael is interpreted, as we said, "Medicine of God," for when he touched the eyes of Tobias to do the work of healing, he dispelled the "night of his blindness."

Click here: The Archangels - YouTube (1:30 mins)

 

 

St Michael, St Gabriel, St Raphael, pray for us

and defend us in battle!

Confession Before the Blessed Sacrament

Confession Before the Blessed Sacrament

Grain of God,

I was the stone that ground You.

Holocaust of Heaven,

I was the flame that consumed You.

Lamb on the altar,

I was the knife across Your throat.

Crucified One,
I was the nail in Your hand.

Have mercy, Jesus.

Reshape this guilty soul to make

a stone in your altar,

a flame in Your lamp,

a knife for Your bread,

a nail in Your table

where the world sits down

to feast.

Paul Thigpen

From Jesus, We Adore You

Prayers Before the Blessed Sacrament

IMAGE: Adoration, National Shrine of Maximilian Kolbe, Marytown, IL ~ USA

Going to Jesus from Jesus

St Vincent de Paul was praying before the Eucharist one time and,

after a man told him about a poor person on the street needing help,

Vincent said:

 

"I am going to Jesus from Jesus."

 

 

St Vincent de Paul

1580-1660 ~ France

Priest, Co-Founder of Daughters of Charity

Founder - Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians)

Patron - Charitable societies*

*Society of St. Vincent de Paul, founded 1833

by a devotee, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam

Incorrupt

FEAST DAY - September 27

 

"We should take as a maxim never to be surprised at current difficulties, 

no more than at a passing breeze, because with a little patience 

we shall see them disappear. Time changes everything." -  St. Vincent de Paul

Click here: St. Vincent de Paul YouTube (6:45 mins)

 

St Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

The King Of Love My Shepherd Is

The King Of Love My Shepherd Is 

(St. Columba)

The King of Love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
and He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
With gentle care He leads me,
And where the verdant pastures grow
With Heav'nly food He feeds me.

Perverse and foolish I have strayed
But yet in love He sought me,
and on His shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With You, dear Lord, beside me, 

Your rod and staff my comfort still,
Your Cross before to guide me.

You spread a table in my sight,
Your saving grace bestowing;
And O what joy and true delight
From Your pure chalice flowing!

And so through all the length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Your praise
Within Your house forever.

Participating fully!

 "Speak for your servant is listening." - I Samuel 3:10b

"Above all, we must get to church early in order to 'tidy up' inwardly.  We must have no illusions about our condition when we enter the church; we must frankly face our restlessness, confusion, disorder. To be exact, we do not yet really exist as persons - at least not as persons God can address, expecting a fitting response.  We are bundles of feelings, fancies, thoughts, and plans all at cross-purposes with each other. 

The first thing to do, then, is to quiet and collect ourselves.  We must be able to say honestly: "Now I am here.  I have only one thing to do - participate with my whole being in the only thing that counts, the sacred celebration. I am entirely ready."

Romano Guardini

Preparing Yourself for Mass, pg 24