Catholic Tower

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Angels October 8th Elaborating on the kind ministrations of our angelic keepers, the Catechism further tells us that through the guidance of our angels we are saved from the devious wanderings into which our treacherous foe might betray us, to lead us aside from the way that brings us to heaven. Only God knows the number of assisting and ministering spirits. Are angels really as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore or the drops of water in the ocean, as Father Faber suggests? We mortals have no way of arriving at the approximate number. It may be, however, that God in eternity will reveal what is at present beyond finite human knowledge. What qualifications must we have in order to be entrusted to an angel? Only one: We must belong to the human race. It is a universal Catholic belief that God regards neither color nor creed in the assignment of His angels to men. Nor does He deprive a sinful soul of their protection. Suarez puts it briefly but fully: ”I hold that not the just only, but even sinners; not the faithful only, but the unfaithful; not the baptized only, but the unbaptized, have guardian angels.” ~ Wedge, Florence. Guardian Angels (1955)

The Month of the Holy Angels October 8th Catholic Doctrine on Guardian Angels The Catholic belief in the existence of heavenly custodians is beautifully expressed in the Catechism of the Council of Trent. The Catechism declares: "To angels is committed by the providence of God the office of guarding the human race, and of accompanying each human being so as to preserve him from any serious harm.” (continued)

The Month of the Holy Angels October 8th The Angels reflect God’s goodness and sweetness no less wonderfully. They reflect all His divine virtues and perfections, they enjoy the vision of God’s infinite love, and they love Him back with all the mighty strength and intensity of their natures. Their happiness is perfect, for they receive of the ocean of God’s happiness in a way that no human mind can fathom. The happiness that an Angel enjoys in one moment is so deep, complete and all-satisfying that it exceeds all the happiness that a mortal man could enjoy in a thousand years. ~ Fr. Paul O’Sullivan O.P., All About the Angels (1945)

Month of the the Holy Rosary / The Holy Angels ~ October 8th VIRGIN MOST PRUDENT THE VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE IN MARY (continued) With what sedulous care did, Mary seek to know, at the moment of the Annunciation, the disposition of the divine will in her regard! How docile she was in always following the in spirations from on High! ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

HYMN Ave Maria, Gratia plena, Dominus tecum, Benedicta tu In mulieribus Et benedictus Fructus ventris Tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria Mater DEI Ora pro nobis Peccatoribus, Nunc, et in hora Mortis nostræ. (Gounod) Amen.

2 of 2 A PRAYER Do thou, who art the powerful vanquisher of all heresies, hasten the hour of mercy, even though the hour of God’s justice is every day provoked by the countless sins of men. For me who am the least of men, kneeling before thee in supplication, do thou obtain the grace I need to live righteously upon earth and to reign among the just in heaven, the while in company with all faithful Christians throughout the world, I salute thee and acclaim thee as Queen of the most Holy Rosary: Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us. An indulgence of 500 days (Leo XIII, Audience July 3, 1886; S. P. Ap., April 29, 1933). ~ The Raccolta (1943)

Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us. 1 of 2 A PRAYER Queen of the most Holy Rosary, in these times of such brazen impiety, manifest thy power with the signs of thine ancient victories, and from thy throne, whence thou dost dispense pardon and graces, mercifully regard the Church of thy Son, His Vicar on earth, and every order of clergy and laity, who are sore oppressed in the mighty conflict. (continued)

October 8th ~ St. Bridget, Widow St. Bridget (or Birgitta) of Sweden, on the death of Prince Ulfo, her husband, embraced a life of prayer and penance. Favored by Almighty God with wonderful visions and revelations, she founded the Religious Order of the Most Holy Savior. With her daughter St. Catherine, she made numerous pilgrimages to various sanctuaries in Italy and in Palestine. The secrets of heaven were manifested to her in many revelations which are referred to in the Collect of the Mass. She exerted her influence in the cause of the Church's reform in the courts, episcopal palaces, the abbeys and even at the Holy See. She died at Rome, July 2, 1373. Her relics were brought back to Sweden by her daughter a year later. She was canonized by Boniface IX, 1391. ~ The New Roman Missal (1937) St. Bridget of Sweden, pray for us.

Of the royal house of Sweden, Bridget married Prince Ulfo, by whom she had eight children, one of whom was St. Catherine of Sweden. St. Bridget founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior. She died at Rome in 1373. ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ October 8th ~ Feast of ST. BRIDGET, Widow O LORD our God, Who, through Thy Only-begotten Son, didst reveal heavenly secrets to Blessed Bridget, grant, through her loving intercession, that we, Thy servants, may rejoice with gladness in the revelation of Thy everlasting glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. Collect, October 8th, St. Bridget, Widow ~ Saint Joseph Daily Missal, 1950 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧

2 of 2 8th Day.— Mary's Espousals 2. What a trial, too, for her humility, that she who had consecrated her virginity to the Most High, should appear before the world in the ordinary state of wedlock, that she who was the Bride of the Most High should be counted as the bride of mortal man ! Yet Mary rejoiced in this humiliation. She knew well that those whom God humbles He will in due time exalt. 3. Mary's confidence in God was not disappointed. He did not fail to fulfil the desires of His handmaid. She found, on being espoused, that Joseph her Spouse had, like her, made a vow of chastity, and that she could therefore dwell with him in perfect security. Oh,how good God is to those who hope in Him! Hail, holy Joseph, hail ! Sweet Spouse of Mary, hail ! Chaste as the lily flower In Eden's peaceful vale. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

MARIA MAGNIFICATA ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ The Month of the Holy Rosary October 8th 8th Day.— Mary's Espousals I have put m y trust in Thee, O God. I have said, My lot is in Thy hands. (Psalm xxx. 15.) 1. When Mary arrived at the age when it was the custom for Jewish maidens to leave the service of the Temple, the High Priest told her that a husband would be chosen for her. But Mary had already made a vow of virginity to God, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and now she received the command tojoin herself in wedlock, and God inspired her to obey. What a trial for her faith and confidence in God! (continued)

HYMN Dear Guardian of Mary ! dear nurse of her Child ! Life's ways are full weary, the desert is wild; Bleak sands are all round us, no home can we see; Sweet Spouse of our Lady ! we lean upon thee. For thou to the pilgrim art father and guide, And Jesus and Mary felt safe by the side; Ah ! blessed St. Joseph, how safe should I be, Sweet Spouse of our Lady ! if thou wert with me. O blessed St. Joseph ! how great was thy worth, The one chosen shadow of God upon earth, The father of Jesus — ah ! then, wilt thou be, Sweet Spouse of our Lady ! a father to me ? ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

Sayings of the Saints “Love our Lady and make her loved; always recite the Rosary and recite it as often as possible.” ~ St. Pio St. Pio, pray for us.

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Angels October 7th Alone and safe at last, Peter exclaimed: "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” Then Peter proceeded to the house of the mother of John, sumamed Mark, where many of the Christians were gathered together to pray for his release. Here he was, unfettered and cheerful of face, knocking at the gate! Rhoda, the servant girl, went out to reconnoiter. So amazed was she to find the Apostle there that she left him standing outside and rushed in to break the good news to the assembly. No one would believe her. "It is his angel!” they all agreed. (Cf. Acts 12:3-17.) Note the words his angel. Evidently the early Christians firmly believed in an individual angel commissioned to guard and guide each and every human being. Moreover, as it is of interest to note, they seem to have thought that the guardian angel might at times take on the appearance and the voice of his charge. But of chief importance, their reaction on hearing of Peter’s liberation gives us most convincing proof of their strong belief in the guardianship of angelic beings. ~ Wedge, Florence. Guardian Angels (1955)

The Month of the Holy Angels October 7th The Early Christians (continued) Another time St. Peter was arrested and jailed by Herod. Custody of "the Rock” was committed to four guards of soldiers, four in each guard—sixteen men in all. Came the night hours, and Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while outside the door sentries guarded the prison. "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood beside him, and a light shone in the room; and he struck Peter on the side” and woke him, saying, 'Get up quickly.’ Then the chains fell from Peter’s hands. The Apostle put on his cloak and sandals and walked out a free man, leaving the soldiers to their dreams. (continued)

Month of the the Holy Rosary / The Holy Angels ~ October 7th VIRGIN MOST PRUDENT THE VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE IN MARY (continued) *** Among the virtues which shone with greater splendor in the life of Mary, we must make mention of prudence. It was prudence which restrained the glorious Virgin from ever proceeding with precipitancy; it was this same virtue which prompted her always to take counsel of her Heavenly Spouse in all the circumstances of her life, to weigh with a wise deliberation the motives of her every action, to decide with calmness the course to be pursued and to follow in all her actions the light of reason and faith. ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

The Month of the Holy Angels October 7th When, therefore, the Angels appear to men, they take a human form so as not to over-awe or confound those who look on them. What must be the ravishing beauty of the Heavenly Jerusalem, where these countless millions of glorious Angels are not only resplendently beautiful but all differ from each other so that the perfections of one are completely different from those of the other. ~ Fr. Paul O’Sullivan O.P., All About the Angels (1945)

Gospel-lessons to be pondered at Leisure by every Christian soul Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the concupiscence thereof; but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever. I St. John iv, 15, 16, 17. ~ Richard Challoner, The Garden of the Soul. (1775)