Blog by Sr. Anne Lythgoe, OP[/caption]
On October 2, the Church celebrates the feast of Guardian Angels. In almost every faith tradition, people seek inspiration from the legions of unnamed, unknown Guardian Angels.
We all need angels, guardians, guides, protectors, messengers of good news, angels who bring us words of compassion and solace. I think of all the first responders, emergency room personnel, disaster relief workers, who showed up in Las Vegas on October 1st to attend to the massive assassination of innocent people. Those who are still responding to needs in Houston, Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
Too often these days, people need this kind of angel. Think of all the angels who show up when we really need them. In the midst of the horror in Las Vegas, the feast of the Guardian Angels brought back wonderful memories for me of childhood and the prayer:
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide. Amen.
Angel of God, my guardian dear... Who are the angels of God for you? Who guards you?
Who protects you from over-reacting, from over-work? Who keeps you from taking yourself too seriously? Who invites you into your own center and who returns you to the source of God within you? Angels of God, your friends, who (thank God) do not see you as the leader of the free world. A guardian angel is someone who shares a meal with you, enjoys a walk on the beach with you, and goes to the movies with you.
Guardian Angels send you secret messages of encouragement, share a private joke, offer a pat on the back, give a quick massage, recall a special memory, recommend the perfect book, share a secret dream, and know your favorite food. Guardian angels leave the light on for you when you come home at night, they look at you knowing you do not have the answers and it’s alright.
Angel of God my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here...
Commits me HERE to live in this time and this place. Commits me HERE to see all of my sisters and brothers as children of God. Commits me to live in the knowledge that it does not all depend on me. Commits me to get up every morning and see the day as blessing, to see the work ahead as privilege and gift.
Ever this day BE at my side... Be at my side when I need to say the hard thing. Be at my side when I have no idea what to say. Be at my side as anxiety grips the soul of a person in trouble and I have no words to calm her heart. Ever this day, be at my side when I realize that the person who just interrupted me is the reason why I am here and he or she is the source of God’s grace for me today.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day, be at my side, to light and guard... To light the path that has been set before me, to guard me from the fear of diminishing resources. To lighten my heart and drink the wine of music and beauty and awe at the wonder of the stars. To guard me from myself.
To rule and guide... to rule and guide my desire for quick solutions and impatience with processes beyond my control.
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide. AMEN.
Today we thank God for the angels among us. 