When I was a child, I was afraid of the dark and my mother gave me a song to help me sleep. It reads, in part, as follows: “Guardian angels around my bed, joining me in my prayers. They hush the shadows when they dance about, they shoo away the bears. Guardian angels to comfort me, if I wake in the night. They gather all my dreams; their halos are my light…There’s one with shining wings that holds my hand and shows me Paradise.”

Although fantastic and poetic, the song gave me faith that all would be well and that I was being taken care of. Even today, I fervently believe that my guardian angel has protected me on many occasions and kept me safe from relapse since I’ve been in recovery. I ask this of him daily so that together with my saintly friends, I am helped to walk the straight path God has ordained for me.

In today’s Liturgy of the Hours’ Second Reading by Saint Bernard, he writes: “He has given his angels orders to watch over you in all your ways. These words should fill you with respect, inspire devotion and instill confidence because of their protection. The angels are at your side, with you, and present on your behalf. They are there to protect you and to serve you. But even if it is God who has given them this charge, we should nonetheless be grateful to them too for the great love with which they obey and come to help us in our great need.” 

Today, let us pray together with our Communion Antiphon, “In the presence of the Angels, I will praise you, my God.”

Reflection Questions

• Think of three occasions where you believe your guardian angel has intervened for you. How do such occasions strengthen your faith in God?
• Do you have a favorite prayer you can pray to invoke the help of your guardian angel? If not, consider finding one and regularly praying it.

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Zechariah 8:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Reflection by Marcia G.