Today, October 2
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
The word "angel" comes from the Greek word for messenger, and the Scriptures contain many references to their activities. In the Acts of the Apostles we read how Peter was assisted by an angel in his escape from prison. Then when he went to a gathering of the believers and was announced by the maid, they were incredulous and answered, "It is his angel" (Acts 12.15). It was widely believed that people had an angelic being, a guardian angel, assigned by God. In the oldest Roman Sacramentary still in existence, indirect reference is made to these individual guardians in the prayers for the feast. A memorial to guardian angels was entered into the calendar of the Western Church in 1670, on the first available feast day following Michaelmas (September 29).
©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.
Readings of the Day
Book of Exodus 23,20-23.
"See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. "My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out.
Psalms 91(90),1-2.3-4.5-6.10-11.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, Say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler, from the destroying pestilence. With his pinions he will cover you, and under his wings you shall take refuge. You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon. No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, for to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18,1-5.10.
The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
Daily Reflection
“To his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways” (Ps 91[90],11). What respect these words should arouse in you, to what fervour they should give birth, what trust they should inspire! Respect on account of their presence, fervour on account of their watchfulness, trust on account of their vigilance... They are there at your side, then, not just with you but for you. They stand beside you to protect and help you. What return will you make to the Lord for all the good he has done to you? (Ps 116,12; [115,3]). It is to him alone we should give thanks and honor for their aid; it is he who has commanded them. “Every perfect gift” (Jas 1,17) comes from him alone. But we are on no account to fail in thanksgiving regarding the angels in view of the great charity with which they obey him and the great need we have of their assistance. So let us be full of respect and thanksgiving for such vigilance on their part; let us love them in return and honor them as best we are able, as much as we ought... In God let us love the angels, knowing that one day we shall be sharers in the inheritance and that between then and now the Father allows and arranges that they may be our guides and instructors. For “we are God's children now” even though it has not yet been clearly revealed (1Jn 3,2) since we are still children subject to stewards and tutors and, for the present, we seem no different from servants. Nevertheless, small though we be, and long and dangerous though the road may be that remains for us to travel, what do we have to fear under so good a guardian?... The angels are faithful, wise and powerful; what have we to fear? Let us only follow them and hold fast to them and we shall abide under the protection of the God of heaven.