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172.1
First Point
Let
us admire God's goodness, and thank him for the grace he has given us in
assigning an angel to take care of us, protect us, and serve us. God was
not satisfied to give us his only Son to rescue us from sin, and send us
his Holy Spirit to fill us with his holy grace, but to omit nothing of all
his care that could advance our interests and keep us in piety and in his
holy love,
he
also sends the holy Angels to be with us on earth. He sends these blessed
spirits, who rejoice before him in heaven, to be near us always, to help
us, and to serve us in every kind of situation. He orders them to watch
over us on his behalf, to guide us, and to enlighten us in all our ways,[i]
so that we may be able to go straight to heaven in safety without
wandering astray.
This is truly a marvelous effect of his goodness, says Saint
Bernard, and one of the greatest proofs of his love. Let us then show our
gratitude for this by carrying out exactly what they inspire us to do.
172.2
Second Point
The
help we receive from our good Angels is quite considerable. They suggest
to us a great number of good and holy thoughts to bring us to God, they
urge us to do penance for our sins, they offer our prayers to God, they
pray for us, and procure for us gifts so numerous and so great that it is
difficult to describe them.
The royal Prophet speaks about them in a few words when he says. They
will bear you up in their hands lest you dash your foot against a stone.
In other words, lest your soul be wounded by the slightest sin. You
will walk on the asp and the adder, and trample under foot the lion and
the dragon.[ii]
This means that under their guidance we will remain invulnerable against
all the attacks of the devil.
We should, then, fear nothing under the protection and guidance of
these angels of God, for, says Saint Bernard, they will not allow us to be
tempted beyond our strength, and in situations that are too difficult and
dangerous for us they will bear us up in their hands, to enable us to
surmount trials and difficulties without being harmed[iii]
in any way. With what ease, then, you will overcome all that is opposed to
your salvation, having the good fortune to be upheld by the hands of such
defenders.
172.3
Third Point
How
much this help we receive from our good angels should lead us to respect
them! Should this not also inspire us with devotion towards them and with
confidence in their protection? We owe them respect, says Saint Bernard,
because of their presence; devotion, because of their kindness towards us;
confidence, because of their care to guard us. We are also obliged to
acknowledge the unbounded charity with which they obey the order to take
care of us in such great and such continual need.
Every time that we feel ourselves assailed by some violent
temptation and threatened by some considerable difficulty, let us invoke
this Angel who watches over us, and leads us, and who gives us help so
generously in our needs and difficulties. By fervent and continual prayer,
let us address ourselves to our Guardian Angel, ever present and ready to
defend and console us.
Often pray also to the Guardian Angels of your students, so that
under their powerful protection your students may willingly practice the
good you have taught them, and do this with greater ease.
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It
was not until 1670 that the feast of the Guardian Angels was made a
celebration for the whole Church, though devotion to these protectors of
individual persons was a much older practice among Christians. It was
during De La Salle's own lifetime that the popularity of the devotion
became widespread. That it meant much to the Founder can be noted by the
fact that he wrote two meditations for the time of retreat in which he
called on the Brothers to see in these angels a model for their service to
the students in the Christian Schools. Incidentally, the school year in
France began on or near October 2, a day which according to Rule the
Brothers would all receive Holy Communion.
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