Monday Morning Meanderings

• One of my favorite quotes from Chesterton is about saying grace. I thought of that this morning in the shower while I was praising God for hot water. 

“You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”

Don't Mess with St. Michael! You May Learn that Lesson the Hard Way.

I couldn't help laughing when I read the story below, but I'm also praying for the silly drunk. Hopefully, he has learned a lesson that will send him to his guardian angel asking for help to overcome his vices. Meanwhile, St. Michael suffered no ill consequences! It might be a good idea not to mess with any of the angels except in a friendly way. They are powerful adversaries, but especially powerful friends. Dear guardian angel, pray for me!

When Obedience is Used as a Tool of the Devil....

Who is like unto God?

Obedience is a great virtue. In fact, it is often called a foundational virtue, one that stands as a pillar to others. Whom are we called to obey? God first, of course. Then those who have lawful authority over us. Children owe obedience to their parents. Catholics owe obedience to the doctrine and precepts of the Church. We owe obedience to those in lawful authority in government. We owe obedience to the Truth, who is a person, Jesus Christ.

Give me a Warrior Angel, Not a New Age Wimp!

Angel with the Flaming Sword by Edwin Blashfield (1893)

I'm very fond of angels, especially my personal guardian angel. But, please, I want a real guardian not a wimpy angel like the ones portrayed by new agers who like girly imitations. They love a nicy-nice vision of a Pillsbury Doughboy God surrounded by wraith-like dancing angels more fit for Islam's "heaven" than for the real thing. They finger their crystals and listen to new age music from lotus positions dreaming of a heaven where all are welcome, unrepentant sins and all, where they can continue to mock God for all eternity. Silly angels and a marshmallow God! What an insult to truth! And what a shocking revelation they're in for on Judgment Day! Pray for them!

Give me a strong, young, masculine angel any day -- one with a big flaming sword!

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, Pray for Us!

Heavenly Portrait in Basilica in Mexico

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose

How much we need Mary's intercession! If any country needed conversion both for our own sake and the sake of the world, it's us. Why? Because we remain a Christian nation even if many are falling away. And we have the protection of the Blessed Sacrament in our many, many churches throughout our country. We must offer hope to the world through our faithful practice of the Catholic faith and our intercession for all those in need.

Priests in pagan countries describe how widespread diabolic activity is. We are protected by the Real Presence of Our Sacred Lord in the tabernacle. The devil is active in the United States, but tortured souls have many aids to save them from Satan's snares. Eucharistic adoration, the use of sacramentals like holy water, blessed salt, and blessed objects also help us to resist the snares of the devil.

Our Lady of Guadalupe crushed the serpent god Quetzlcoatl in Mexico by her apparitions to St. Juan Diego. While the Spanish had few conversions before Mary appeared on Tepeyac Hill, afterwards millions embraced the faith. Mary, please come to us again and help your "poor banished children of Eve."

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Pray the St. Michael exorcism prayer often, especially in times of temptation.

Sunday Meditation: Don't Forget the Angels; They Never Forget You

October 2nd is the feast of the guardian angels. Today, being Sunday, superceded the feast, but the angels would appreciate being noticed all the same I'm sure. We attended Mass today in Paguitch, UT about 25 miles from Bryce Canyon. It was a tiny mission church with about 80 people in the congregation. What a grace and blessing that even in this tiny community out in the middle of nowhere, Sunday Mass is still available. The priest was hispanic and has only been in the U.S. for ten months, but his English was amazingly good. Isn't it interesting that a country that has sent missionaries abroad is now receiving missionaries because of a dearth of vocations.

What does all that have to do with the angels? Absolutely nothing, or everything depending on your perspective. Because that little church was filled with angels accompanying all the worshipers and bowing before the throne of God and before the altar as we knelt in prayer and received Jesus in the Eucharist. If we had spiritual eyes and ears I'm sure we could see them and hear their angelic voices.

After Mass Larry and I went to lunch at the Flying M and when I looked at the restaurant logo, two large wings with an M in the center, I immediately associated it with that angelic warrior St. Michael the Archangel. Of course, his feast day was a few days ago, but since he is always a good friend to have in moments of danger, today is a good day to remember him as well as your guardian angel. I'm sure if you ask him to be a special friend, he will provide backup with his big sword. Who among us doesn't need that.

 When Larry and I say our morning prayers we always recite the St. Michael prayer immediately after the prayer to our guardian angels. After all, if St. Michael was the instrument God used to thrust Satan into hell, he can sure aid us in every moment of combat with the evil one. So don't forget to thank your angel. They deserve to be appreciated for their faithful friendship.

Feast of the Great Archangels

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the three great Archangels described in Scripture: Michael, the warrior; Raphael, the guide and healer; and Gabriel, the messenger. These angels are wonderful intercessors for the family. What a model Michael is for the father of every family - standing over his wife and children as a watcher and protector. Whenever we leave on a trip I ask St. Michael to watch over things at home while we're gone and protect us on our journey.

I've always loved the story of Tobias and his quest for a wife. What a friend and guide he has in the great archangel Raphael who accompanies him. Not only that, but Raphael heals Tobias' father, Tobit, of his blindness. He reminds me of the guardian angels assigned to each one of us. He is also a great intercessor for mothers who are there with kisses and bandaids to heal the bumps and bruises of our little ones as well as guide them along life's path.

Gabriel, the great messenger, is a reminder to all of us to listen and be quick to respond to the word of God and carry it to others. He teaches us how to honor the Blessed Virgin, kneeling before her when she says, "Let it be done unto me" and becomes a living tabernacle.

Ask the archangels to intercede for you and thank God for giving us such great helpers. I always tell my grandchildren they have nothing to fear because St. Michael will watch over them and he has a big sword!