Be an angel in adversity; Angels: Day 278

Be an angel in adversity; Angels: Day 278 April 27, 2017

angels_augustine_1

Christ came, says St. Augustine, so that we might live as angels. What  does that mean? It means, he says, that we should constantly bless the Lord, the way the angels do—even when we’re having difficulties.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 33:1).

So speaks Christ; a Christian should speak the same way.

For a Christian is in the body of Christ. The reason Christ was made Man was so that a Christian might become an angel who says, “I will bless the Lord at all times.”

When shall I bless the Lord? When He blesses you? When the goods of this world abound? When you have plenty of grain, oil, and wine, of gold and silver, of servants and cattle; when this mortal health remains undamaged and sound; when all your children grow up, nothing is taken away by immature death, hap- piness wholly reigns in your house, and all things overflow around you; then shall you bless the Lord?

No; but at all times.

Bless him when you have plenty; but also bless him when, according to the

time, or according to the scourges of our Lord God, these things are troubled, are taken away, are seldom born to you, and when born pass away. For these things happen, and after them come poverty, need, labor, pain, and temptation.

But you have sung, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continu- ally be in my mouth.” When he gives you good things, bless him; and when he takes them away, bless him. For it is the Lord who gives, it is he who takes away: but he does not take himself away from anyone who blesses him. –St. Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 34, 2

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Am I as unstinting as the angels in my praise of God? Do I recognize his wisdom even in the hard times I must face?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, let me bless and praise your name together with the bodiless host of angels in the highest Heaven.


Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Mike Aquilina and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.


Browse Our Archives