Even angels can’t take away your sin; Angels: Day 251

When the emperor Theodosius gave orders that resulted in a massacre  in Thessalonica, St. Ambrose, bishop of  the imperial capital of  Milan, refused him communion until he made public penance. He warned the emperor that not even an angel can take away his sin. Only “tears and penitence” can do it.

And Scripture tells us that when the people were dying, on the very first day and at dinner time, David saw the angel that struck down the people, and he said, “Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray you, be against me and against my father’s house” (2 Sam. 24:17). So the Lord repented, and commanded the angel to spare the people, and that David should offer sacrifice. In those days there were sacri- fices for sin, but now we have the sacrifices of penitence. So by that humility he was made more acceptable to God. It’s not surprising that a man should sin, but it is indeed blameable if he doesn’t acknowledge his error, and humble himself before God.

I’ve written all this, not to confuse you, but so that these royal examples may lead you to put away this sin from your kingdom. You will do that if you humble your soul before God. You are a man. Temptation has come to you; vanquish it. Sin is only washed away by tears and penitence. Neither angel nor archangel can do it. The Lord himself—who alone can say “I am with you”—grants no remission of sin except to the penitent. –St. Ambrose, Letter 51, 9-11

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Am I regular in the practice of sacramental confession? Do I call upon my angel to help me when I examine my conscience?

CLOSING PRAYER

Guardian Angel, help me be sincerely penitent, as David was, as Peter was, so that the Lord may accept my repentance.

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