The angels’ holiday; Angels: Day 317

St. Athanasius reminds us that the heavenly feast, where we share the Bread of Life with the angels, is not for the impure.

Who will lead us to such a company of angels as this? Who will come with a desire for the heavenly feast and the angels’ holiday, and will say like the prophet, “I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival” (Ps.

42:4)?

The saints also encourage us to such a state: they say, “Come, let us go up to

the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob” (Isa. 2:3).

But this kind of feast is not for an impure person. It is not for sinners to ap- proach it. It is for the virtuous and diligent.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully (Ps. 24:3-4).

And the psalmist adds that, when he goes up, “He will receive blessing from the Lord” (Ps. 24:5).

–St. Athanasius, Festal Epistle 6

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

How careful am I to make sure that I’ve purified my heart before I celebrate the Eucharistic holiday with the angels?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, send your holy angels to guide me in the ways of purity, and present me holy beside your holy altar.

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.