Carried to heaven by angels; Angels: Day 328

Overcome by grief himself, St. Jerome nevertheless has the difficult task of consoling one of his dear friends for the loss of her young daughter. He cannot deny his human feelings, but he knows that, for the faithful young woman who died, there is only the unfathomable joy of being carried by the angels to meet Christ.

“O that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep”—not as Jeremiah says, for the slain of my people ( Jer. 9:1), or, as Jesus did, for the miserable fate of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), but for holiness, mercy, innocence, chas- tity, and all the virtues, for they are all gone now that Blaesilla is dead. I do not grieve for her sake, but for myself I must; my loss is too great to bear with resignation.

But what is this? I wish to check a mother’s weeping, and I groan myself. I make no secret of my feelings; this entire letter is written in tears. Even Jesus wept for Lazarus because he loved him ( John 11:35-36). But I’m a poor comforter if I’m overcome by my own sighs, and when tears are wrung from my breaking heart along with my words. Dear Paula, my agony is as great as yours. Jesus knows it, whom Blaesilla now follows; the holy angels know it, whose company she now enjoys. I was her father in the spirit, her foster-father in affection.

But why should death be hard to bear, when we must endure it ourselves one day? And why do we grieve for the dead? We are not born to live forever. Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah; Peter, James, and John; Paul, the chosen vessel (Acts

9:15); and even the Son of God himself have all died; and are we troubled when a soul leaves its earthly lodging?

We should indeed mourn for the dead, but only for him whom Gehenna re- ceives, whom Tartarus devours, and for whose punishment the eternal fire burns. But we who, in departing, are accompanied by an escort of angels, and met by Christ Himself, should rather grieve that we have to linger still in this tabernacle of death (2 Cor. 5:4). For while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6). –St. Jerome, Letter 39, 1-3

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Does my belief in the angels make it easier for me to be peaceful when I think of my own death? Am I confident that they will guide me safely through any suffering and tribulation?

CLOSING PRAYER

Angel of God, uphold me in faith, and win me the fortitude to face my own death, trusting in you until the end.

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