St. Ambrose remembers holy men whose prayers ended wars on earth. When such a man is taken up to Heaven, he says, the angels rejoice to welcome him. Don’t we know that the saints are fighting even when they’re on holiday? Wasn’t Elisha at rest? Yes, at rest in body, but in spirit he was active, and he fought by his prayers when the noise of horses and the noise of a great host were heard in the camp of the... Read more
We sometimes may find ourselves wondering through life aimlessly. The temptations and distractions of our modern society weave their way into our lives and grab hold. If we pause and consider this, we may discover that the gadgets and games have no real purpose in our fulfillment. So, what does matter? Pat Gohn tells us what does matter is our Catholic faith. Her latest book is entitled All In: Why Belonging to the Catholic Church Matters and it serves as... Read more
In the end, says St. Augustine, we’ll rejoin the angels, and all of us together will make one temple of God, one heavenly Jerusalem. The house of God is also a city. For the house of God is the people of God. The house of God is the temple of God. What does the Apostle say? “For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are” (1 Cor. 3:17). All the faithful are the house of God—not only those who exist... Read more
In the end, says St. Augustine, we’ll rejoin the angels, and all of us together will make one temple of God, one heavenly Jerusalem. The house of God is also a city. For the house of God is the people of God. The house of God is the temple of God. What does the Apostle say? “For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are” (1 Cor. 3:17). All the faithful are the house of God—not only those who exist... Read more
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... Read more
In Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), we hear that angels carried poor Lazarus to “Abraham’s bosom” when he died. Why Abraham? Because, says St. Asterius of Amasea, of all the Old Testament figures Abraham was the one most intimately associated with Christ. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. Angels were his bodyguard, looking upon him gently and mildly, and showing him by the... Read more
A martyr wrote down a dream or vision he had while waiting in prison. In it we see how the very early Christians imagined their deaths: angels carry them to a happy meeting with their departed friends. We had been martyred, and we had gone forth from the flesh, and we were being carried by four angels into the east, though their hands didn’t touch us. We were not floating on our backs looking up, but as if we were ascending... Read more
Scripture tells us that we have guides to take our souls when we die, says St. John Chrysostom. Whatever our eternal destination, the heavenly beings come with us to make sure we get there. It’s quite certain that souls when they leave the body do not still linger here, but are led away immediately. Here’s how we know: “The poor man died and was carried by the angels” (Luke 16:22). Not only the souls of the just, but also those of... Read more
After a long and stormy voyage, says St. Cyril of Alexandria, the soul finds rest in the safe haven above, carried there by the angels of Heaven. “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried” (Luke 16:22). Look at the Savior’s words carefully. The poor man, he says, was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom—but of the rich man there is nothing of the sort, but only that... Read more
St. Augustine, who was an expert musician, sees a metaphorical meaning in the musical instruments mentioned in the Psalms. When we do what God commands, we’re playing the harp with the angels; when we suffer here below for the sake of our faith, we’re playing the earthly lyre. “I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God” (Ps. 43:4). What does it mean to praise him with the lyre, or with the harp? For he does not always praise... Read more
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