Sulpitius Severus visited the holy hermits of the desert in Egypt. They told him a story of one particular hermit who was so intent on his devotion that he never allowed any human visitors at all. He told the one man who had visited him in all those years, that if you are frequently visited by mortals, the angels won’t visit you. I visited two monasteries of St. Anthony, which are at the present day occupied by his disciples. I also... Read more
In case you missed this weekend’s show check out the link below to hear the archived podcast. Kevin Vost and I discussed the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit which is the topic of his latest book Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Every Spirutal Warrior’s Guide to God’s Invincible Gifts. You can stream the episode below or download it here. Read more
God does work miracles, St. Augustine says, but all according to his unchanging will. We can look at everything that happens as a miracle of God. And when– ever we pray to the angels, it’s God working in the angels who hears our prayers. Although we don’t usually think about the standing miracle of this visible world, because it’s always in front of us, yet, when we start to think about it, it’s a greater miracle than the rarest and most... Read more
Why do we pray when God already knows what we need? Perhaps, says St. Augustine, we pray so that the angels can receive their instructions about us. When the Apostle says, “let your requests be made known to God” (Phil.4:6), we should not think this means that, when we do so, they become known to God. He certainly knew them before we spoke them. But we should understand it in this sense: that our requests are to be made known to... Read more
Lazarus, the poor man in Jesus’ parable (Luke 16:19-31) never cursed his evil fate or blamed God for the unfairness of life. How do we know? Because, says St. John Chrysostom, at the end of his life he earned an honor guard of angels. But the poor man who was left at his gate didn’t grieve, or blaspheme, or complain. He didn’t say to himself, as many do, “Why is this happening to me? This man living in wickedness and cruelty and... Read more
Even Roman superstition, says Tertullian, admitted that the unborn child was a human being—otherwise why would all those mythical goddesses have been assigned to guide the embryo? Christians know that the developing fetus is a living human, and Tertullian believes that the angels guide its development. Now the entire process of sowing, forming, and completing the human embryo in the womb is no doubt regulated by some power, which in all this serves the will of God, whatever may be the... Read more
Origen, one of the Church’s earliest theologians, tries to work out the truth about guardian angels. When are they assigned to us? He finds several passages in Scripture that seem to indicate we have them from birth. We might ask at what time those who are called “their angels” assume guardianship of the little ones pointed out by Christ. Did they receive this com- mission to discharge concerning them, when, by “the washing of regeneration” (Tit. 3:5), through which they were born as... Read more
This week one lucky winner will receive a copy of Lent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta: Daily Meditations by Heidi Hess Saxton and a copy of The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis by Diane Houdek, (you can read my reviews of both here) sponsored by Franciscan Media/Servant Books. I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me. The contest begins now and ends next Wednesday 3/01 with a winner been chosen that day,... Read more
Even children of adultery, says one of the characters in St. Methodius’s Banquet of the Ten Virgins, have guardian angels caring for them, because, as human beings, they are “copies and living pictures of Christ.” Nature could not accomplish such a great work in such a little time with- out divine help. Who gave the bones their fixed nature? Who bound the soft members with muscles, to be extended and relaxed at the joints? Who made channels for the blood,... Read more
Lent is a time for reflection and growth in our spiritual lives. Every Lent there are some book choices to help us along this forty-day journey. This Lent there are two books in particular that are well suited for your daily reflection use. The first is Lent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta: Daily Meditations by Heidi Hess Saxton who brings readers to a greater understanding of mercy and love. The second, The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from Pope... Read more
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