September 29th is the Feast of the Archangels, SS. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael and October 2nd is the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. We can and should thank the Holy Angels every day for all they do to help and support us, and the Church has set aside these two days each year to remind us to honor them.
Why should we honor the Holy Angels? Here are just a few examples:
St. Michael’s name means who is like God. He protects us against direct attacks from the devil. He can stop him before he has a chance to hurt us or tempt us. He is the patron saint of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police officers and military personnel. You can read about him in the book of Revelation, chapter 12.
St. Gabriel’s name means strength of God. He protects us while we are being attacked. He can strengthen our wills and enlighten our minds so we can receive the light and strength we need to persevere during temptations and trials. He is the patron saint of messengers, radio and television workers, postal workers, clerics, diplomats and stamp collectors. You can read about him in several places in the bible. A favorite is in chapter 1 of Luke.
St. Raphael’s name means medicine of God. St. Raphael protects us after we’ve been attacked or wounded. He can help us recover from physical, spiritual or emotional wounds caused by the devil or other evil forces. He is the patron saint of travelers, the blind, happy meetings, nurses, physicians, medical workers, matchmakers, Christian marriage and Catholic studies. You can read about him in the book of Tobit, chapters 5-12.
The Holy Angels want to help us! They want to work with us! Honor them. Thank them, and ask them for their guidance and direction, every day, not just on their feast days.
You are in my prayers,
Therese
On Friday, August 7th at 7 PM, my classmates and I will be ordained Transitional Deacons! I wish I could invite you all; but due to restrictions regarding large gatherings, the Ordination will be a small and private liturgy. However, it will be live-streamed on DioceseofCleveland.org.
In the Ordination of a Deacon, the Bishop will ask six questions, each of which correspond to a different promise related to the life and ministry of a deacon. In this “integration”, my classmates and I will be asked if we are fully resolved to live lives totally consecrated to Christ and His Church, lovingly embrace celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom, be obedient to the Church, pray without ceasing, etc. Over the years of seminary formation, I have been given the great opportunity to pray with each of these questions and allow them to challenge, teach, inspire, and mold my heart to His. After hours of prayer and reflection upon questions like “Do you resolve to conform your way of life always to the example of Christ, of whose Body and Blood you are ministers at the altar?” I can joyfully say that YES, I do! BUT, I equally recognize that there is no way I am capable of actually living out the Promises myself. That is why our response to the questions are so important. I will respond to the question above by crying out, “I do, with the help of God!”. Yes, I do resolve to lay down my life as a Deacon, in preparation to lay down my life as a priest. BUT, I cannot do it myself. I can begin to live as Christ’s servant “with the help of God”.
And so, I humbly ask all of you to continue to pray for all of the seminarians, especially my classmates and I, as we prepare to lay down our lives in just a few days. Your years of prayer and witnessing Christ’s heart of love for me truly have been “the help of God” which I need. And so, I ask you to continue to pray for me, all seminarians, Deacons and Priests. Continue to be instruments of “the help of God” for us unworthy men who have been called to lay down our lives for the Church. Also, pray for Colleen Wilson, as she enters into the beautiful vocation of Religious Life as well! And know that I pray for you all each day. I cannot wait to minister as a Deacon at Mass next weekend, I will assist at the 5pm Vigil, 9, & 11am Masses.
Peace,
Alexander Clark
How do you know whether that nudge you keep getting or that thought that keeps popping into your mind is from God? When you have a decision to make, how do you discern what is God’s will in that situation? Ask your Guardian Angel! He knows God’s will for you. Easier said than done, right? Maybe, but with some practice, it will get easier.
Sometimes we get confirmation we are on the right track, like when we keep remembering to call someone and we finally do it and they tell us how grateful they are or that we called at just the right time, or that we were an answer to their prayer. Other times it’s not so clear.
Guardian angels tend to work in black and white, right or wrong. Gray areas are almost always from the evil one. If you find yourself wondering how far you can go and still be “okay”, you better pray for help quick. That is a really slippery spot and it won’t take much for you to fall into sin.
When I am discerning God’s will in something and am afraid to say yes, I ask my guardian angel to show me why I’m afraid. If I’m afraid because I might fail or I might look stupid, or I don’t know how to do it, those are prideful reasons and usually mean my ego is involved, and I am being tempted to say no to God. Guardian angels don’t care how hard something is for us or how uncomfortable we might be doing it. They know that if it’s God’s will, no matter what it “costs” us it will be worth it! God’s will is always best! We often get hung up thinking when we say yes to God’s will that we will have to do something we’ve never done before or we have no idea how to do, but we don’t actually “do” anything. God does it. He uses our hands, our voices, our passion to accomplish His will. He brings the people we need to help and/or the tools we need to build it. He pulls it all together. He just needs our yes so he isn’t interfering with our free will.
If, on the other hand, I’m afraid because a yes would put a strain on my vocation as wife or mother, or put myself or someone else in danger, or even put distance me and God, then I may well need to say no. This is not likely from God.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ubVChUV8Kk[/embedyt]
If you’ve been listening to Fr. Bearer over the past couple weeks, you’ll know he has been telling us how important it is to read and pray with the Scriptures. In his Divine Mercy Sunday homily, he spoke about someone who said they couldn’t remember what they had for breakfast two weeks ago, but they were glad they ate. That reminded me of something amazing our Guardian Angels can do. They can affect our memory. So, when we feed our minds with God’s Word, it is kind of like making deposits in our memory “bank”. Whenever we need hope or encouragement or peace of mind, our Guardian Angel can withdraw from our memory “bank” those beautiful truths in God’s Word and give them to us so we know there is hope, we are encouraged and we experience peace of mind. If we hadn’t read or listened to scripture, those words of God would not be in our memory “bank” to be withdrawn.
One way I enjoy “reading” the bible is to choose a topic I’m interested in like love or honesty or forgiveness. Then I do a Google search on “Scriptures on ____ “ (you fill in the blank). Then I just start reading what comes up. I write down or do a copy/paste of the ones that really strike a chord with me, including the book, the chapter and the verse. Then I print them out on colored paper and cut them into strips that can be put in places where I will see them often, like the refrigerator, or the bathroom or bedroom mirror, or even on my computer or desk. When I read them often, they take root in my heart and I can remember them and be changed by them. But even if I never read them again, my Guardian Angel would be able to remind me of them, because they were in my memory.
You are in my prayers!
Peace,
Therese Holderbaum
On Friday, August 7th at 7 PM, my classmates and I will be ordained Transitional Deacons! I wish I could invite you all; but due to restrictions regarding large gatherings, the Ordination will be a small and private liturgy. However, it will be live-streamed on DioceseofCleveland.org.
In the Ordination of a Deacon, the Bishop will ask six questions, each of which correspond to a different promise related to the life and ministry of a deacon. In this “integration”, my classmates and I will be asked if we are fully resolved to live lives totally consecrated to Christ and His Church, lovingly embrace celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom, be obedient to the Church, pray without ceasing, etc. Over the years of seminary formation, I have been given the great opportunity to pray with each of these questions and allow them to challenge, teach, inspire, and mold my heart to His. After hours of prayer and reflection upon questions like “Do you resolve to conform your way of life always to the example of Christ, of whose Body and Blood you are ministers at the altar?” I can joyfully say that YES, I do! BUT, I equally recognize that there is no way I am capable of actually living out the Promises myself. That is why our response to the questions are so important. I will respond to the question above by crying out, “I do, with the help of God!”. Yes, I do resolve to lay down my life as a Deacon, in preparation to lay down my life as a priest. BUT, I cannot do it myself. I can begin to live as Christ’s servant “with the help of God”.
And so, I humbly ask all of you to continue to pray for all of the seminarians, especially my classmates and I, as we prepare to lay down our lives in just a few days. Your years of prayer and witnessing Christ’s heart of love for me truly have been “the help of God” which I need. And so, I ask you to continue to pray for me, all seminarians, Deacons and Priests. Continue to be instruments of “the help of God” for us unworthy men who have been called to lay down our lives for the Church. Also, pray for Colleen Wilson, as she enters into the beautiful vocation of Religious Life as well! And know that I pray for you all each day. I cannot wait to minister as a Deacon at Mass next weekend. I will assist at the 5pm Vigil, 9, & 11am Masses.
Peace,
Alexander Vincent Leo Clark
How do you know whether that nudge you keep getting or that thought that keeps popping into your mind is from God? When you have a decision to make, how do you discern what is God’s will in that situation? Ask your Guardian Angel! He knows God’s will for you. Easier said than done, right? Maybe, but with some practice, it will get easier.
Sometimes we get confirmation we are on the right track, like when we keep remembering to call someone and we finally do it and they tell us how grateful they are or that we called at just the right time, or that we were an answer to their prayer. Other times it’s not so clear.
Guardian angels tend to work in black and white, right or wrong. Gray areas are almost always from the evil one. If you find yourself wondering how far you can go and still be “okay”, you better pray for help quick. That is a really slippery spot and it won’t take much for you to fall into sin.
When I am discerning God’s will in something and am afraid to say yes, I ask my guardian angel to show me why I’m afraid. If I’m afraid because I might fail or I might look stupid, or I don’t know how to do it, those are prideful reasons and usually mean my ego is involved, and I am being tempted to say no to God. Guardian angels don’t care how hard something is for us or how uncomfortable we might be doing it. They know that if it’s God’s will, no matter what it “costs” us it will be worth it! God’s will is always best! We often get hung up thinking when we say yes to God’s will that we will have to do something we’ve never done before or we have no idea how to do, but we don’t actually “do” anything. God does it. He uses our hands, our voices, our passion to accomplish His will. He brings the people we need to help and/or the tools we need to build it. He pulls it all together. He just needs our yes so he isn’t interfering with our free will.
If, on the other hand, I’m afraid because a yes would put a strain on my vocation as wife or mother, or put myself or someone else in danger, or even put distance me and God, then I may well need to say no. This is not likely from God.
I am so perplexed and saddened in this time of such uncertainty. In this past Sunday’s reading’s, we hear; “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world”.
I think we are all called to that light, that light in knowing that Jesus is there for us. Yes, we cannot receive Him right now in the Eucharist but he is here with us. When we are troubled and feel all alone, He is there.
Shortly, we will be coming into that sacred time of our Church year. Although we cannot partake in the Easter Tridium as we have in the past, we can still receive the deep spiritual awareness of Christ’s love for us in remembering His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
I keep thinking of the fear, anxiety and apprehension the Apostles felt after their Lord and Master was put to death and taken from them. They hide in that fear for three days not sure, confused and wondering. But, on Easter Sunday, Peter and John, went to the tomb and saw the light.
They waited longer for the actual chance to see the Lord. We to must wait also, He will come to us again in the Eucharist. We to must look for that light, it is shining we must believe, our faith calls us believe and it will sustain us.
Pray for those affected by this pandemic, people giving of themselves to give life and healing to others and all who must realize that the light will shine ever brighter again.
Deacon Ray
Sometimes, especially in the past couple weeks, I have felt isolated or alone. Maybe you have too, or you know someone who has. But we are never alone, not even when there are no people around us. God gave each and every one of us a really incredible gift, a guardian angel.
Our guardian angel is with us all the time. We just we can’t see him. Angels can work outside of time and travel at the speed of thought, so we can ask them to comfort our loved ones or keep them safe. Our guardian angel can carry messages and prayers to the throne of God and back to us, all while never losing sight of us.
I have been blessed to study and learn about the Holy Angels over the past 11 years from a wonderful group of priests and sisters from the Order of the Holy Cross. They are a part of Opus Sanctorum Angelorum, (the work of the holy angels), who are the caretakers, so to speak, of the Church’s teachings on the holy angels. I received the following prayer from them in the mail a couple days ago, and have included it here for you. In this strange time when we aren’t permitted to celebrate the Mass publicly, I found it comforting, and I hope you will as well.
I look forward to seeing all of you at Mass very soon. We will fill the church, but there will always be room for our angels.
You are in my prayers!
Peace,
Therese Holderbaum
Prayer to your Guardian Angel when you cannot attend Holy Mass
O HOLY ANGEL at my side,
Go to Church for me,
Kneel in my place, at Holy Mass,
Where I desire to be.
At Offertory, in my stead,
Take all I am and own,
And place it as a sacrifice
Upon the Altar Throne.
At Holy Consecration’s bell,
Adore with Seraph’s love,
My Jesus hidden in the Host,
Come down from Heaven above.
Then pray for those I dearly love,
And those who cause me grief,
That Jesus’ Blood may cleanse all hearts,
And suff’ring souls relieve.
And when the priest Communion takes,
Oh, bring my Lord to me,
That His sweet Heart may rest on mine,
And I His temple be.
Pray that this Sacrifice Divine,
May mankind's sins erase;
Then bring me Jesus’ blessing home,
The pledge of every grace. Amen
