Angelis suis

from the Office for the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

(October 2026)

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“D o you think the angels go as slowly as the planes?”

This was St. Padre Pio's question to his spiritual son, Cecil. Cecil had been in a bad car accident and his friend had rushed to the telegram office to inform Padre Pio of the sad state of his spiritual child. But when he got there, a telegram had already arrived from Padre Pio, assuring Cecil that he was praying for him. When later asked how on earth he knew about the accident so quickly, Padre Pio just smiled and laughed, “Do you think the angels go as slowly as the planes?” The holy priest had been informed ahead of time by Cecil's Guardian Angel.

This story is just one of countless others that show how involved our Guardian Angels are in every detail of our lives.

“God has given his angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways...”

The responsory for this month is taken from Vespers for the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. The text from Psalm 91 is a familiar one which we chant throughout the year, recalling God’s promise of protection over those who take refuge in Him. And, one very concrete way in which we experience his protection is through the daily company we keep with our Guardian Angels.

“In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you ever dash your foot against a stone.”

Interestingly, this is one of the quotations from Scripture which the devil used to tempt Our Lord in the desert: “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; for it is written, ‘He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,’ and ‘on their hands, they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone’” (Lk 4:9-10). But through the faithful Sonship of Jesus we learn that this text is not meant to be a test of the Father, but rather a rejoicing in his love and protection. In his goodness, our Heavenly Father has given each of us our own Guardian Angel to protect us in all our ways!

Our Angels are involved in every grace and holy inspiration given to us by God, and they assist us in choosing to follow these graces all throughout our lives. They are responsible, in a mysterious and hidden way, for doing all in their power to direct us toward God; they offer their special assistance by guiding our intellects and wills ever more closely toward the Good, the True, and the Beautiful.

Throughout history, we see that the Holy Angels really do intervene in the lives of men and women: from St. Peter's miraculous liberation from prison and death, to St. Frances of Rome's visions of her Guardian Angel who walked alongside her and offered advice and corrections, to the numerous times that Guardian Angels brought Padre Pio messages. Sometimes our Guardian Angels offer life-saving assistance in desperate situations, while at other times they offer their help in the smaller details of life.

But they are ever present, and they are ever on our side.

“Thousands upon thousands were ministering to Him, and myriads upon myriads stood attending Him.”

The text of this chant suddenly changes in the verse to the great vision of Daniel (7:10) in which the Prophet beholds in wonder the glory of God and sees the Ancient One upon his throne, with all the Holy Angels ministering to Him. Through the Liturgy, and in a particular way on this day, we join in the ceaseless praise of the Angels with our own song here on earth.

This companionship with the Angels is especially dear to us as Norbertines. St. Norbert chose the color white as the habit of his Order, explaining that, “...those following the canonical profession should be models of these Angels...” (Vita Norberti B). Especially through the music and texts which we chant daily in the Liturgy, this desire becomes a reality for white-robed canons and canonesses, and truly for all Christians lifting up their voices in prayer to God.

So, as we give thanks for our Guardian Angels on this day, may we remember their vigilant care for us and turn to them in our every need. If we turn to them for help, they are all the more powerful to assist us and to bring us through every danger of this life. At last, when our earthly pilgrimage comes to an end, we will join them in heaven, where we will praise God for all eternity with these angelic ones who stood by our side here on earth.