“Guardian Angel” (detail) by Cortona
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).
“Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)
The culture in which we live can have a great and deleterious effect on us. Eternal truths and realities can become obscured, particularly in our time, when the seven deadly sins of pride, avarice, envy, wrath, sloth, lust and gluttony rule as supreme.
So, we need to remind ourselves of these realities and learn to live them throughout our ordinary moments. God is real. He exists. He loves us and calls us to be with Him. He sent His Son to save us and by His Holy Name — Jesus — we attain salvation and become sons and daughters of the Most High God. We are composite beings, comprised of body and soul, yet there is another realm, the spiritual realm, in which the angels — spirits — live.
God has given each of us a guardian angel to protect us and lead us to Him. The first step for those in a state of Sanctifying Grace to become more attuned to these spiritual realities is to practice humility.
Today is the Memorial of St. Cecilia, a humble young girl who lived in the early years of the Church during the third century. In her story we, witness a glimpse of these spiritual beings.
“Cecilia was a Roman girl of patrician family, who had been brought up as a Christian. She fasted often, and wore a coarse garment beneath her rich clothing. Although she wished to remain a virgin, her father betrothed her to a young pagan named Valerian.
“When the wedding day came, Cecilia sat apart from the guests, repeating psalms and praying. After the ceremony, when the guests had departed and she was alone with her husband, Cecilia made known her great desire to remain as she was, saying that she already had a lover, an angel of God, who was very jealous.
“Valerian, shaken by suspicion, fear, and anger, said to her: “Show me this angel. If he is of God, I shall refrain, as you wish, but if he is a human lover, you both must die.” Cecilia answered: “If you believe in the one true and living God and receive the water of baptism, then you shall see the angel.”
“Valerian assented, and following his wife’s directions sought out a bishop named Urban, who was in hiding among the tombs of the martyrs, for this was a time of persecutions. Valerian made his profession of faith and the bishop baptized him. When the young husband returned, he found an angel with flaming wings standing beside Cecilia. The angel placed chaplets of roses and lilies on their heads.
“The brother of Valerian, Tiburtius, was also converted; and after being baptized he too experienced many marvels.” (Lives of the Saints; Crawley)
