593. October 2, Founding of Opus Dei (II)

Meditations no. 522 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

The mission of the guardian angels in man’s life.

The Gospel in tomorrow’s Mass contains these words of our Lord: See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

The fact that Opus Dei was founded on the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels is a clear sign that God wants us to have special recourse to their intercession and to seek them as allies in our apostolic task. God taught me, in the Gospel of the day, our Father said on one October 2nd, to let myself be guided by the holy guardian angels and to become a child. For children are simple, without duplicity, and they need their fathers, as I need my Father God.

Through his inspirations, I learned that one must truly give oneself, being generous in mortification and penance, living heroically. If necessary, one must cut off a hand, pluck out an eye, if they cause scandal, if they are an occasion for going off the way. With this clarity of vision, I give thanks to God for his Work.

The Church’s veneration for the holy guardian angels has been constant throughout its history. It has also been constant in Opus Dei since October 2, 1928. Our need for them is very real. As the psalmist says, He will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. St Bernard comments, What reverence these words should arouse! What devotion they should inspire! What great confidence they should give! Reverence, because they are at your side. Devotion, because of their goodness toward you. Confidence, because they watch over you. Always walk circumspectly as one who has his angels watching wherever he goes. Anywhere and everywhere, even in the most hidden place, revere your guardian angel. How can you dare to do in his presence what you would not do in front of me? Perhaps you doubt he is present because you cannot see him? What would happen if you were to see him? You know that the presence of things is not known by sight alone. … If you have recourse to faith, you will learn that your angel’s presence never fails you. … They are present for your good. Not only are they beside you: they are present to defend you, to protect you, to seek your good.

In the Work we have experienced very tangibly the help of the holy guardian angels. Each of us has also personally received their frequent help in his own spiritual life and apostolate, and in many small material services. In the early days of the Work, our Father did not have any money, because he spent everything he had for the apostolate. He could not even, for example, have his watch repaired, though he needed it to be on time at different places in Madrid where he carried out his -work for souls. Therefore he would address his guardian angel and ask him to fix his watch. And the watch would start, without miracles. For this reason the Father began to call his guardian angel “the watchmaker.”

We pray: God our Father, in your loving providence you send your holy angels to watch over us. Hear our prayers, defend us always by their protection and let us share your life with them for ever.

The guardian angels seek our friendship.

I will never be able to forget that ringing of the bells, on October 2, 1928: the bells of our Lady of the Angels. My children, in your work, in your interior struggle, in your uphill path filled with difficulties, know that you are not alone. You have the grace of God, the help of our Mother the Blessed Virgin, and you have the holy guardian angels.

From the first moment of our vocation, we have learned in the Work to seek our guardian angel’s friendship. Drink at the clear fountain of the Acts of the Apostles. In the twelfth chapter, Peter is freed from prison by the ministry of angels and goes to the house of Mark’s mother. Those inside do not want to believe the servant girl when she tells them Peter is at the door. “It is his angel!” they say.

See on what intimate terms the early Christians were with their guardian angels.

-And what about you?

We must keep up an authentic friendship with our angel. His intelligence, more perfect than ours, is open to our words and thoughts. But we have to let him know all that we want to tell him, since the angels cannot see into the depths of our heart. That is why we need to make our requests known, either through words, interior desires, or other signs.

It is the common teaching of theologians that social entities, such as countries and cities, also have a guardian angel, because of their connection with man’s eternal happiness. In addition, all of the tabernacles where Christ is sacramentally present are protected and guarded by his angels. In our centers, in the office of the local directors there is a picture of the guardian angel with an inscription containing the words of Scripture, Deus meus misit Angelum suum (Dan 6: 22). This custom has as its aim to instil in the hearts of all of those who govern, and of all of my children, a constant, real and practical devotion to the guardian angel of the Work, of each Centre and of each individual.

We must become very good friends of the guardian angels since we need their constant protection. Although we are small and have a long and dangerous journey ahead of us, what shall we fear with guardians like these? They can neither be defeated nor deceived. Even less can those who watch over us deceive us. They are faithful and prudent. How can we be afraid? Let us follow them. Let us join them, and we will persevere under the protection of the God of heaven. Never forget your great need for their protection and for their watchfulness over all your ways.

What effort are we each making to cultivate a real friendship with our guardian angel, who is our companion in the ascetical struggle and in our apostolic work? Have confidence in your Guardian Angel. Treat him as a very dear friend-that’s what he is-and he will do a thousand services for you in the ordinary affairs of each day.

Practical ways to live devotion to the holy guardian angels.

Speaking of devotion to the holy guardian angels, our founder said: Deus meus misit angelum suum. I feel the need to explain this to you. For years I have experienced the constant, immediate help of the guardian angel, even in the smallest material details. Dealing with and devotion to the holy guardian angels is essential to our apostolic work. It is a specific manifestation of the supernatural mission of the Work of God.

As the ally of our sanctification, our guardian angel constantly helps us. You seem amazed because your guardian angel has done so many obvious favours for you. But you shouldn’t be: that’s why our Lord has placed him at your side. He makes up for our ignorance and neglect, and encourages us in the difficulties of each day. Our life is spent in the middle of the world, at work and in our daily occupations. We are constantly dealing with our colleagues, our friends and the many others to whom we want to bring the bonus odor Christi characteristic of a Christian life. Without our angel’s company, our mission would be much more difficult. You say there are many occasions of going astray in such surroundings? That’s true, but aren’t there many guardian angels as well?

The presence of the guardian angel gives a supernatural tone to our activity. If you would remember the presence of your guardian angel and those of your neighbours, you would avoid many of the foolish things you let slip into your conversations. In moments of temptation we should go to our guardian angel. For he will not permit you to be tempted beyond your strength, but will bear you up in his hands so that you may tread over the obstacles. … Whenever you foresee any temptation or tribulation, call on the guide, leader and protector that God has given you for moments of need and affliction. … May you never leave his hands, forgetting that he holds you up, lest even greater harm befall you.

Our guardian angel will always assist us on our journey towards God. He looks upon the face of God, and will present to Him our prayers, our good desires, our needs. How joyfully the holy guardian angels must have obeyed that soul who said to them: “Holy angels, I call upon you, like the Spouse of the Canticle of Canticles, ‘to tell Him that I am dying with love.’”

The guardian angels are also powerful collaborators in our apostolate. They share our zeal for bringing souls to God. The guardian angel of a friend is our accomplice as well, since he ardently wishes to save the person entrusted to his care. St Bernard writes, Realize that his soul always lives under the watchful care of the angels, who love it with a jealous love like God’s and who are concerned to keep it safe. Our Father specifically indicates habitual friendship with the guardian angels as one of the means for St Raphael’s work. You should strive to win over the guardian angel of the person you want to draw close, because the guardian angel is always a great “accomplice.” I know some truly beautiful cases.

As we finish our prayer today we ask with renewed conviction, My immaculate mother, St Joseph, my father and lord, my guardian angel, intercede for me.