Padre Pio and His Guardian Angel

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Guardian Angel - "The companion of my infancy." - Saint Padre Pio

We are all in the presence of a celestial companion who

"does not abandon us, even when we disgust God." - Padre Pio

Padre Pio, according to Father Alessio Parente, OFM Cap, in his book Send Me Your Guardian Angel", had a extremely close relationship to his guardian angel.  He also had ecstasies and during these ecstasies, Padre Pio's guardian angel would speak to him, laugh with him and Padre Pio in return would tease him.

The following is the transcript of one such ecstasy which occurred on November 29, 1911:

"...Angel of God, my Angel...are you not taking care of me?...Are you a creature of God?...Either you're a creature of God or a creator... You're a creator?  No. Therefore you are God's creature and you have laws which you must obey... You must stay beside me whether you want to or not...He laughs..what is there to laugh about?  Tell me one thing... you must tell me..who was here yesterday morning? ...and he laughs...you must tell me...who was it?...Either Father Agostino or the Superior... tell me then... was it perhaps their secretaries?  Answer me now...If you don't answer me I will say it was one of those four...He laughs,...and Angel laughs!...Tell me then...I won't leave you until you tell me..

"If not, I will ask Jesus...and then you'll catch it!... Anyway, I won't ask that little Mother, that Lady...who looks at me so grimly...She's thee in a bad humour...Jesus isn't it true that your Mother is in a bad humour?...She laughs!...

"Now then, little man (his Guardian Angel), tell me who it was... No answer...he's there...like a fixture...I want to know one thing I asked you and I'm here a long time...Jesus, you tell me.. (It is assumed that there his Angel answers)...

What an intimate relationship Padre Pio had not only with his own angel but also with Jesus and Mary!

In the last part of the transcript is the following: "Jesus, will the evil one come tonight?...Well, help those two who assist me, protect and defend them... I know, you are there...but... Angel of mine, stay with me! Jesus, one last thing...let me kiss you...Fine!... how sweet are these wounds!... they bleed... but this blood is sweet... is sweet... Jesus, sweetness... Holy Host...Love, Love that sustains me...Love... until we met again! (a rivederci).."

Prayer to the Guardian Angel

O Holy Angel, whom God, by the effect of
His goodness and tender regard for my welfare,
has charged with the care of my conduct, who supports me when I am discouraged and continually
obtains for me new favors, I return thee profound thanks and conjure thee,
most amiable protector, to continue thy charitable care
and defense of me against the malignant attacks of all my enemies.
Keep me at a distance from all occasions of sin.
Obtain for me the grace of hearkening attentively
tot he holy inspirations and of faithfully
reducing them to practice.
Protect me in all the temptations and trials of this life,
but more especially at the hour of my death, and
do not leve me until you have conducted me into the presence of my Creator,
in the mansions of everlasting happiness.
Amen.

Mario Lanza singing Guardian Angels

Thanks to H.L. for sharing!

Happy Feast of the Guardian Angels!

Let us never take our Guardian Angel for granted.

Feast of the Guardian Angels

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PRAYER TO ONE'S GUARDIAN ANGEL

DAILY PROTECTOR THROUGHOUT LIFE

Dear Angel,

in His goodness

God have you to me

to guide, protect, and enlighten me,

and to bring me back to the right way

when I go astray.

Encourage me when I am disheartened,

and instruct me when I err in my judgment.

Help me to become more Christlike,

and so some day to be accepted

into the company of Angels and Saints in heaven.

Prayer source:  New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

Feast of the Guardian Angels and Respect Life Sunday

This post is dedicated to my guardian angel, whom I often neglect and take for granted. Thank you Angel of God, my guardian dear, from the moment of my conception, for always keeping safe.

It seems providential that the Feast of the Guardian Angels falls on Respect Life Sunday. Let us pray that the Guardian Angels of all the preborn babies, protect these little ones and keep them safe in their mothers' womb. May the Guardian Angels protect the elderly people in their care, from disrespect and lack of charity shown them because they are now old. May the Guardian Angels of all disabled people, guard them and guide them as they deal with the daily struggles brought on because of their disabilities. And, may the guardian angels soften the hearts of those who fail to see the dignity of all these human beings, created in God's image.


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"See that you never despise any of the little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven." - Matthew 18:10

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by Filippo Tarchiani

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by Pietro Novelli

by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri

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by Giovanni Antonio

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by Francesco de Mura

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My Guardian Angel

I am more conscious of my guardian angel's presence. I greet him right after I greet the Holy Family when I arise in the morning. I know he is with me all the time. When my mom the sacristan our her parish church opened the church very early in the morning, it was only the five of us present...Jesus, my mom, her guardian angel, my guardian angel and me.

There was a beautiful quote by St. John Marie Vianney in today's Magnifcat reading:

With what humility should we assist at Mass, if we realized that our guardian angel was kneeling beside us, prostrate before the majesty of God!

Thanks to Richard for sharing this lovely hymn to our guardian angels.

SEND YOUR ANGEL TO 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 bell, Adore with Seraph’s love My Jesus hidden in the Host Come down from Heaven above. There pray for those I dearly love And those that cause me grief That Jesus’ blood may cleanse all hearts Give suffering souls relief. That when the priest Communion takes Then bring my Lord to me That His sweet heart may rest in mine And I His temple be. Pray that the sacrifice divine May all man’s sin efface Then bring me Jesus’ blessing home The pledge of every grace. Amen

Thank you Ed! Please visit Ed's blog for the touching story behind this beautiful prayer.

Feast of our Guardian Angel - Quotes

“These things I warmly wish for you Someone to love, some work to do, A bit o' sun, a bit o' cheer, And a guardian angel always near” - Irish Blessing

“We cannot pass our guardian angel's bounds, resigned or sullen, he will hear our sighs.” - St. Augustine

“One should not stand at the foot of a sick person's bed, because that place is reserved for the guardian angel” - Jewish Proverb

"Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
The bed be blest that I lie on.
Four angels to my bed.
Four angels round my head,
One to watch, and one to pray,
And two to bear my soul away". - Thomas Ady - A Candle in the Dark

"Never place a period where your angel has placed a comma". - Anonymous

"Angels are speaking to all of us... some of us are only listening better." - Anoymous

"Since God often sends us inspirations by means of His angels, we should frequently return our aspirations to him by means of the same messingers." - St. Francis De Sales

"Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly" - G.K. Chesterton

In Honor of Our Guardian Angels

we watched Angels in the Outfield. It's the remake of an old classic film with the same name. This one is one of our family's favorite Disney movies.

Little trivia for you: Did you know that Tony Danza is related to Saint Padre Pio? Yes he is! I remember his appearance on Live With Regis and Regis asked him if he were in fact related to a saint. He looked kind of humble when he said that yes, maternal (or was it his paternal) grandmother's uncle was Padre Pio. Can you imagine that????

A Guardian Angel Story

Before the Feast Day dedicated to our Guardian Angels is over, I'd like to share a story Fr. Dave shared with us during the Homily today.

He told us there was once a man who would always open the door and let his guardian angel go first. He would open the door and step aside. That is until the day of his ordination to the priesthood. He stepped aside to let his guardian angel go first. But he heard a voice tell him. "No, today, you go first".