QUOTATION: The Role of Angels

The holy Guardian Angels are not satisfied with illuminating the mind of those under their guidance with the light needed to know God’s will for them and to be saved. They also inspire their charges and procure for them the means to do the good that is proper to them. God uses the angels not only to deliver those entrusted to them from the powers of darkness and make them grow in the knowledge of God but also to help them lead a life worthy of God, so that they will be pleasing to him in every way and produce good works of every sort. The angels are zealous for the good of those in their care, because of the commission they have received from God, the Father of light and of all good. They contribute, as far as they are able, to make those in their care worthy to share the lot of the saints. You share in the ministry of the Guardian Angels by making known to children the truths of the Gospel, which you have been chosen by God to announce. You must teach them how to put these truths into practice, and you must have very great zeal to procure their accomplishment of this practice.

--St. John Baptist de La Salle, Meditations for the Time of Retreat

QUOTATION: Prayer

Our prayers are so dear to God, that he has appointed the angels to present them to him as soon as they come forth from our mouths.

--St. Alphonsus Liguori

QUOTATION: Invoke Your Guardian Angel

Whenever you are in need of anything, or are facing difficulties, whether great or small, invoke your Guardian Angel, asking him to sort the matter out with Jesus, or to do the particular service you may require.

--St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, 931

QUOTATION: The Protection of Angels

But if these beings, angels, guard you, they do so because they have been summoned by your prayers.

--St. Ambrose of Milan

QUOTATION: Angels Illuminate Us

An angel can illuminate the thought and mind of man by strengthening the power of vision, and by bringing within its reach some truth which the angel himself contemplates.

--St. Thomas Aquinas

QUOTATION: Perseverance

Do not be surprised if you fall back into your old ways every day. Do not be disheartened, but resolve to do something positive about it; and, without question, the angel who stands guard over you will honor your perseverance.

--St John Climacus

QUOTATION: Prayers

Our prayers are so dear to God, that he has appointed the angels to present them to him as soon as they come forth from our mouths.

--St. Alphonsus Liguori

QUOTATION: Angels on Judgement Day

It is to be feared that the angels, who are at present our guardians, will become our accusers at the day of judgment.

--St. Aloysius Gonzaga

QUOTATION: Angels are Why You Know

Human intellectual knowledge is ordered by God through the mediation of angels.

--St Thomas Aquinas

QUOTATION: Ministry

In our ministry to men, we must imitate the angels; they do not neglect any means to procure their salvation, but the result, whether good or bad, causes them to lose nothing of their blessed and eternal peace.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Knowledge of God

Ideas are poured into the angel by God. Man knows from the bottom up; angels know from the top down.

--Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

QUOTATION: Our Guardian Angel in Heaven

My God, what consolation shall we derive from the celestial conversation that we shall hold one with another! There, our good angels will afford us a consolation greater than can be told or conceived, when they will introduce themselves to us, and represent to us so lovingly the care they had of our salvation during the course of our mortal life, reminding us of the holy inspirations which they brought us, as a sacred milk which they had drawn from the bosom of divine beauty, to gain us to the pursuit of those divine sweetnesses in which we shall then rejoice. "Do you not remember, " they will say to us, "such an inspiration that I brought you at such a time, reading such a book, listening to such a sermon, looking on such an image, as happened to St. Mary of Egypt, an inspiration that incited you to be converted to Our Lord, and was the ground of your predestination?" O God, will not our hearts be then plunged in inutterable happiness?

--St. Francis de Sales, Consoling Thoughts

QUOTATION: Present at Mass

The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass.

--St. Augustine

QUOTATION: Angels at Mass

When the Eucharist is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar.

--St. John Chrysostom

QUOTATION: Heaven

But what will it be to behold hereafter so many angels, so many just men, to be united with them in the closest friendship, and to be made partakers of their happiness? Were we to behold, in this our exile, one angel arrayed in all his beauty, who would not eagerly wish to meet him? What therefore must it be, to behold all the angels in one place? And if only one of the prophets, apostles, or doctors of the Church were to descend from heaven, with what curiosity and attention would he be heard! Now in the kingdom of God, we shall be allowed to behold not one only, but all the prophets, apostles, and doctors, with whom we shall continually hold sweet converse.

--St. Robert Bellarmine, The Eternal Happiness of the Saints

QUOTATION: The Speech of Angels

Christianity has always understood that the speech of angels is actually song, in which all the glory of the great joy they proclaim becomes tangibly present.

--Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives

QUOTATION: Nine Orders of Angels Like Nine Orders of Men

With these nine orders of the angels, correspond on the other hand that multitude of holy men, which no one can number, as we learn from the Apocalypse. This multitude contains also nine "orders ;" for some are patriarchs, some prophets, some apostles, some martyrs and confessors; whilst others are pastors, doctors, priests, Levites, monks, and hermits, holy women, virgins, widows, or married people.

--St. Robert Bellarmine, The Eternal Happiness of the Saints

QUOTATION: The Names of the Nine Orders of Angels

But these are not the only significations of the names of the angels(…) they are also images or representations of the greatness of God: thus the seraphim, by their burning love, represent as it were in a glass, the infinite love of God which alone induced Him to create the angels, man, and all other creatures, whom He still preserves. The cherubim in like manner represent the infinite wisdom of God, which hath regulated all things by number, weight, and measure. The thrones also, by a perfect image as it were, show us that profound " rest" which God enjoys on His throne; who, whilst all things are in motion, remains unalterable, tranquilly ruling and directing events. The dominations too tell us, that it is God who alone truly rules all things, because He alone can either preserve them, or annihilate them. The virtues convince us, that it is God "who alone doth wonderful things” and who hath reserved to himself alone to renew signs, and to multiply wonders. The powers signify by their name, that God alone is absolutely and truly powerful, to whom nothing is impossible, because in Him alone true power resides.The principalities signify, that God is the Prince over the kings of the earth, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. The archangels signify, that God is the true High Priest of all the churches. The angels, that God is the true Father of orphans; and that although He hath given His angels to be our guardians, He himself is present with each one, to guard and protect him. 

--St. Robert Bellarmine, The Eternal Happiness of the Saints

QUOTATION: Angels

Since God often sends us inspirations by means of Angels, we should frequently return our aspirations to God by means of the same messengers.

-- St. Francis de Sales.

QUOTATION: Angels

It must be realized that "Angel" is the name of their office, not of their nature. For the holy spirits of the heavenly homeland are always spirits, but they cannot always be called Angels; they are Angels only when they are announcing something. And so the Psalmist says, "He who makes spirits His Angels," as if he said plainly that, when He wills, He uses as Messengers those spirits who are always His. Those who announce less important things are called Angels, and those who announce the highest things are called Archangels.

--Pope St. Gregory the Great