Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/279

 provided the  receiver  places  no  impediment. Be thankful to  God  for  so  great  a  benefit,  and  always  approach them worthily.

I. "  He  hath  given  His  angels  charge  over  thee,"  says holy David,  "to  keep  thee  in  all  thy  ways." (Ps. xc.  11.) Our heavenly  Father  is  not  content  to  make  us  His sons; but,  with  unparalleled  kindness,  provides  us  with tutors and  guardians. This charge  He  has  committed to the  angels:  they  are  the  ministers  of  His  graces, — they guard  and  protect  us. "'Are they  not  all  ministering spirits,"  asks  the  Apostle,  "  sent  to  minister  for  these, who  shall  receive  the  inheritance  of  salvation?" (Heb. i. 14.)

II. To whom  has  He  committed  this  charge  of  us? To the  angels,  who  are  His  most  noble  creatures,  who are pure  spirits,  immortal  by  nature,  "  full  of  wisdom and  perfect  in  beauty." (Exod. xxviii.  12.)  They  are  more powerful than  the  most  numerous  and  best  disciplined army; they  are  adorned  with  every  kind  of  grace  and glory, and  they  continually  enjoy  the  beatific  vision. To the care  of  these  superior  beings,  weak,  frail  and  imperfect man  is  committed. " In  their  hands  they  shall bear  thee  up,  less  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone." (Ps. xc.  12.)  Learn  to  appreciate  the  favor,  which  God does you,  in  placing  you  under  the  protection  of  His  angelic spirits.

III. The conviction,  that  you  are  under  the  special protection of  the  angels,  ought  to  excite  you,  as  St. Bernard  remarks,  "  to  reverence,  devotion,  and  confidence in  them:  reverence,  because  they  are  present;