Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Guardian angels exist, they are not imaginative doctrine, but companions that God has placed beside us on our life’s journey and should be listened to, because “it is dangerous to reject our travel companion”. The was the focus of Pope Francis homily at Mass at Casa Santa Marta today, on the day when the Church celebrates the memory of the Guardian Angels.
Pope Francis said: “If anyone believes that they can walk on their own, they would be greatly mistaken”, they would fall “into that terrible trap of arrogance: Believing we are great”, self-sufficient. Jesus taught the apostles to be like children. “The disciples argued about who was the greatest among them, there was an internal dispute … eh, careerism, eh?
These who were the first bishops, were tempted by careerism. ‘Eh, I want to be greater than you … The first bishops did not set a good example in this, but it is reality. Jesus teaches them the true attitude to have, that “of a child”: docility, the need for advice, the need for help, because the child is the very symbol of the need for help, of docility to keep going … This is the path. Not the one of who is greater”. Those who are closest to the attitude of a child, are “closer to the contemplation of the Father”. They listen to their guardian angel with an open and docile heart:
“According to the tradition of the Church, we all have an angel with us, who protects us, helps us hear things. How often have we heard: ‘I should do this, I should not do this, that’s not right, be careful …’: so often! It is the voice of our traveling companion. Be sure that he will guide us to the end of our lives with advice, and so listen to his voice, don’t rebel against it…because rebellion, the desire to be independent, is something that we all have; this is arrogance, the same arrogance of our father Adam in paradise: the very same. Do not rebel: follow his advice”.
“No one journeys alone and no one should think that they are alone” – continued the Pope – because “this companion” is always there: “And when we do not want to listen to his advice, to listen to his voice, it’s like saying, ‘Go away!’. It is dangerous to chase away our travelling companion, because no man no woman can advise themselves. I can give advice to others, but not to myself. The Holy Spirit advises me, the angel advises me. This is why we need him. This is not an imaginative doctrine on the angels: no, it is reality. It is what Jesus said, God said: ‘I send an angel before you to guard you, to accompany you on your journey, so you will not go wrong'”.
Pope Francis concluded his homily:
“Ask yourself this question today: How is my relationship with my guardian angel? Do I listen to him? Do I say good morning to him in the morning? Do I ask him: Watch over me when I sleep?’. Do I speak with him? Do I ask his advice? He is by my side. We can answer this question today, each of us: how is our relationship with this angel that the Lord has sent to watch over me and accompany me on my journey, and who always sees the face of the Father who is in heaven”.
