Holy Guardian Angels
Memorial
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
As people constantly struggle to grow up to attain Christ’s maturity, we are before God like children, relying on his help more than on our own; for we have experienced that our own forces are not always trustworthy. We know that God protects us, sends us angels to guide us, especially in the person of Jesus Christ, and in those who come closest to Christ. Jesus guides us with his Spirit to work out our project in life. We in our turn are called to be guides, “angels,” to others on the way to God. Guardian angels… or do you prefer horseshoes, amulets, horoscopes, mascots?
Opening Prayer
God, our loving and caring Lord,
as we celebrate our guardian angels,
we profess our deep faith
in your ever-present protection.
Let the guardian angel be the voice in us
that warns us against the evil we might do
and prompts us to be the good person
each if us should be and remain.
Let this angel remind us
that you know and love each of us personally
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
First Reading
Epilogue
See, I am sending an angel before you to keep you safe on the way and bring you to the place I have made ready.
Be on your guard in his presence and listen to him; do not resist him, for he will not pardon your wrongdoing, for my name is in him.
If you listen to him and do what I say, I will be the enemy of your enemies and the opponent of your opponents.
My angel will go before you and bring you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; all these I will destroy.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 91:1-2, 3-4ab, 4c-6, 10-11
R. (11) The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge.
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
His faithfulness is a buckler and a shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day;
Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,
nor the devastating plague at noon.
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,
For to his angels he has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Who Is the Most Important
At that time, the disciples approached Jesus and asked him:
“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Then Jesus called a small child, placed the child in the middle of the disciples
and said: “I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,
and whoever receives such a child in my name, receives me.”
Parable of the Lost Sheep
Make sure you do not underestimate any of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.
Prayers of the Faithful
Prayer over the Gifts
God, our Father,
in this bread and this wine
we want to express with faith
that however little and powerless
we may feel in our impersonal world,
we know that for you we count
and that you, Creator and mighty God,
care for each of us
with a love stronger than that of any mother.
For you hold us dear in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Our loving God,
your Son Jesus said about children
that their angels always see the face
of you, their Father in heaven.
Let this eucharist too
strengthen us in the certainty
that you surround children
and also us if we don’t think
that we are too great and important for it,
with your protection and tender love.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.