Daily Retreat 10/02/06
2006 Oct 2 Mon: The Guardian Angels M
Jb 1: 6-22/ Ps 16(17): 1bcd. 2-3. 6-7/ Mt 18: 1-5. 10
From today’s readings: “One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD.... Hear, O LORD, a just suit; attend to my outcry; hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.... See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in Heaven always look upon the face of My heavenly Father.”
Children’s Mass Guardian Angel Homily
Each of you has a birthday, that magic one day in the year when your family and friends treat you extra specially - they give you a party, bake a cake, or other favorite food for you, and give you wonderful presents - they do all these special things for you on your birthday to remind you that they love you, and that they are happy and grateful to God because you're part of their lives.
Now when it comes to our wonderful friends, our Guardian Angels, we have a little problem, because we don't know exactly when is their birthday. Yet they certainly deserve a yearly party in their honor, because our Guardian Angels do an awful lot for us: they're always watching over us, even when we're asleep, and protecting us from the dangers of the devil. Our Guardian Angels are always at our side, helping us to do good, encouraging us to make the right choices, to always do what Jesus would do. And another thing Guardian Angels do, as Jesus tells us in the Gospel, is they constantly stand in the presence of God the Father in Heaven, so that they can report to God everything that happens to you and let Him know right away if you ever need a little extra help from Him.
So, because our Guardian Angels do so much for us, Holy Mother Church decided that they certainly deserve a birthday of sorts, one magic day in the year in early October, when all of us, their friends, would get together and give them a party, make their favorite food, and give them wonderful presents - we do all these special things for our Guardian Angels to thank them, and to show our joy and gratefulness to God because they're part of our lives.
Dear children, think about this Holy Mass - THIS is the party we're celebrating in honor of our Guardian Angels. For special food, even better than the biggest, sweetest cake you can imagine, we have the Most Holy Eucharist, the Body of Christ, Which our Lord says is "the True Bread come down from Heaven!" Did you ever realize, dear children, that when we receive Holy Communion, we are eating the Food, the Bread of Angels? Now I know that the 1st and 2nd Graders haven't received First Holy Communion yet - that's why your Guardian Angels are looking forward with you and helping you prepare for that special day when you can share their Heavenly Food - the Body and Blood of Christ!
So we have their party with special Food, but what about any birthday presents? Well, children, that's up to you! What are you going to give your Guardian Angel on his special day? Perhaps one present you'll give is to listen closely and obey your angel's good advice all day. Or maybe you'll say some extra prayers today, especially prayers of thanks to God for giving you a wonderful Guardian Angel. Or you could draw a picture of what you think your angel looks like - you can probably think of something else too. Children, let's all give some special presents to our Guardian Angels today!
Jb 1: 6-22/ Ps 16(17): 1bcd. 2-3. 6-7/ Mt 18: 1-5. 10
From today’s readings: “One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD.... Hear, O LORD, a just suit; attend to my outcry; hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.... See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in Heaven always look upon the face of My heavenly Father.”
Children’s Mass Guardian Angel Homily
Each of you has a birthday, that magic one day in the year when your family and friends treat you extra specially - they give you a party, bake a cake, or other favorite food for you, and give you wonderful presents - they do all these special things for you on your birthday to remind you that they love you, and that they are happy and grateful to God because you're part of their lives.
Now when it comes to our wonderful friends, our Guardian Angels, we have a little problem, because we don't know exactly when is their birthday. Yet they certainly deserve a yearly party in their honor, because our Guardian Angels do an awful lot for us: they're always watching over us, even when we're asleep, and protecting us from the dangers of the devil. Our Guardian Angels are always at our side, helping us to do good, encouraging us to make the right choices, to always do what Jesus would do. And another thing Guardian Angels do, as Jesus tells us in the Gospel, is they constantly stand in the presence of God the Father in Heaven, so that they can report to God everything that happens to you and let Him know right away if you ever need a little extra help from Him.
So, because our Guardian Angels do so much for us, Holy Mother Church decided that they certainly deserve a birthday of sorts, one magic day in the year in early October, when all of us, their friends, would get together and give them a party, make their favorite food, and give them wonderful presents - we do all these special things for our Guardian Angels to thank them, and to show our joy and gratefulness to God because they're part of our lives.
Dear children, think about this Holy Mass - THIS is the party we're celebrating in honor of our Guardian Angels. For special food, even better than the biggest, sweetest cake you can imagine, we have the Most Holy Eucharist, the Body of Christ, Which our Lord says is "the True Bread come down from Heaven!" Did you ever realize, dear children, that when we receive Holy Communion, we are eating the Food, the Bread of Angels? Now I know that the 1st and 2nd Graders haven't received First Holy Communion yet - that's why your Guardian Angels are looking forward with you and helping you prepare for that special day when you can share their Heavenly Food - the Body and Blood of Christ!
So we have their party with special Food, but what about any birthday presents? Well, children, that's up to you! What are you going to give your Guardian Angel on his special day? Perhaps one present you'll give is to listen closely and obey your angel's good advice all day. Or maybe you'll say some extra prayers today, especially prayers of thanks to God for giving you a wonderful Guardian Angel. Or you could draw a picture of what you think your angel looks like - you can probably think of something else too. Children, let's all give some special presents to our Guardian Angels today!
posted by FrPitstick | 9/27/2006
<< Home