Prayer for England

O blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy “Dowry” and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more. Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son. Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home. Amen.

 Father Behr writes:

Dear Parishioners

“ Beside each believer stands an angel as a protector and shepherd leading him to life.” (Saint Basil the Great)

Saturday 2 October is the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. 

God is the creator of everything. The universe is vast and yet scientists now inform us that only 5% of it is made of visible matter. The rest is dark matter 27% and dark energy 68%.  And yet all that may be classed as the material stuff related to material things and not spiritual things. The invisible spiritual realm is vaster than anything we can conceive.

Among the spiritual things created by God, we believe that God created the angels and among the nine types of angels there are guardian angels. Each soul when created is assigned a guardian angel. They guide each of us through life and help us avoid dangers physical and spiritual – their goal is to make sure we reach heaven and accumulate as little dirt (sin) as possible before we get there.

Your guardian angel is there to enable God’s love to flourish in you and in all your actions towards the people around you.  Let us turn in prayer to these amazing beings. God, who loves us so much, has gifted to each of us a guardian angel to help us in our daily struggles.

From the Compendium of the Catechism 

60. Who are the angels?

The angels are purely spiritual creatures, incorporeal, invisible, immortal, and personal beings endowed with intelligence and will. They ceaselessly contemplate God face-to-face and they glorify him. They serve him and are his messengers in the accomplishment of his saving mission to all.

61. In what way are angels present in the life of the Church?

The Church joins with the angels in adoring God, invokes their assistance and commemorates some in her liturgy.

Best wishes, Father Behr

Guardian Angel by Pietro da Cortona, 1656