St. Bernard teaches that we ought to honor and respect our angels on account of their excellence; to love them for their care of us, and to have recourse to them in all our necessities. However weak or miserable we may be, or however terrible the dangers that surround us, we should not fear under the protection of such guardians. There is no better way of securing the protection of the angels than by avoiding all sin, but particularly mortal sin; for when we are at enmity with God they are ready to exterminate us at His command. But they will ever prove faithful friends to the servants of God. How can the angels help loving and aiding those whom they know are dear to God? Our guardian angels often ward off accidents that would cut us off unprepared; after interceding for us to prevent God from calling us out of life, they try to make us bring forth worthy fruits of penance. O holy angels, I entreat you to extend your special [pg 430] care to me during the rest of my life, that I may live in God's friendship and die in His love.
Prayer.
O angel of God, etc., etc.
Thirty-first Day.
When the figure of this world shall have passed away, the angels will come and call us to judgment; every human being will then rise again, and hasten to the valley of Jehosaphat. The good will go to the right side, the wicked to the left, the separation made by the angels. Then will the Lord appear in the glory of heaven, surrounded by His angels, and the judgment will take place. Happy shall we be if we are judged to be as pure as the angels, and will ascend with them to paradise, ever to be associated with them. Then will come our exceeding great reward; we shall see God face to face for all eternity. We shall form choirs for the praise of the Almighty, alternating with the angels. We shall know God, love Him, rejoice in Him, and praise Him. Then, for the first time, we shall love God above all things, our joy shall be without measure because we shall have a particular joy for everything that is in God. We will praise God with all our heart, with all our strength, with all our power, with all our faculties. “Happy are they that live in Thy house, O Lord, for they will praise Thee forever and ever.” Here youth never grows old; here there is life that knows no end, beauty that never fades, love that never cools, joy that never ceases. Let us then, while on earth, lead the life of angels, be as pure as they, as obedient to God's will as they, and [pg 431] pray to them daily that they help us to this much-desired perfection.
Prayer.
O angel of God, etc., etc.