A Catholic Magazine on the Holy Angels No 4 • 2010 £ 2,00 € 2,50 $ 5,00 ISSN 2081-5077 Joy of heavenly angels St Michael defender of the unborn Th e angelic secret of John XXIII Guardian angels and St Josemaria Escriva St Faustina’s angelic encounters DEAR READERS TheAngels It is a pleasure to welcome you to the fourth quarterly Messengers from a Loving God edition of “The Angels” Messengers from a Loving A Catholic Quarterly Magazine on Holy Angels God magazine. Thank you for all your letters, emails Publisher: The Congregation and positive feedback, especially after the live show of Saint Michael the Archangel – Poland with Father Mitch Packwa on EWTN. I am glad to Chief Editor: Father Piotr Prusakiewicz (CSMA) hear that the magazine helps you keep in touch with Editorial Staff:Herbert Oleschko, Agnieszka Kosińska, the angels and live in the presence of God. Monika Chlebosz, Ewelina Szcześniak, Małgorzata Pytel, Dominika Kosk English translations: Agata Pawłowska, Isabel Brak, any of you ask, "Why are St. Michael, have to remain humble Agnieszka Santandreu, Joanna Jabłońska the angels so little hon- in submitting our wills to the will of Graphics & Layout: Jacek Kawa oured?" The answer is that God. That is why a real devotion to Website: www.kjb24.pl most people make very little effort to the Holy Angels consists in seeking M Editorial Office:The Angels Magazine increase their knowledge about the to imitate them. To imitate the angels ul. Piłsudskiego 248/252, 05-261 Marki. Poland angels even though they are aware of means: to walk in the presence of God Email: [email protected] their existence. in the semi-darkness of our faith; to Distribution coordinators: To honor and love them, we must do God’s will; to give thanks to God • In USA and Canada: first know them. We would be inflamed and to praise Him for his glory and Dede Laugesen with real love for them if we under- love; to hate sin; to sing to God in our The Angels Magazine stood their dignity; their close relation- hearts and with our voices; to adore PO Box 543. Monument, CO 80132, USA ship with God; their excellence and His Holy Name. Phone: +001 800 511 1514 Email: [email protected] power; and the affection and concern I kindly ask you to let others www.catholicangelsmagazine.com they have for us. The Church has al- know about our magazine and help • In Eire & Northern Ireland: ways practised and encouraged devo- us distribute it all over the world. The Peadar Moynihan tion to the Holy Angels. Although they CSMA and I pray for all the readers Oak Lodge. Thomastown. Duleek. Co Meath. Eire. are invisible, they accompany us all the and helpers Phone: 00353 41 982 5766 Email: [email protected] time. We need the angels because they I would be interested to hear are near to God. They model for us by letter or email any testimonies • In the rest of the world: how to grow closer and closer to God. on how the angels have helped Noreen Bavister and Alison Boyes P.O. Box 4332 These spiritual beings are also powerful you in your life. Please contact Harlington Dunstable Beds LU6 9DG. UK intercessors for our needs. the office or the coordinator’s Phone Noreen: +44 (0)779 531 8605 We turn to Saint Michael the whose details can be found on Phone Alison: +44 (0)780 137 2166 Archangel, because he fulfilled God's www.catholicangelsmagazine.com Email: [email protected] will faithfully. and www.kjb24.pl © 2010 CSMA Like the angels once were, we too All rights reserved Father CSMA are on trial. We, like the angels and Piotr Prusakiewicz ISSN 2081-5077 CONTENTS 3 Blessed Pope John XXIII's 12 St Michael the Archangel 23 The ‘Gloria’ and ‘Exultet’ secret of how to influence in defence of the unborn 25 St Michael the Archangel other people Testimony 14 Jacob’s fight with the Angel Holiness amidst the world 27 Mother Teresa’s quote 4 17 Encounters with the Angels Holy angels in my life 28 St Michael our greatest 5 19 Angels and the Eucharist protector Sacra di San Michele 6 20 Saint Faustina and humility 30 Meeting the angelic army St Michael in PNG 8 22 Pope John Paul II views on 31 Questions and answers 9 Angels our protectors the angels 32 Chaplet of St Michael 2 | The Angels | No 4 | 2010 ANgElS iN ThE lives Of ThE saints Blessed Pope John XXIII's secret of how to influence other people Pope John XXIII is said to be one of the greatest advocates of angels and their presence in the faithful’s lives. Looking at pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, he used to think about the numerous heavenly hosts of Guardian Angels who assisted the crowds. From his early childhood the Pope prayed to his Guardian Angel five times a day and felt they were both in a heartfelt relationship with each other. e strongly believed that our Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey: “If you heavenly advisers intercede are to negotiate with a person, who for us, help in our problems does not accept your arguments, ask Has well as protect us from perilous your Guardian Angels for help. If both situations. Moreover, the Pope admit- Guardian Angels agree with each other, ted that his guardian angel told him your conversation will appear easy. My to summon the Council. His advis- Guardian Angel reaches to my guests’ ers often heard him saying “My good minds and makes them friendly to- angel suggested me that...”, “My good wards me.” angel told me that...’’ or even “My Pope John XXIII’s encouragement good angel woke me up this morn- to honour our Guardian Angels is still ing.... ” Pope John XXIII also asked relevant today. Therefore, let’s often his guardian angel to help him say the say: “My Guardian Angel, take care breviary more carefully and piously. of my concentration today. Please, Pope John XXIII wrote, “Whenever take away forgetfulness, help me I am to visit some VIP to talk about the in discouragement, give me peace, Holy See’s issues, I ask my Guardian cheerfulness and mental discipline Angel to speak to the Guardian Angel (…). May angels get into each house of my guest so that the latter takes to announce our care of social agree- a positive attitude towards our con- ment, brotherly love and peace be- versation.” That secret was given tween nations. Amen.” to him by Pope Pius XI, when the would-be pope worked as a nuncio in Father Piotr Prusakiewicz CSMA The Angels | No 4 | 2010 | 3 ANgElS iN ThE lives Of ThE saints Holiness amidst the world Don’t we greet and speak sincerely 1931, whilst walking in the street, he On a particular day and openly before all of those people saw three young people, one of whom when his watch stopped whom we love? Therefore we should jumped up at him, shouting – “I will he asked his Guardian do the same before Jesus, Mary and show you!” He raised his hands in Angel’s help and … it Joseph and our Guardian Angel and such a way that Father Escriva ex- started ticking again. do this many times. pected to receive a blow. But, one of From that moment he be- These beautiful words were said the only two other people present in gan to call his Guardian by the founder of Opus Dei, St the street at the time said in a mas- Angel – “watchmaker.” Josemaria Escriva, who was born on terful tone – “Don’t hit him.” Later There were many such 9 January 1902 in Barbastro (Spain). the first young man spoke, mocking small angelic interven- He acquired his ardent devotion to Father Escriva, calling him “Donkey! tions in the saint’s life. the Guardian Angels from his fam- Donkey!” This was a term by which ily. Here is one of the first prayers his the saint referred to himself only in Get used to recom- mother taught him: prayer and in confession. A close col- mending to each person league had said that Father Escriva that you meet that his / My Guardian Angel, attributed this attack to the action of her own Guardian Angel can help them sweet companion, the Devil and of his Guardian Angel’s be good, faithful and joyful so that at do not leave my side either defence of him. the favourable time they will be able to by night or day. accept the eternal embrace of the love of If you should leave me, Trust in your Guardian Angel. God the Father, God the Son and God where would I be? Treat him as your friend – which he the Holy Spirit and our Blessed Lady. My Guardian Angel, is – and he in turn will render you intercede for me before God thousands of services in your ordinary, During the Spanish Civil war, everyday affairs. when the Communists held power, The Work of God (Opus Dei in sudden raids on houses were often the original Latin), was founded by Saint Josemaria had an im- conducted in order to search out and Father Escriva as a result of Divine mense trust that his work would murder members of the clergy. On inspiration on the Feast of the Holy progress more swiftly through the one particular day, a police patrol Angels, 2 October 1928. Put simply, intervention of the angels. During arrived in a square and ordered the it provides a road to Christian perfec- a retreat in 1932 he wrote: “I called concierges of each building to open tion by means of three simple rules for the Holy Archangels, our Patrons, the doors so that they could con- growth in holiness.