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Hello everyone,

Today, Sunday 28th September we have 1333 people from all over the world and from many Christian and some non-Christian denominations joining together in prayer. The reflection at the bottom this week is from Bob and Debbie Gass of The Word for Today and is called: 'Twenty-six angels'.

I often speak of various Feast days in the Church calendar and this week we have some crackers. Tomorrow, September 29th is the Feast Day of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Tuesday is the Feast Day of Saint Jerome, 4th century Early Church Father and one of the great
Doctors (teacher) of the Church. On Wednesday we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, better known as The Little Flower. On Thursday is the Feast Day of the Guardian Angels and on Saturday we have Saint Francis of Assisi. What a wonderful week full of celebrations of the Angels and the Saints! This week's reflection looks at the role and power of the Angels.

God gave each and every one of us two gifts at birth - free will and a Guardian Angel, the first often being our greatest curse and the latter our greatest help.

Although not defined as a doctrine of the faith, the Church offers sound theological teaching on angels stating that every human being is appointed an angel to guard their soul from the moment of birth.

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways' (Ps. 90:11)

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."(Matthew 18:10)

Did you know that angels are mentioned almost 300 times in Scriptures, over half of the references within the New Testament? The people of the Old Covenant recognised the role of the angels, seeing them as great protectors and messengers sent from God. God used them to announce His will and to correct, punish, teach, rebuke and console. Scripture tells us that when Lucifer, the Angel of Light, rebelled he brought one third of the 'stars' with him, the angels who decided to follow him..

Despite all his powers the devil can not make us sin, he can only tempt us to sin, so that finally we are responsible for our actions before God. And it is these evil spirits who roam the earth at satan's bidding for the destruction of souls. So, it is in our actions, carried out through our own free will, that we sin.

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41)

Our Guardian Angels cannot interfere with our free will, no more than will God, but they are there to help and guide us, almost like our conscience.

The following extracts are taken from the Catechism Of the Council of Trent published after the same Council which met from December, 1545 to December, 1563:

"By God's providence Angels have been entrusted with the office of guarding the human race and of accompanying every human being in order to preserve him from any serious dangers ...our heavenly Father has placed over each of us an Angel under whose protection and vigilance we may be enabled to escape the snares secretly prepared by our enemy, repel the dreadful attacks he makes on us, and under his guiding hand keep to the right road, and thus be secure against all false steps which the wiles of the evil one might cause us to make in order to draw us aside from the path that leads to Heaven." (IV; 9, 4 (p.502).

Sacred Scripture shows "the benefits bestowed by God on man through the ministry and intervention of Angels, whom He deputes not only on particular and private occasions, but also appoints to take care of us from our very births. He furthermore appoints them to watch over the salvation of each one of the human race." (IV; 9, 5 (p. 503)

They rejoiced in our birth, they watched at our cradle, they accompany us on every step of life's journey, watching and praying with us through every one of life's decisions. When we take our last breath on this earth our Guardian Angel is there to fight with and for us in that final battle. They will intercede for us before the Throne of God. Even then they do not leave us and are always the ones to lead us into the final glory, the eternal presence of God.

"And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Matthew 24:31)

We know of so many of the famous 'angel stories' in the Bible and my favourites have to be the ones regarding Saint Joseph and his warnings to protect the Child Jesus from Herod. Joseph was a man so 'in tune with God' that he didn't hesitate to act or question when he was visited by the heavenly messenger. But just as we have to be 'in tune' with the Holy Spirit for His inspirations so too do we need to be 'in tune' with our Guardian Angels, if we are to allow them to be the guides they are
meant to be.

Have you ever watched a tiny baby laughing and cooing up at the ceiling or at some point in a room? We always reckon that they are playing with their Guardian Angel'. I could share with you so many
situations that I now call 'Guardian Angels moments'. Those times when something happened that could have had disastrous consequences but were covered and protected by the angels.

About 10 years ago, when our eldest lad got his first car he was driving home at about 1am on a straight stretch of country road and travelling at about 80 mph. (as crazy young lads sometimes do). He hit a large stone causing to car to swing over onto its roof, slide down the road for about 100 feet, crash into a field right through a large stone wall and stop. He walked away from a car bent like a crushed bean tin with a tiny scratch on his head, thanks be to God.

Last October on my way to Dublin Airport I was driving on the inside lane of a motorway with each lane of traffic travelling at a steady 60 miles per hour. Two cars in front of me the driver got a tyre blow-out that swung him from the inside lane right across to the central reservation and the collision swung him right back to the hard shoulder to the left of me leaving him faced back towards Dublin. Not as much as a skid mark was left on the road and the traffic kept going.

Last week my friend Chris stayed for the night and as usual we talked into the wee small hours. Just before going to bed I'd laminated some prayer cards, we had a cuppa then retired. At 3-30 am the phone rang in the hall and when I answered it there was no one there. Then I heard a rumbling noise and when I went to check it out the laminator was going mad as I'd forgotten to switch it off and it was sitting right beside a window curtain. It could well have been 'curtains' for our home!

I quit calling these types of incidents luck a long time ago!

Do you know that every room that has people in it there is a Guardian Angel there for each one too. So when we pray we can double that prayer going up to heaven. Imagine an important interview and all those Guardian Angels on our side. If we got into the habit of asking them for help, they 'rally the troops' of all the others and great things can happen. If every driver said a wee prayer to their Guardian Angel on setting out on a journey we'd have less road rage and probably cut the accident rates right back! Great thought eh for such little effort?

And so, I leave you this week with that lovely little prayer to our Guardian Angels. Get into the habit of saying it together morning and evening, especially with the children and grandchildren. 

'Oh Angel of God, my Guardian dear. To whom God's Love commits me here. Ever this day/night be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide me. Amen.'

That most powerful of protective prayers to Saint Michael the Archangel is below too. There was a time when the Priest used to say that prayer after Holy Communion of every Mass. Sad it has 
disappeared in a world that needs it now more than ever. Occasionally a Priest will say it but I think it would be great to see it reintroduced as the norm.

Don't forget the Mothers and Fathers Prayers group started in the UK in 1995 and more recently for Fathers. Now it has extended to over 70 different countries and is growing exponentially. Do try to get a few of you together weekly to pray for your children and grandchildren. They need all the prayers they can get in this crazy world! Drop an email to the address below for information and details.

May God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you and yours and may Mary keep you in Her heavenly mother's care.

Mary in Galway, Ireland

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Twenty-six angels

"HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS…TO GUARD YOU" 
PSALM 91:11 (NIV)

Every two weeks he went to the city to buy medicine and supplies for the small field hospital where he served. One day on one of his trips, he saw two men fighting on the street. One was seriously injured so he stopped, treated his injuries and shared God’s love with him. Then he headed for home, stopping in the jungle to camp overnight.

When he visited the city two weeks later, a man approached him – the same one he’d ministered to on the previous trip. ‘I knew you carried money and medicine with you, so our gang followed you to your camp, planning to kill you and take the money and the drugs. But just as we were about to attack you, we saw 26 armed-guards surrounding you.’ ‘No way!’ the missionary said, ‘I was all alone.’ ‘But sir, my five buddies saw them too; we counted them.’

Months later when he told this story back at his home church, a man interrupted, ‘Exactly what day did this take place?’ When the missionary identified the specific day, the man was stunned. He said, ‘On that exact night in Africa, it was morning here, and I felt a strange urge to pray for you. It was so strong that I called some men from our church to come and pray with me. Would all you men who prayed with me that day stand up?’ One by one the missionary counted them – 26 – the exact number of the armed-guards.

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Prayer for Your Family

"O Dear Jesus, I humbly implore You to grant Your special graces to our family this day. In Your Divine Mercy make our home a shrine of peace, love and faith. I beg You, Dear Jesus, to protect and bless all of us and our families absent and present, living and dead. O Mary loving Mother of Jesus and our Mother, pray to Jesus the Divine Mercy for our family, and for all the families of the world. Ask Him to guard the tiny infant in the womb, the cradle of the newborn, the young in the schools and those about to start their vocations in life. Amen"

Prayer for Your Adult Children

"Heavenly Mother, keep us always in mind of Your Son's great mercy and understanding as we pray for our children. They are grown up now and have left us and are living their own lives according to their own ideals. We feel anxious and worried because they do not seem to feel the need for Christ. to understand the wisdom of His ways, or to be fully at ease with us or themselves. Intervene, dearest Mother, in their lives at the moment You know to be right and help them to understand the things that lead to their peace. Help them to see the need of Christ and to experience the greatness of His love, so that we may all proclaim as You did, that His mercy truly is from generation to generation. Amen"

Prayer for the World

"JESUS of NAZARETH has triumphed over Death. His Reign is Eternal. He is coming to conquer the
world and the time.

"Mercy, my God on those who blaspheme You,
Forgive them, they know not what they do.

"Mercy, my God, for the scandal in the world,
Deliver them from the spirit of Satan.

"Mercy, my God, on those who run away from You
Give them an appreciation for the Holy Eucharist.

"Mercy, my God, on those who come to repent at the foot of the Glorious Cross. May they find Peace and Joy in God our Saviour.

"Mercy, my God, so that Your Kingdom may come, but save souls, there is still time; for the time is near, behold, I am coming. Amen

Come, Lord Jesus."

Recite one decade of the Rosary

"Lord, pour out on the whole world the treasures of Your Infinite Mercy."

"Through the Mystery of Your Holy Incarnation,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Nativity,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Baptism and Holy Fasting,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Cross and Passion,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Death and Burial,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Holy Resurrection,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Admirable Ascension,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Him whose Name reigns eternal,
deliver us from all evil, Lord."

Prayer of Protection

Blessed Michael the Archangel, protect us in the hour of conflict. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God restrain him, we humbly pray, and do thou, Oh Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by the Power of God, thrust satan down to hell and with him all the wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen

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All of the Reflections to date are available to read in the Archives on the website for anyone who's interested.

The Weekly Intentions are available on a plain page to be able to print off and kept to hand for your own prayer time. The list has become too long now to include each week but please say the
two wee prayers below. The Loving Father knows the heart of each person requesting prayer.

"Father, bless all those who have requested prayers in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day! Father, we ask You to heal the broken bodies, broken minds, broken spirits, broken hearts and broken marriages and may all their lives be full of Your peace, prosperity, and power as they seek to have a close relationship with You. Amen."

"Thank You Jesus for answering our prayers because we know You hear every prayer and never refuse to answer. You are providing answers and healings from the prayers of all these wonderful people. Praise God!"

"Breathe in me O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit that my work, too, may be holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend all that is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy."

"O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me, tell me what I should do. Give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your will. Amen"

May God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless and guide you and yours and may Mary keep you in Her heavenly mother's care.

Mary in Galway