Gospel. Matt. xviii. 1-10. At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who, thinkest thou, is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them. And said: Amen, I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. Wo to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come, but nevertheless wo to that man by whom the scandal cometh. And if thy hand or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than, having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Michael, that great, powerful angel and prince of the heavenly army, who took up the vindication of the honor of God's name against Lucifer and the rebellious angels, and spoke the words, "Who is like God? " which give him his name. We must suppose that the combat was a great one; we do not know what weapons they used, or in what manner they fought, but we know that the victory remained with St. Michael.

As a reward of his fidelity, God gave him the particular care of His Church, to defend her in all her trials. This is the reason that we celebrate his feast, that we may have an opportunity to thank God that He has chosen and given us this protector of the Church of God on earth. Let me merely say a few words on this great archangel, but let me show as clearly as I can that it is to our advantage to have a devotion to him, because he has been destined by almighty God to help us--particularly in our agony when we are about to pass from this world to the next. I shall also speak of our guardian angel to whom we should have a special devotion, because he is always attentive to our wants.

From the very first moment of our existence God gives us an angel to remain with us until the hour of our death. "He hath given His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

St. Frances of Rome, who honored her guardian angel with a daily devotion, once saw him in the form of a beautiful boy of seven years; his hair was bright as gold, and he was dressed in rich clothing. St. Ludwina also enjoyed continual familiarity and sweetest conversation with her guardian angel; he appeared to her often when she was in affliction, and she rejoiced at sight of him and forgot all her sorrows. St. Cecilia said to Valerian, "Let me tell you, that I have an angel, a companion who guards my body with the greatest care, and if you insult me it will cost you your life." Anastasius, the heretical emperor who persecuted the Church, saw the angel of Sabba, the abbot, who was begging the tyrant to spare his monks.

God wished to do us a great favor, my dear young friends, in giving us an angel from the realms of bliss as our companion, to be always at our side; one who would foresee many dangers and lead us away from them, and defend us, day and night, against the attacks of the devil. "In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone." St. Bernard, thinking of this great favor, cried out in rapture, "O immense love of God, who has for man created a new office among the angels, that of protecting us!"

Our guardian angel sends us good inspirations, offers our prayers to God, brings us consolation in trouble, and keeps us from falling into sin. Yes, my dear young people, if you have triumphed over some great temptation, it was through the prayers of your angel that you escaped. You would have been but too ready to listen to the voice of sin had you not been warned in time, and thus brought to remain faithful to God. You have fought the devil through your angel, who is still, as of old, the natural enemy of Satan. Show yourselves grateful to him for all this good. Judith, who cut off the head of her enemy Holofernes, ascribes the power of her arm to the help of an angel: she said, "As the Lord liveth, His angel hath been my keeper." Daniel, the holy prophet, when he had been locked up in the den of hungry lions for twenty-four hours, said to the king, "My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me."

You ought to have great respect and reverence for your guardian angel. How well and devoutly we would live were we strongly persuaded that a great spirit from heaven, powerful and holy, is with us all the time! Would a wicked youth utter impure words in the hearing of his companions if he realized that his guardian angel also heard him? What a miserable man he would be who, knowing this, would curse and blaspheme God in the very face of a powerful angel, who would avenge the honor of God's name! Shame would overcome us were we persuaded that that pure spirit were a witness to our impurities. Do not young people often sin because they say to themselves that no one sees them? God, who is everywhere, sees you always, and the angel whom God has given you as a companion is also a witness of your sin.

How keenly that spirit must feel it when you turn away from God, your eternal salvation! The angels of peace weep bitterly at our infidelity. St. Paul, the monk, once saw, by God's permission, a great sinner enter a church; his soul was foul with wickedness and he walked between two demons who held him in chains. His guardian angel, with a most dejected mien, followed at a short distance. The man went to confession, and when he came out of church his beauty was restored to him. His guardian angel, with a joyous face, was close beside him, and the chains and the devils had disappeared.

"Wherever you are," says St. Bernard, "remember the respect you ought to have for your angel; be careful to do nothing that you would be ashamed of doing before any one else."

Learn to repeat this little prayer, to which an indulgence of one hundred days is attached:

Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom His love commits me here, Ever this day be at my side, To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

In all your dangers have recourse to him for help and counsel. St. Bernard says again, "Be great friends with your angel; speak to him often in your mind, for he sees what you are thinking of."

Blessed Joanna from her childhood had great friendship for her guardian angel; she always consulted him and proposed her difficulties to him and then let him decide what should be done. She lost her parents early in life, and her companions used to pity her, but Joanna took them to a church, and there showing them a beautiful angel, said: "This angel is my father and my mother, my counsellor and master, my teacher in everything." If we had such a faith in our guardian angel what great benefits we would receive!

Honor also the great archangel Michael, pray to him often, especially at the end of Mass, when the priest says: "St. Michael the archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. We humbly beseech God to command him: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."

Now be really convinced of this consoling truth, that we all have an angel, that he is always with us, and that he ought to be our greatest friend.