Can real sorrow ever invade the ranks of the Holy Angels? Never. Not a single pang of disappointment, or regret, or anxiety, or sadness, or self-reproach can ever enter into their sinless souls. They were fixed in unalterable joy, when they were confirmed in grace and admitted to the Beatific Vision. Their perfect union with the Divine will prevents them from regretting anything that God permits. One day there will be, through God's mercy, no more sorrow for me.

But how is it that we speak of our Guardian Angels as shedding tears over our sins and turning away his face in sorrow and disgust, and lamenting over our ingratitude? These phrases are intended to express what would be the effect of our mis- doings upon the Angels if they were capable of suffering. Alas! how many of our actions are of a nature to cause sorrow to those who love us best! How many caused the most poignant grief to the Sacred Heart of Jesus when He was on earth! How many times, moreover, have we grieved our parents and friends, the guides of our youth, and those who have watched over us!

Yet we can in this sense cause them sorrow, in that when we disobey God's holy inspirations. we deprive them of the additional joy they would have taken in our obedience. We rob them of the happiness we might have bestowed on them. This loss to them is but a shadow of the loss we ourselves suffer by each wilful act of disobedience to grace.