Welcome to the latest edition of the weekly Say Yes to Holiness newsletter—designed to help inspire, encourage and accompany you on the path towards holiness.
This last week has been an absolutely magnificent one for the universal Church. We have a new Blessed in Archbishop Fulton Sheen here in America, and Pope Leo’s visit to France has revealed the vibrant and passionate young disciples who are in the heart of Europe. Signs of hope indeed…
This next week liturgically is a powerhouse. On Monday is the Memorial of Saint Wenceslaus and Saint Lawrence Ruiz and his companions, Tuesday is the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Wednesday if the Memorial of Saint Jerome, Thursday is the Memorial of Saint Therese of Lisieux and on Friday we celebrate a Memorial honoring our Guardian Angels. Day after day, we are reminded of the entire Body of Christ—Church Triumphant, Militant and Suffering, but most importantly, we are reminded that there is more to this life than the physical reality we are surrounded with—there is also a spiritual reality that includes the angels and saints.
Bottom line, we are not alone.
Not in a creepy kind of way, but in a transcendent, powerfully transformative way in which God is surrounding us with His grace and providential care through and with His angels, and this week we have the perfect opportunity to grow in our capacity to become more aware of our heavenly companions, and to live differently because if it.
Therefore, in honor of my own patron, Saint Michael, and his fellow archangels and every one of our guardian angels, this week’s Food for the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet is going to focus upon how we can immerse ourselves in both the physical and spiritual realities by increasing our devotion to the Holy Angels, so that we might be inspired, encouraged and accompanied by the entire Mystical Body of Christ on our journey towards holiness…
Food for the Head
"We should show our affection for the angels, for one day they will be our coheirs just as here below they are our guardians and trustees appointed and set over us by the Father.”—Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux gives us a marvelous thought—the angels are our coheirs.
Along with the angels, we, too, hope to someday be in Heaven alongside them worshiping and serving God as we behold Him face-to-face.
The Feast of the Archangels on Tuesday helps us understand more fully how God has given providential care to them in His creation by examining their names which Scripture gives us. Micheal means “Who is like God?” and reminds us that no power can rival God. Gabriel means “God’s messenger” and reminds us to listen and respond to God’s Word. While Raphael means “God has healed” and reminds us of how God accompanies, guides, and heals His people.
Just like Mary, the angels never draw attention to themselves, but instead point us towards God. Our devotion to the angels should seek to do the same by helping us become more aware of God’s providence, increase our attentiveness to His Word, and grow in confidence in the spiritual battle in our determination to reach Heaven.
This week, resolve to learn more about the Archangels—Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael while asking each of them to help you grow in in your capacity to experience God’s loving care.
Food for the Heart
"Since God often sends us his inspirations by means of his angels, we ought frequently to offer him our aspirations through the same channel. ... Call on them and honor them frequently, and ask their help in all your affairs, temporal as well as spiritual.”—Saint Francis de Sales
Saint Francis de Sales challenges us to move from simply believing that angels exist to actually developing a devotion to them by calling upon them, honoring them and asking for their help at all times, or as Saint says, “in all your affairs, temporal as well as spiritual.”
Today, we remember Saint Wenceslaus and also Saint Lawrence Ruiz and his companions, all of whose courage as martyrs reminds us that the Christian life involves a spiritual battle—but Heaven accompanies us within it.
Remembering that reality, we need to learn how to call upon the angels to help us with the meeting we are worried about, or the conversation we don’t know how to handle, or the temptation we repeatedly struggle against, and the decision we need to make, and the person we are trying to help, and the prayer in which we cannot seem to concentrate. In other words, with all of the ordinary tasks filling our day.
What might change if we consciously began to ask our Guardian Angel to accompany us in all of these moments? Maybe nothing—at least anything we can see outwardly. But we will begin to change—inwardly. We will become more recollected, and more attentive and more aware of God’s presence as we become more receptive to His inspirations and more trusting of His providential care.
Bottom line, it’s a win all around.
This week, resolve to greet your Guardian Angel each morning and ask for help with whatever responsibilities, decisions, temptations, and opportunities you face throughout the day.
Food for the Hands
“If you remembered the presence of your angel and the angels of your neighbors, you would avoid many of the foolish things which slip into your conversations.”—Saint Josemaria Escriva
Now Saint Josemaría makes an observation that might make us a bit uncomfortable. How often have we said foolish things in our conversations? I know I have! But Saint Josemaria gives us a practical way to guard against such foolishness in the future.
Imagine your next conversation and also remember that your Guardian Angel is there along with the Guardian Angel of the person standing in front of you. Are you going to say the same things? Would you gossip? How about whether you would criticize someone unnecessarily? Maybe you refrain from a sarcastic remark? Or perhaps would not speak impatiently? Or you would refrain from participating in a conversation that might damage another person’s reputation?
Now, it is relatively easy to have a sentimental devotion to our Guardian Angel, but it is different to live knowing that our angel is actually present. But this is where devotion becomes discipleship. It is where our awareness of the spiritual world changes how we behave in the physical world.
On Thursday, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and her Little Way which teaches us holiness is found in trusting God and doing ordinary things with extraordinary love. Saint Josemaria’s suggestion is helping us to do exactly that by making the small choice to speak and do the good.
We can do this in may small ways—by giving a smiling look or by sharing a kind word. By refusing to gossip and remaining silent instead of criticizing. By being encouraging rather than discouraging, or listening instead of interrupting.
Small things, but all done with great love with the help of our guardian angels.
This week, before any conversation, but especially a potentially difficult one, resolve to remember both your Guardian Angel and the other person’s angel by asking them to help you speak only what is true and necessary with love.
Food for the Feet
"At the orders of the queen, the angels frequently assisted the apostles in their travels and tribulations ... The angels often visited them in visible shapes, conversing with them and consoling them in the name of the most blessed Mary.”—Saint Mary of Agreda
What a beautiful image Saint Mary of Agreda paints for us here. And it reminds us of the reality that Mary, the angels, and we as disciples of Christ are all working toward the same goal—leading souls to Christ.
Mary is Queen of the Angels because she always points toward her Son, just like the angels do. Gabriel comes to Mary with God’s message at the Annunciation, and she responds by declaring “Let it be done to me according to your word.” And her response allows salvation history to move forward.
Maybe there is a lesson here about the fact that on our spiritual journeys, we are not to remain stationary, but are created to be sent out. Sent out to love, to work, to proclaim the truth, to endure suffering and overcome temptations as we live out our vocations on our journey towards Heaven. And throughout it all, our Guardian Angel accompanies us.
So maybe we need to stop thinking about our Guardian Angel simply as someone who protects us from physical harm, but rather as our traveling companion on the road toward holiness.
So whenever you wander from the path, ask your angel to redirect you. And when you become discouraged, ask for help. And if you are tempted, ask for protection. Whenever you are uncertain, ask for guidance, and whenever God calls you forward, ask for your angel to intercede for you to have the courage to go.
This week, resolve to consciously invite your Guardian Angel to accompany you whenever you leave home, asking for protection not only from physical danger, but especially from anything that might lead you away from God.
One of the most beautiful ways to practice this is while praying the Rosary and asking your Guardian Angel to pray with you. A favorite rosary podcast of mine is the Daily Rosary podcast by the School of Faith.
Exhortation
“The powers of hell will assail the dying Christian; but his angel guardian will come to console him. His patrons, and St. Michael, who has been appointed by God to defend his faithful servants in their last combat with the devils, will come to his aid.”—Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Saint Alphonsus Liguori may initially be disturbing, but it really is a statement of great hope because he reminds us that our Guardian Angel is not just accompanying us through the day. Rather, our angel is accompanying us home.
This is because God does not abandon us at any point during our earthly life by giving us an angel who will be with us when we struggle, are tempted or afraid. Our angel is with us as we pray and worship at Mass, and is with us every moment until the end of our earthly pilgrimage.
This is why devotion to the Holy Angels is not just about the angels, but is about God’s extraordinary love for us. A love so great that He surrounds us with grace in His Word and in the Sacraments, along with His Mother, Mary, and all the saints and angels. All to help us get home to Him.
So, this week, remember your angel and ask for help as you listen for God’s inspirations. Make sure to guard your words and strive to resist temptation. Perform small acts of love. And ask your Guardian Angel to keep you heading toward Jesus.
You are not alone and never have been.
And because of God’s extraordinary providence, you never will be.
Even if there is no other reason other than the one given to us by Saint Alphonsus about our guardian angel and Saint Michael coming to protect the dying Christian, that reason alone should be enough to cause us to honor and praise the angels, and this week of the liturgical year gives us not one, but two opportunities to do so.
Therefore, let us take the advice of all those who have come before us, and give honor and praise to the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael as well as our guardian angels.
So, may each of us do WHATEVER IT TAKES to cooperate with God’s grace and deepen our devotion to His Holy Angels by allowing them to accompany us faithfully throughout our earthly pilgrimage until the day we join them in the presence of God—and all together we will be able to tell the Master of Death, “NOT TODAY!”
All the best,
Christina
PS—If you haven’t already, go check out my latest book, Solving the Parish Puzzle: One Person, One Disciple, One Leader at a Time. It is available for purchase on Amazon.
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Latest Posts on the Women of the New Evangelization (WINE) blog:
Two Things I Ask of You (Sept 23)
Mercy, Peace and Exultation (April 12)
Harden Not Our Hearts (Mar 9)
Guest appearance on the Equipcast Podcast:
"When God Asks, How Do You Answer?: The Power of 'Yes' with Christina Semmens
Articles on the Catholic365.com Platform:
Recognizing the Path to Life
We Are All Eucharistic Missionaires!
Latest episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast...
Episode #266
“9/11, Fulton Sheen, Faith, Freedom and Liberty”
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Episode #265
“America’s Saint-Venerable Fulton Sheen”—1:1 Conversation with Dr. Peter Howard, President, Fulton Sheen Institute
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Update from The Catholic Leadership Puzzle
Here is the latest podcast on The Catholic Leadership Puzzle for your listening pleasure:
Pope Leo XIV and Pastoral Insights
In this episode I reflect upon the ideas that Pope Leo XIV shared with the Diocese of Rome, and how they are similar to the ideas I wrote about in Solving the Parish Puzzle. Holy Spirit is at work in the Church for sure!
If you have yet to pick up a copy of Solving the Parish Puzzle: One Person, One Disciple, One Leader at a Time, I encourage you to do so, especially in light of all the wonderful reviews it has received. And if you do already have a book, please consider posting a review on Amazon—every review matters!
And if you are looking for more SPP book resources and content, you can find it on Substack at The Catholic Leadership Puzzle.