My hospital chaplaincy ministry is increasingly helping me realise the crucial importance of accompanying people in distress. It is not the first time that after a confession or a long chat with a patient, the latter would simply tell me with a shining face: “You are my angel!”
When I reflected on these engaging visits it soon clicked to my mind that a person is greatly relieved when s/he is listened to with compassion.
Compassionate companioning seems to be the pivotal virtue angels are endowed with by God. In the words of Pope John Paul II, during his weekly general audience of July 30, 1986, “the angels, as pure spirits, not only participate in the holiness of God himself, in the manner proper to them, but in the key moments they surround Christ and accompany Him in the fulfilment of His salvific mission in regard to mankind”. That is why Mother Church celebrates their annual feast on October 2.
As their very name implies, guardian angels guide every human being in his/her individual and corporate journey to God until his/her life’s end. In the theology of the patristic period it was held that angels were specifically the trustees of children. As time progressed there has been a rather inclusive comprehension of the angels’ protective role. For instance, St Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, states that “the angels work together for the benefit of us all” (STh I, 114, 3, ad 3). For the Catechism of the Catholic Church “angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan: They closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples. Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself” (§ 332).
In his loving mercy, God has given each and every one of us a guardian angel in order to counsel, encourage and protect us till we reach our final destiny, the heavenly Jerusalem. Having said that, it would be a grave mistake if we fell short of thinking that we too can be angels of light and comfort for one another.
This is so when we offer our tender support when someone’s life starts falling apart due to the turmoil that person may be going through. In that critical moment, we realise the powerful extent of a heartening listening ear, a gentle smile and a healing touch. We may overlook the idea that we are angels altogether since we have let ourselves be violently ravaged by our wrongdoings. Yet, the truth is that we can be angels of hope for those who need God’s tender loving care. The people we care for will surely let us know that. As Mary Eddy Backer said: “When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, nor feel the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts.”
While thanking God for providing us his heavenly aides to help us sail safe through our lives’ hardships, let us not forget that other earthly angels are journeying with us till we arrive in heaven. These too are at our side as we tread into life’s inexplicable journey in order to light, guard and guide our ways. Finally, all sorts of guardian angels are ultimately an extraordinary personification of Christ’s reliable promise “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28, 20).