During the second half of a recent eight-mile tempo run, as I was urging myself to dig deeper and finish strong, an image popped into my mind of a little medallion that was pinned to the driver’s side visor of the first car I drove when I was sixteen years old. It was of an angel, with a banner that said: “Don’t drive any faster than your guardian angel can fly.” I’ve long since lost that medal, along with the many little gold guardian angel lapel pins that my grandmother gave me when I was little. If you’re like me, you might sometimes forget about your guardian angel. We have two feasts this week that remind us we are always in their blessed company. It’s not so much that they need to catch up with us when we move too quickly through life or veer off course, but they are always in stride with us, looking ahead a few steps as well, always uniting us to God and Heaven.       

Yesterday the Church celebrated the Feast of the Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael. These heavenly messengers signify God’s transcendence, power, wisdom and loving care. Michael (whose name means “Who is like God”) was the archangel who led the Heavenly Host in battle against Satan and the forces of evil in the Book of Revelation. St. Michael is heralded as the protector of all humanity. Legend has it that late one night, Pope Leo XIII, well known for laying the foundation for the social teachings of the Church through Rerum Novarum, experienced a horrifying vision of Satan and a legion of fallen angels descending on Rome. He dropped to his knees and prayed:

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Perhaps the language feels old-fashioned, but I  this prayer reminds me that we can use all the help we can get with the overwhelm of pain and horror we at times encounter in our world, our church and in our own messy lives—and St. Michael is always there to give it. Gabriel (whose name means “Strength of God”) appears in the infancy narratives in the Gospel of Luke. He announces to Zechariah the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist and announces to Mary the birth of Jesus, greeting our Blessed Mother with the words: “Hail, full of grace.” Raphael (whose name means “God’s Remedy”) is the archangel who led Tobias on his journey to Sarah in the Book of Tobit. Inspired by that story, we pray that Saint Raphael might “lead us toward those we are waiting for, toward those who are waiting for us.”

On Saturday, we celebrate the Feast of Our Guardian Angels. As the Catechism tells us: “from its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.” St. Basil the Great reminds us that “beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading [them] to life.”

So next time you’re experiencing a moment of solitude, on a walk, a drive, a hike, or an eight-mile tempo run – or, if you’re feeling lonely or isolated – know that you are in the company of the angels. And in the words of Pope St. Paul VI, perhaps pray:  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.