Start novena Sept 23 ending Oct 1, vigil of the Feast Day of the Holy Guardian Angels.
O Holy Angel, whom God, by the effect of His goodness and His tender regard for my spiritual welfare, has charged with the care of my conduct, and who assists me in all my wants and comforts me in all my afflictions, who supports me when I am discouraged and continually obtains for me new favours, I return thee profound thanks, and I earnestly beseech thee, O most amiable Protector, to continue thy charitable care and defence of me against the malignant attacks of all my enemies. Keep me away from all occasions of sin. Obtain for me the grace of listening attentively to thy holy inspirations and of faithfully putting them into practice. In particular, I implore thee to obtain for me the favour which I ask for by this novena.
[Here mention your intentions]
Protect me in all the temptations and trials of this life, but more especially at the hour of my death, and do not leave me until thou hast conducted me into the Divine Presence of my Creator in the Mansions of everlasting happiness. Amen.
O most faithful companion, appointed by God to be my Guardian, and who never leaves my side, how shall I thank you for your faithfulness and love and for the benefits which you have obtained for me!
You watch over me when I sleep; you comfort me when I am sad; you avert the dangers that threaten me and warn me of those to come; you withdraw me from sin and inspire me to good; you exhort me to penance when I fall and reconcile me to God.
I beg you not to leave me. Comfort me in adversity, restrain me in prosperity, defend me in danger, and assist me in temptations, lest at any time I fall beneath them. Offer up in the sight of the Divine Majesty my prayers and petitions, and all my works of piety, and help me to persevere in grace until I come to everlasting life. Amen.
+ Day 2
+Day 3
O Holy Guardian Angel, dear keeper of my soul, I pray that I may never more offend my Lord nor thee. I pray that I may always heed thy counsel. I pray that I may one day see thy beautiful face and recognize thee as the dearest and most beloved companion of my soul, and embrace thee with special affection and gratitude. I pray that I may one day be worthy of sharing with thee Paradise, where together we may praise the glories of the Most Holy Trinity, and honor our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the true love and devotion she deserves, for all eternity. May God’s Will be done. Amen.
+Day 4
The Guardian Angel’s Lament
Thou hast sorrowed the spirit that loved thee,
And watched o’er thy footsteps for years:
Thou hast made me at last sigh o’er thee,
In secret, in silence, and tears.
For my Father in Heaven I loved thee,
For His sake have I guarded thy ways.
Return, O return, I implore thee,
Him to love, to serve, and to praise.
O’er thy pathway through life still I hover.
Thee to comfort, to solace, to cheer;
With the love of a fond, saving brother,
Through this desert of trial and fear.
Oh! When shall I clasp thee—–how fondly
And bear thee, all dangers now past,
To the arms of God Who dies for thee
To our home in the heavens at last!
Anon.
Beautiful, zuzu! Thank you.
+ Day 5
Aspirations to be Said Devoutly with the Intention of Relieving a Holy Soul
HAIL, glorious Angel, appointed by God to be my guardian!
Hail, holy Angel, my protector in all dangers!
Hail, holy Angel, my defense in all afflictions!
Hail, holy Angel, my most faithful friend!
Hail, holy Angel, my guide!
Hail, holy Angel, my preceptor!
Hail, holy Angel, witness of all my action!
Hail, holy Angel, my helper in every difficulty!
Hail, holy Angel, my counselor in doubt!
Hail, holy Angel, my shield at the hour of death!
Day 6
+Day 7
Our Duties toward Our Guardian Angels
GREAT indeed is our debt of gratitude to our Guardian Angel for his tender and untiring solicitude in our behalf. Not until we enter eternity shall we know the number of benefits which have come to us through his agency from the first moment of our existence. With Tobias, we ought therefore to exclaim in deepest gratitude: “What wages shall we give him, or what can be worthy of his benefits?”
[Tob. 12: 2].
St. Bernard tells us that we owe our Guardian Angel profound respect for his presence, confidence in his love and power to protect us, and gratitude for the great benefits which he confers upon us. “Always remember that you are in the presence of your Guardian Angel,” he exhorts his disciples. “In whatever place you may be, in whatever secret recess you may hide, think of your Guardian Angel. Never do in the presence of your Angel what you would not do in my presence.”
The great dignity and sanctity of the holy Angels makes the duty of reverence an indispensable one for us. Before the great ones of earth, men are very modest and respectful, yet the dignity of earthly kings and princes is incomparably less than that of the lowest of the Angels. Therefore, we should always conduct ourselves piously and modestly before our holy Angel, refraining from every word, gesture or action which could displease or grieve our heavenly friend and guide. This continual remembrance of the presence of our holy Angel is also an excellent means of overcoming temptation.
If we truly love our Guardian Angel, we cannot fail to have a boundless confidence in his powerful intercession with God and a firm faith in his willingness to help us. This will inspire us frequently to invoke his aid and protection, especially in time of temptation. It will prompt us also to ask his counsel in the many problems which confront us, in matters both great and small. Many of the Saints made it a practice never to undertake anything without first seeking advice of their Guardian Angel. The words which God addressed to the people of Israel, our Guardian Angel also addresses to us: “Call upon me in all necessities, in all dangers and temptations; I will protect and assist you, and your prayer will contribute to my glory.”
Above all, we owe to our faithful Guardian Angel the most profound gratitude for the numberless benefits he bestows upon us. Like the young Tobias, we too are overwhelmed with continual benefits by our good Angel. Always and everywhere he stands at our side, lovingly protecting us, kindly warning us and earnestly exhorting us. In no way can we better prove our gratitude than by obediently following his admonitions and showing a tender filial devotion toward him.
+Day 8
They Pray with Us and for Us
Holy Scripture clearly teaches that the Angels pray in our behalf. The Prophet Zacharias, speaking of the supplicating Angels who were watching over jerusalem, says, “The angel of the Lord answered, and said: ‘O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and the cities of Juda?’ ” [Zach. 1: 12]. And the Archangel Raphael said to Tobias, “When thou didst pray with tears . . . I offered thy prayer to the Lord.” [Tob. 12: 12]. St. Augustine says: “The Angels pray for us, not as if God did not know our needs, but the sooner to obtain for us the gift of His mercy and to secure for us the blessings of His grace.”
On one occasion, while assisting at Holy Mass with special fervor, St. Gertrude was rapt in ecstasy. In this state she saw her Guardian Angel bearing her prayers to the throne of the Divine Majesty, presenting them to the three Divine Persons and imploring them to hear her petitions. The prayer of the Guardian Angel was accepted and Gertrude was blessed by each Person of the Godhead.
St. Bernard frequently admonished his disciples to conduct themselves in an edifying manner in the performance of their devotional exercises, lest their Guardian Angels, who took part in them, should withdraw. “How happy you would be,” he exclaimed, “if you could see how they hasten to join those who sing the Psalms and with what reverential bearing they remain among them! They assist those who pray and meditate. With great solicitude they go back and forth between God and us, bearing our sighs to the throne of God. Let us therefore strive earnestly to make their joy complete.”
It is related that St. Gregory of Tours and others who slept at the time of prayer received a blow from their Guardian Angel. The histories of religious orders recount many instances of holy souls being awakened by their Angels for prayer in the morning and being punished by them for small faults, such as not rising immediately or not giving themselves to meditation with sufficient fervor.
+ Day 9