resolve. Though she was young — only twelve or thirteen years of age — and from a noble Roman family, the prefect ordered that Agnes be placed in a brothel. Waiting for her there, however, was an angel of the Lord ready to protect her. The light of the angel’s presence surrounded her like a shield and blinded all who tried to approach her. Finally, Agnes was sentenced to death and beheaded.
“Rejoice with me, and be glad, for I am espoused to him whom the angels serve. I have taken my place with all the saints in the kingdom of light; sun and moon stand in wonder at his beauty.”
— Antiphons from Morning Prayer for the Feast of Saint Agnes
January 22
Saint Vincent of Saragossa (died 303)
Angels Sent to Comfort
Saint Vincent, archdeacon of the church at Saragossa, Spain, was arrested under the persecution of the Roman emperor Diocletian. His unswerving faith under extreme torture inspired Christians throughout Gaul and as far away as Africa, where Saint Augustine preached about his courage. When it became clear that he would never deny his faith, Vincent was thrown into a dungeon. The earliest account of Vincent’s martyrdom is a hymn written by the poet Prudentius around 400. The poem recounts how Christ sent his angels to assure Vincent that his trial would soon be over and he would join them in heaven. Later, the guard stationed outside the dungeon testified that he saw brilliant light breaking through cracks in the door and heard the prisoner singing, and beautiful voices praying with him.
How can you find peace amid pain and loss? In prayer, unite your suffering to the suffering of Jesus. He will be with you through it all. He will give you light in the darkness and his holy angels will console and strengthen you.
January 23
Saint Paul’s Guardian Angel
Saint Paul was being transported to Rome to stand trial before Caesar when a violent storm at sea heavily damaged the ship and threatened the lives of all on board. Paul encouraged the sailors: “I urge you now to keep up your courage; not one of you will be lost, only the ship. For last night an angel of the God to whom (I) belong and whom I serve stood by me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You are destined to stand before Caesar; and behold, for your sake, God has granted safety to all who are sailing with you.’ Therefore, keep up your courage, men; I trust in God that it will turn out as I have been told” (Acts 27:22–25).
Many times in the Gospels we hear the words, “Do not be afraid,” spoken both by Jesus and by his angels. Paul placed his trust in the message of an angel. And so it came to pass: only the ship was lost. Grant me, Lord, not to succumb to fear when my life is buffeted by storms. Help me to place my trust in your word.
January 24
Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622)
The Guardian Angel of a Priest
Saint Francis de Sales was only thirty-five when he became the bishop of Geneva and began ordaining young men to serve the Church during a challenging era. Francis reminded them and everyone else that their guardian angels were always nearby. After ordination, one young priest told his bishop that he’d seen his guardian angel. He sensed his angel wanted him to know that he should serve the Church and its people boldly, without hesitation. “Before my ordination,” he told Bishop de Sales, “my guardian angel was always on the left, and he always preceded me.” After he became a priest, the young man said, his angel was always on his right, following him and showing respect for his priesthood.17
Saint Francis de Sales knew that angels are sent from God to guide us. He advised: “Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present to you.” 18
January 25
Angels in Charge
Gathering rain clouds. An ancient Redwood tree. A chicken scratching for food. Saint Augustine wrote that these and every other “visible thing in this world is put in the charge of an angel.” Augustine’s belief was rooted in his study of Scripture, Judaic teachings, and in the order God created in the universe. Angels are created beings, but they are also extensions of God’s care and authority. They were given authority to watch over planets, nations, seasons, animals, everything that grows — and us. Although science can reveal the mechanics of natural processes, we should also recognize that God’s hand has set them all in motion.19
“Behind every blade of grass is an angel whispering: ‘Grow, grow, grow.’”
— The Talmud20
January 26
Biblical Names for Angels
The Bible is full of angels. From the first book — Genesis — to the last — Revelation — we read of their creation and role as messengers of God and guardians of his people. Both the Old and New Testaments have many different names for these shining and amazing celestial creatures. In the Book of Job, they are called “sons of God” (Job 1:6), and in the Book of Daniel, they are described as “watchers” (Daniel 4:14). In the Psalms, angels are called the “holy ones” (Psalm 89:5), “hosts of the heavens” (Psalm 33:6), and “mighty ones who do his bidding” (Psalm 103:20). The Letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament calls angels “ministering spirits” (Hebrews 1:14).
Bless the Lord, all you his angels,
mighty in strength, acting at his behest,…
Bless the Lord, all you his hosts,
his ministers who carry out his will.
(Psalm 103:20–21)
January 27
Saint Angela Merici (1474–1540)
A Vision of Angels
Until age ten, Saint Angela Merici had a happy childhood. But within a few years, her little world in Brescia, Italy, collapsed. First, her father died. Then, her only sister and her mother died. Angela grieved because her sister hadn’t received the sacraments right before her death. Aptly named for the angels, Angela was beautiful and compassionate. She served the needy and taught uneducated, poor girls. In 1506, she had a life-changing vision. She saw angels and young women descending from heaven. Her own sister was among them. Shortly after, she founded the Company of Saint Ursula, which became the Ursuline Sisters. Today, their excellent high schools and colleges are found around the world.21
“The more you love them, the more you will care for and watch over them. And it will be impossible for you not to cherish them day and night … for this is how real love acts and works.”
— Saint Angela Merici22
January 28
Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)
Instant Messaging, Angel Style
The word “angel” means “messenger,” and believers know that angels are God’s special messengers. Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote and taught extensively about angels. He explained that speech between angels is never a matter of sounds or words. In his Summa Theologica, he said angel-to-angel communication means the direct communication of knowledge.