God has given each one of us a guardian angel that we are called to respect and listen. This was the theme of Pope Francis’ homily today at Casa Santa Marta.
The Pope, who celebrated the memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, reflected on their role in the lives of the faithful. God, he said, gives each one of us an angel to accompany us who serves as “God’s ambassador.”
“When we – for example – do something bad and we think we are alone, there he is,” the Pope said Have respect for his presence. Listen to his voice, because he counsels us. When we feel that inspiration: ‘But do this…this is better…you shouldn’t do this…’ Listen! Don’t rebel against him.”
Guardian angels, he continued, are meant to counsel us as a friend, especially in difficult moments of trial or sin.
“A friend that we do not see, but that we feel,” he said. “A friend who one day will be with us in Heaven, in the eternal joy.”
“He only asks us to listen to him, to respect him. Only this: respect and listen. And this respecting and listening to this companion on the road is called docility. A Christian should be docile to the Holy Spirit. Docility to the Holy Spirit begins with this docility to the counsel of this companion.”
Concluding his homily, Pope Francis called on those present to ask God for the grace of docility to be able to listen to the counsel of our angelic companions. Through them, Christ “does not leave us alone, he does not abandon us,” he said.
