THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
Because each individual soul is priceless, God has appointed an angel of heaven to be its guide and protector. Today we give special honor to these guardians, whose duty it is to defend us from evil, help us in prayer, and inspire us to live according to our Christian ideals. But we should remember to ask their intercession every day of the year.

INTROIT Ps. 102:20
Bless the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength who do His bidding, obeying the voice of His commands.
Ps. 102:1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all my being bless His holy name.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, we cannot express in words the mercy of Your providence that has given Your angels care over us. May we always be safe under their protection and happy for all eternity in their company. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Ex. 23:20-23
Thus says the Lord God: "Behold I will send my angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have prepared. Take notice of him, and hear his voice, and do not think him one to be contemned: for he will not forgive when thou hast sinned, and my name is in him. But if thou wilt hear hi voice, and do all that I speak, I will be an enemy to thy enemies, and will afflict them that afflict thee. And my angel shall go before thee."

GRADUAL Ps. 90:11-12
God has given His angels charge over you, that they may guard you in all your ways.
V. Upon their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 102:21
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, His ministers who do His will. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 18:1-10
At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: "Who, thinkest thou, is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?" And Jesus, calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them. And said: "Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. And if thy hand, or thy foot, scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 102:20, 21
Bless the Lord, all you His angels, His ministers who do His bidding and obey His spoken word.

SECRET
Accept, O Lord, the gifts we offer in veneration of Your holy angels. May Your mercy free us, under their unceasing guardianship, from our present dangers and lead us to eternal life. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Dan. 3:58
All you angels of the Lord, bless the Lord; sing a hymn of praise and exalt Him above all forever.

POSTCOMMUNION
We have received Your divine Sacrament, O Lord, in joyful celebration of the feast of Your holy angels. May their protection guard us against the deception of our enemies and keep us from all harm. Through our Lord . .