Holy Angels

From the Sermons of St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux.

On Ps. xc

He hath given His Angels charge over thee. A wonderful graciousness, and a wonderful outpouring of love. For who hath given charge? And what charge? Unto whom? And over whom? Let us carefully consider, my brethren, let us carefully hold in mind this great charge. For who hath given this charge? To Whom belong the Angels? Whose commandments do they obey, and Whose will do they do? He hath given His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways, and that not carelessly, for they shall bear thee up in their hands. The Highest Majesty, therefore, hath given charge unto Angels, even His Angels. Unto these beings so excellently exalted, so blessed, so near to Himself, even as His own household, unto these hath He given charge over thee. Who art thou? What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Ps. viii. 5. Even as though man were not rottenness, and the son of man, a worm. Job. xxv. 6. But what charge hath He given them over thee? To keep thee in all thy ways.

Deus, qui ineffábili providéntia sanctos Angelos tuos ad nostram custódiam míttere dignáris: largíre supplícibus tuis; et eórum semper protectióne deféndi, et ætérna societáte gaudére.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
R. Amen.

O God, Who in thine unspeakable Providence hast been pleased to give thine holy Angels charge over us, to keep us, mercifully grant unto our prayers, that we be both ever fenced by their wardship here, and everlastingly blessed by their fellowship hereafter.

Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

 

Ad Laudes matutinas: saec. XVI-XVII

 

Orbis patrátor óptime,

quæcúmque sunt qui déxtera

magna creásti, nec regis

minóre providéntia,

 

Adésto supplicántium

tibi reórum cœtui,

lucísque sub crepúsculum

lucem novam da méntibus.

 

Tuúsque nobis ángelus,

signátus ad custódiam,

hic adsit, a contágio

qui críminum nos prótegat.

 

Nobis dracónis æmuli

calúmnias extérminet,

ne rete frauduléntiæ

incáuta nectat péctora.

 

Metum repéllat hóstium

nostris procul de fínibus;

pacem secúndet cívium

fugétque pestiléntiam.

 

Deo Patri sit glória,

qui, quos redémit Fílius

et Sanctus unxit Spíritus,

per ángelos custódiat. Amen.

 

O great Creator of the world, who made with your mighty right hand whatever exists, and no less rules all things in your providence, be present with this assembly who prays to you and when the evening of light comes, grant a new light to our minds. May your angel assigned to guard us be present to protect us from the corruption of sin.  May he destroy the slanders of the envious serpent that our incautious hearts might not be caught in his web of deceit. May he repel far from our borders all fear of the enemy; promote peace among citizens and put to flight all pestilence. To God the Father be glory, who through his angels guards those whom the Son has redeemed and the Holy Spirit has anointed. Amen.