276 ROSARY TIDE. 



OCT. 2. Guardian Angels. 

 St. Thomas, bishop and confessor. 

 St. Leodegarius, bishop and martyr. 



Ohs. That particular Angels are appointed and commanded by Goi to 

 guard and watch over eachparlicular person, is an article of thc'Catliolic 

 faith of wliioh no eiclesiastical writer within the pale of the (Jliurch in anv 

 aee ever entertained the least doubt ; therefore we oujjlit to place a confidence 

 in the protection of our goori angtl, and, as St. Bernard writes, as often as anv 

 tribulation or violent temptation assails us, implore our guardian, our guide', 

 and our assistant, in all times of need. Thus says the conipilrr of the Lives 

 of the Saints, and if we closely examine this doctrine of the protection of 

 spirits superior to ourselves, but subordinate to God, we shall find that it be- 

 longs to almost rv^ry religion, with the exception of the heresies of modern 

 times, and that the Catholic Church, on the subject thoUL'h more explicit than 

 that of others, iloes in this as in other instances only illustrate by its definitive 

 character, and establi^h by its high anthority, a doctrine which, found inter- 

 mingled with almost all modes of worship, must either have originated in some 

 antient revelation, of which Catholic fdith is the consummation, or must be so 

 grounded in nature and the original structure of the mind that it susrgests itself 

 naturally to all devote and thinking persons, even in tlie absence of direct 

 information on the subject. All tiie natal genii and tutelai^ deities of pagan 

 Rome, Greece, or Aegypt, are but sciutillations of the great sacred doctrines 

 of Aneelical protection, and the Intercession of the Saints, which the Church 

 has established, and ot which the most pious individuals have testified to some 

 personal experience. A little acquaintance with the holy fathers of the Church 

 would satisfy any candid enquirer of the genuineness and antiquity of this doc- 

 trine. See Horace's Ode, Sic te Diva Potetis Ci/pri, sic /rates Hellonue, &c. 

 But for Christian authorities consult Butler's Lives, vol. x. p. 80 : .Milner's 

 End of Kelisious Coi'troversy, vol. iii. \>. 1-4 ; Instruction Pastorale sur les 

 Saints .Ansres, by Bustie bishop ot St. Malo, anno 1758; and the Antient 

 Fatliers idihi. 



The popirlar belief in presentiments and omens, the remarkable coincidences that 

 happen, and other similar tlun^, beyond our comprehension and tie calculation of 

 I'hinres, may he referred to sonic obscure agencv of these Angels, or of those evil spirite 

 whiih we are also assured are active to do us harm, and against which we are taught 

 to invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints who plead our cause in 

 heaven. See Perennial Calendar under July 20th, Sept. 29th, Oct. 2d, and Nov. 1st 

 and 2d. In the Bretiary are two celebrated hymns sung today; one at Vespers, negin- 

 iiing Custode^ hominum psallimtts Angelas ; tlie otiier at Laudes, beginning Urbu 

 I'atrr.tor optime. 



In the Eiercicio Cotidiano we have the following Oracici al Angel de Nueslra 

 Guarda :—" Dios que con di\ina providencia proveisteis al Unage uniauo del socorro de 

 Jos Angeles ; dadnie gracia con que asi houre al Angel di rai guarda, que merezca ser in 

 todo tiempo defendido por el por Jesucristo nuestro Senor." 



Milton in numberless passages alludes to the Guardian Angelship, but particularly in 

 tlie passage where at the fall of man he makes the Angels forsake Paradise, and return 



Id Heaven : , , „ , . 



Up into Heaven from Paradise m haste 

 . 'flie angelic guards ascend, mute, and sad. 



For -Man ; for of his state by this they knew, 

 Mucli wondering how tiie siibtle tiend had scol*n 

 . Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome news 



From fclarth arrived at Heavengate, displeas'd 

 All were who heard ; dim sadness did not spare 

 Tiiat time celestial visages, yet, mi\'d 

 With pity, violated not tlieir bliss. 

 About the newaniv'd in multitudes 

 The ethereil people ran, to hear and know 

 How all ijefell : they towards the throne supreme 

 Accountable, made 'haste, to make appear 

 With rigiiteous plea their utmost vigilance. 

 And easily approv'd ; when the Most High 

 Eternal F'atlier, from his secret cloud 

 Amidst, in thunder utter'd tlms his voice : 



" Assembled Angels, and ve powers return'd 

 From unsuccessful charge, ^)e notdisnaay'd. 

 Nor troubled at these tfdings from the Earth, 

 Whieh your sincerest care could not prevent. 

 Foretold so lately what would come to pass. 

 When first tliis tempter cros»'d the gulf from Hell. 



Friars Minors' Soapwort Saponaria officinalis still fl. 



We cannot conceive the origin of this name for the Saponaria, but finding it in a Flora 

 Directory quoled from some old authority, we cite it here. 



