Angels of the Lord. Catherine Odell

he said that “Michael” is not a girl’s name. “Neither is it a boy’s,” she replied softly, with a smile for the bishop. She received the name. And she had a point. The angels, even the ones who have masculine names such as Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, are not male. Angels — spiritual, not physical, beings — have no gender.³¹

      “At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30).

      Our lives after the final resurrection will be essentially different from our life here on earth. The relationships of this world will be transformed, transcended; the risen body will be “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

      February 5

      Saint Agatha (c. 231–251)

      Angels to Heal Me

      Saint Agatha is one of the seven women martyrs of the early Church named in Eucharistic Prayer I. Agatha grew up in a Christian family in Sicily. During the persecutions of Christians under the Roman Emperor Decius, the governor of Sicily tried to force Agatha to renounce Christ. Agatha defended her faith: “If you threaten me with wild beasts, know that at the Name of Christ they grow tame; if you use fire, from heaven angels will drop healing dew on me.” Agatha endured cruel tortures and a month in prison before she died.³²

      Lord, our Creator, heal the hearts of all women who suffer from sexual assault, verbal threats, and physical abuse. We beg you to send your angels to protect them. Saint Agatha, help us to exorcise this evil in our society.

      February 6

      Released by an Angel

      Peter was in prison in Jerusalem, under heavy guard, awaiting execution at the order of King Herod. During the night before his trial, the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. The angel woke Peter and told him to get up quickly and put on his belt and sandals. At that, the chains fell from Peter’s wrists. As Peter followed the angel out of the prison, the guards took no notice of them, and the iron gate of the prison courtyard opened of its own accord. They hurried through the gate and into an alley where the angel suddenly left him. Only then did Peter understand that his escape was not just a dream (Acts 12:1–11).

      In you, Lord, I take refuge;

      let me never be put to shame.

      In your righteousness deliver me;

      incline your ear to me;

      make haste to rescue me!

      Be my rock of refuge,

      a stronghold to save me.

      (Psalm 31:2–3)

      February 7

      It Is His Angel

      After his release from prison, Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had gathered in prayer. Peter knocked on the gate, and a maid named Rhoda came out and asked who was there. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she ran back into the house, leaving Peter standing at the gate. She announced to those assembled that Peter was outside. They told her she was crazy! Over their objections, Rhoda insisted that Peter was really there. “It must be his angel,” they said, to explain who was knocking and speaking. When they finally opened the gate, they were astounded to find Peter there (Acts 12:12–16).

      It was a popular Jewish belief that guardian angels were our doubles and represented us personally. Jesus cited this as a sign of our great worth to God, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Matthew 18:10). Today, keep in mind that you are in the presence of God.

      February 8

      An Avenging Angel

      The death of King Herod follows the account of Peter’s escape from prison in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:21–24). This story gives us an entirely different image of an angel. King Herod addressed the people of Tyre and Sidon, wearing royal robes to display his authority over them. Some admirers in the crowd called out, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Herod accepted their praise. Because he did not give the honor to God alone, the angel of the Lord struck him down. This is the avenging angel more often encountered in the Old Testament.

      To you we owe our hymn of praise,

      O God on Zion;

      To you our vows must be fulfilled,

      you who hear our prayers.

      (Psalm 65:2–3)

      February 9

      Angels of Gates and Doors

      Writers and artists often portray angels as guardians of doors and gates. “Angels are the ones who carry us from one realm to another,” wrote F. Forrester Church. Moving from one world to another entails crossing a threshold, recognizing that there are different realities on either side. Jacob’s vision of a stairway with angels ascending and descending symbolizes this kind of transition (Genesis 28:12). The distance between heaven and earth, between God and man, is connected by angels moving effortlessly between the two realms. The doorway to heaven is open for us.³³

       Father Agostino returned from Naples at about three o’clock in the morning. Arriving at Padre Pio’s house, he was surprised to find the door open. When Father Agostino asked Padre Pio why he didn’t lock his door, the saint replied, “I have the guardian angels of the house keeping watch through the night. There is no reason to fear.” ³⁴

      February 10

      Saint Scholastica (480–542)

      Thunderstorms and Angels

      Like many twins, Saints Scholastica and Benedict were close. They were also united in their faith. Scholastica established a convent near Monte Cassino, Italy, where Benedict founded the first monastic community of men. Scholastica and Benedict visited just one day a year. In 542, Scholastica sensed death was near. When Benedict prepared to leave, Scholastica begged him to delay. And she prayed. Did Scholastica’s angel rush her request to God? Possibly. A violent thunderstorm began, delaying his departure. The next day, Scholastica died. Benedict saw a white dove rising into the sky, and he knew that angels were escorting his sister to heaven.³⁵

      Has God sent you any storms special-ordered by an angel? Could they have been sent your way for a larger, greater purpose?

      February 11

      Our Lady of Lourdes

      Envying the Angels

      Long before she died at thirty-five in 1879, Bernadette Soubirous envied the joy of the angels in God’s presence. As a poor, illiterate fourteen-year-old, Bernadette peeked into heaven’s mysteries. On February 11, 1858, the beautiful Virgin Mother of God began to appear to her in a rock grotto near Lourdes, France. Our Lady asked Bernadette to pray for sinners and to have a church built. Bernadette was happy to obey the Virgin, but it attracted attention that she didn’t want. People begged “the saint” to bless their rosaries. Bernadette entered a convent for peace and to give her life to God. When she developed painful tuberculosis of the bone, she praised God, longing for