How Saint Teresa encouraged us to abandon ourselves to the providence of the guardian angel
Saint Teresa of Lisieux had a particular devotion to the holy angels. How well does this devotion of yours fit into your 'Little Way' [as she loved to call that way which led her to sanctify the soul]! In fact, the Lord has associated humility with the presence and protection of the holy Angels: “Be careful not to despise one of these little ones, because I tell you that their Angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. (Mt 18,10) ". If we go to see what St. Teresa says about the Angels, we must not expect a complicated treatise but, rather, a necklace of melodies that springs from her heart. The holy angels were part of his spiritual experience from an early age.
Already at the age of 9, before her First Communion, Saint Teresa consecrated herself to the holy Angels as a member of the "Association of the Holy Angels" with the following words: “I solemnly consecrate myself to your service. I promise, before the face of God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary and my companions to be faithful to you and to try to imitate your virtues, in particular your zeal, your humility, your obedience and your purity. " Already as an aspirant he had promised to "honor with a special devotion the holy Angels and Mary, their august Queen. ... I want to work with all my strength to correct my defects, to acquire virtues and to fulfill all my duties as a schoolgirl and a Christian. "
The members of this association also practiced a particular devotion to the Guardian Angel by reciting the following prayer: "Angel of God, prince of heaven, watchful guardian, faithful guide, loving shepherd, I rejoice that God created you with so many perfections, that you sanctified by His grace and crowned you with glory for persevering in His service. GOD be praised forever for all the goods he has granted you. May you also be praised for all the good you do for me and my companions. I consecrate you my body, my soul, my memory, my intellect, my fantasy and my will. Rule me, enlighten me, purify me and dispose of me at your leisure ". (Manual of the Association of Holy Angels, Tournai).
The mere fact that Therese of Lisieux, future doctor of the Church, made this consecration and recited these prayers - as a girl usually does not, of course, - causes this to be part of her mature spiritual doctrine. In fact, in his mature years he not only joyfully remembers these consecrations, but entrusts himself in various ways to the holy Angels, as we will see later. This testifies to the importance he attaches to this link with the holy angels. In the "Story of a soul" he writes: "Almost immediately after my entry into the convent school I was accepted into the Association of the Holy Angels; I loved the pious practices prescribed, since I felt particularly attracted to invoking the blessed spirits of heaven, especially the one whom God had given me as a companion of my exile "(Autobiographical writings, History of a soul, IV Chap.).
The Guardian Angel
Teresa grew up in a family very devoted to the Angels. His parents talked about it spontaneously on various occasions (see History of a soul I, 5 r °; letter 120). And Pauline, her older sister, assured her every day that the Angels would be with her to watch over and protect her (see Story of a soul II, 18 v °).
In life Teresa encouraged her sister Céline to abandon herself holy to divine providence, imploring the presence of her Guardian Angel: “JESUS has placed at your side an angel from heaven who always protects you. He carries you on his hands so that you don't stumble on a stone. You do not see it yet it is he who has been protecting your soul for 25 years by making it maintain its virginal splendor. It is he who removes the opportunities of sin from you… your Guardian Angel covers you with his wings and JESUS the purity of the virgins, rests in your heart. You don't see your treasures; JESUS sleeps and the angel remains in his mysterious silence; nevertheless they are present, together with Mary who wraps you with her mantle ... "(Letter 161, April 26, 1894).
On a personal level, Teresa, in order not to fall into sin, invoked the guide: "My holy Angel" to her Guardian Angel.
To my Guardian Angel
Glorious guardian of my soul, which shines in the beautiful sky of the Lord like a sweet and pure flame near the throne of the Eternal!
You come down to earth for me and enlighten me with your splendor.
Beautiful angel, you will be my brother, my friend, my comforter!
Knowing my weakness you lead me with your hand, and I see that you gently remove every stone from my path.
Your sweet voice always invites me to look only at the sky.
The more humble and small you see me, the more radiant your face will be.
Oh you, who cross the space like a lightning I beg you: fly to the place of my home, next to them who are dear to me.
Dry their tears with your wings. Declare the goodness of JESUS!
Tell with your song that suffering can be grace and whisper my name! ... During my short life I want to save my sinful brothers.
Oh, beautiful angel of my homeland, give me your holy fervor!
I have nothing but my sacrifices and my austere poverty.
Offer them, with your heavenly delights, to the most holy Trinity!
To you the kingdom of glory, to you the riches of the kings of kings!
To me the humble host of the ciborium, to me of the cross the treasure!
With the cross, with the host and with your celestial help I await in peace the other life the joys that will last for eternity.
(Poems of Saint Teresa of Lisieux, published by Maximilian Breig, poem 46, pages 145/146)
Guardian, cover me with your wings, / illuminate my path with your splendor! / Come and lead my steps, ... help me, I beg you! " (Poetry 5, verse 12) and protection: "My holy Guardian Angel, always cover me with your wings, so that the misfortune of offending JESUS never happens to me" (Prayer 5, verse 7).
Trusting in the intimate friendship with her angel, Teresa did not hesitate to ask him for particular favors. For example, he wrote to his uncle in mourning the death of a friend of his: “I entrust myself to my good angel. I believe that a heavenly messenger will fulfill my request well. I will send it to my dear uncle with the task of pouring into his heart as much consolation as our soul is capable of welcoming it into this valley of exile ... "(Letter 59, 22 August 1888). In this way she could also send her angel to participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist that her spiritual brother, Fr. Roulland, a missionary in China, had offered for her: “On December 25th I will not fail to send my Guardian Angel to he places my intentions next to the host that you will consecrate "(Letter 201, 1 Nov. 1896).