Padre Pio and the Guardian Angel: from his correspondence

The existence of spiritless, incorporeal beings, which Sacred Scripture habitually calls Angels, is a truth of faith. The word angel, says St. Augustine, designates the office, not nature. If you ask for the name of this nature, you answer that it is spirit, if you ask for the office, you answer that it is angel: it is spirit for what it is, while for what it does it is an angel. In their whole being, angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they "always see the face of the Father ... who is in heaven" (Mt 18,10) they are "powerful executors of his commands, ready to voice of his word "(Psalm 103,20). (...)

THE ANGELS OF LIGHT

Contrary to the usual images that show them to us as winged creatures, those obedient angels who watch over us have no body. While we familiarly call some of them by name, angels are distinguished from one another by their function rather than by their material characteristics. Traditionally there are nine orders of angels arranged in three hierarchical groups: the highest are the cherubim, the seraphim and the thrones; dominations, virtues and powers follow; the lowest orders are principalities, archangels and angels. It is above all with the latter order that we feel that we are somewhat familiar. The four archangels, known by name in the Western Church, are Michele, Gabriele, Raffaele and Ariele (or Fanuele). The Eastern Churches mention three other archangels: Selefiele, the archangel of salvation; Varachiele, the keeper of truth and courage in the face of persecution and opposition; Iegovdiele, the angel of unity, who knows all the languages ​​of the world and its creatures.
Since creation and throughout the history of salvation, they announce this salvation from afar or close up and serve the fulfillment of God's saving plan: they close the earthly Paradise, protect Lot, save Hagar and her child, hold the hand of Abraham; the Law is communicated "by the hand of the Angels" (Acts 7,53), they guide the People of God, announce births and vocations, assist the Prophets, to cite only a few examples. Finally, it is the Archangel Gabriel who announces the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.
The Angels are therefore always present, in the performance of their duties, even if we do not notice them. They hover close to the womb, the caves, the gardens and the tombs, and almost all places are made holy by their visit. They rise in silent anger against the lack of humanity, aware of the fact that it is up to us to oppose it, not to them. They love the earth even more from the moment of the Incarnation, they come to visit the houses of the poor and to dwell in them, in the out of the way streets and on the streets. It seems that they are asking us to make a covenant with them and, in this way, to comfort God, who came down here to save us all and restore the earth to the ancient dream of holiness.

FATHER PIO AND THE GUARDIAN ANGEL

Like each of us, Padre Pio also had his guardian angel, and what a guardian angel!
From his writings we can say that Padre Pio was in constant company with his guardian angel.
He helped him in the fight against Satan: «With the help of the good angel this time he triumphed over the perfidious design of that leg; your letter has been read. The little angel had suggested to me that upon the arrival of your letter I had sprinkled it with holy water before opening it. So I did with your last. But who can say 1st bluebeard anger! he would like to finish me at any cost. He is putting on all his diabolical arts. But it will remain crushed. The little angel assures me, and paradise is with us.
The other night he presented himself to me in the guise of a father of ours, sending me a very strict order from the provincial father not to write to you anymore, because it is contrary to poverty and a serious impediment to perfection.
I confess my weakness, my father, I wept bitterly believing that this was a reality. And I could never have suspected, even weakly, this being a bluebeard trap, if the little angel had not revealed the deception to me. And only Jesus knows that it took him to persuade me. The companion of my childhood tries to ease the pains that afflict me with these impure apostates, by cradling my spirit in a dream of hope "(Ep. 1, p. 321).
He explained to him the Frenchman that Padre Pio had not studied: "Remove me, if possible, a curiosity. Who taught you French? How come, while before you didn't like it, now you like it "(Father Agostino in the letter dated 20-04-1912).
He translated the Greek unknown to him.
«What will your angel say about this letter? If God wants, your angel could make you understand it; if not, write me ». At the bottom of the letter, the parish priest of Pietrelcina wrote this certificate:

«Pietrelcina, 25 August 1919.
I testify here under the sanctity of the oath, that Padre Pio, after receiving this, literally explained the contents to me. Questioned by me how he could have read and explained it, not even knowing the Greek alphabet, he replied: You know it! The guardian angel explained everything to me.

LS Archpriest Salvatore Pannullo ». In the letter of September 20, 1912 he writes:
«The heavenly characters do not cease to visit me and make me foretaste the intoxication of the blessed. And if the mission of our guardian angel is great, that of mine is certainly greater, since I also have to be a teacher in explaining other languages ​​».

He goes to wake him up to dissolve the morning praises to the Lord together:
«At night, even when I close my eyes, I see the veil lower and paradise open; and gladdened by this vision I sleep in a smile of sweet bliss on my lips and with perfect calm on my forehead, waiting for my little companion from my childhood to wake up and thus dissolve together the morning praises to the delight of our hearts "(Ep. 1, p. 308).
Padre Pio complains to the angel and he makes a beautiful little preach to him: «I complained to the little angel, and after making a nice little preach, he added:“ Thank Jesus that he treats you from being elected to follow him closely for the 'erta of Calvary; I see, soul entrusted to my care by Jesus, with joy and emotion of my interior this conduct of Jesus towards you. Do you think I would be so happy if I didn't see you so downcast? I who desire your advantage in holy charity, enjoy more and more in seeing you in this state. Jesus allows these assaults on the devil, because his piety makes you dear to himself and wants you to resemble him in the anxieties of the desert, the garden and the cross.
You defend yourself, always turn away and despise malignant insinuations and where your forces will not be able not to afflict you, beloved of my heart, I am close to you "" (Ep. 1, p. 330-331).
Padre Pio entrusts the guardian angel with the office of going to console the afflicted souls:
"The good guardian angel knows this, to whom I have so often sent him the delicate office of coming to console you" (Ep.1, p. 394). «In addition, offer to the glory of his divine majesty the rest you are about to take and never forget the guardian angel who is always with you, never leaving you, for any wrong you may do to him. O ineffable goodness of this good angel of ours! How many times alas! I made him cry for not wanting to indulge his wishes which were also those of God! Free this most faithful friend of ours from further infidelities "(Ep.II, p. 277).

Confirming the great familiarity between Padre Pio and his guardian angel, we report the excerpt of an ecstasy, in the convent of Venafro, dated by Father Agostino on November 29, 1911:
"", Angel of God, my Angel ... aren't you in my custody? ... God gave you to me! Are you a creature? ... or are you a creature or are you a creator ... Are you a creator? No. So you are a creature and you have a law and you have to obey ... You have to be next to me, either you want it or you don't want it ... of course ... And he laughs ... what is there to laugh about? ... Tell me something ... you have to tell me ... who was here yesterday morning? ... and he laughs ... you have to tell me ... who he was? ... or the Reader or the Guardian ... well tell me ... was he their secretary? ... well answer ... if you don't answer, I will say it was one of those other four ... And he laughs ... an Angel laughs! ... tell me then ... I won't leave you, until you told me ...
If not, I ask Jesus ... and then you feel it! ... I do not ask that Mommy, that Lady ... who looks at me grimly ... is there to do the demeanor! ... Jesus, it is not true that your Mother is demure? ... And she laughs! ...
So, young master (his guardian angel), tell me who he was ... And he doesn't answer ... he's there ... like a piece made on purpose ... I want to know ... one thing I asked you and I've been here for a long time ... Jesus, tell me You ...
And it took so long to say it, sir! ... you made me talk so much! ... yes, yes, the Reader, the Reader! ... well, my Angel, will you save him from the war that the rascal is preparing for him? will you save him? ... Jesus, tell me, and why allow it? ... you don't want to tell me? ... you will tell me ... if you don't appear anymore, well ... but if you come, I will have to tire you ... And that Mommy ... always with 1st corner of the eye ... I want to look you in the face ... you have to look at me well ... And he laughs ... and he turns his back on me ... yes yes laugh ... I know you love me ... but you have to look at me clearly.
Jesus, why don't you tell her to your Mother? ... but tell me, are you Jesus? ... say Jesus! ... Good! if you are Jesus, why does your Mommy look at me like that? ... I want to know! ...
Jesus, when you come again, I have to ask you certain things ... you know them ... but for now I want to mention them ... What were those flames in the heart this morning? ... if it wasn't Rogerio (P. Rogerio was a friar who was at that time in the convent of Venafro) which held me tight ... then also the Reader ... the heart wanted to escape ... who was it? ... maybe he wanted to go for a walk? ... another thing ... And that thirst? ... My God ... who was it? Tonight, when the Guardian and the Reader went, I drank the whole bottle and the thirst did not quench ... it owed me ... and it tormented me until Communion ... what was it? ... Listen, Mommy, it doesn't matter that you look at me like that .. I love more than all the creatures of earth and sky ... after Jesus, of course ... but I love you. Jesus, will that rascal come tonight? ... Well help those two who assist me, protect them, defend them ... I know, you're here ... but ... My angel, stay with me! Jesus one last thing ... get kissed ... Well! ... what sweetness in these wounds! ... They bleed ... but this Blood is sweet, it is sweet ... Jesus, sweetness ... Holy Host ... Love, Love that sustains me, Love, to see you again! ... ».
We report yet another fragment of an ecstasy of December 1911: "My Jesus, why so little this morning? ... You immediately became so small! ... My angel, see Jesus? well stoop ... not enough ... kiss the wounds to Gestures ... Well! ... Bravo! My angel. Bravo, Bamboccio ... Here it gets serious! ... pouts! what should i call you? What's your name? But you know, my Angel, forgive, you know: bless Jesus for me ... »

We conclude this chapter with a passage taken from the letter that Padre Pio wrote to Raffaelina Cerase on April 20, 1915, where he urged her to appreciate this great gift that God, in the excess of his love for man, assigned to us this heavenly spirit:
«O Raffaelina, how consoled it is to know that you are always in the custody of a heavenly spirit, who does not abandon us (admirable thing!) In the act that we give disgust to God! How sweet is this great truth to the believing soul! So who can fear the devoted soul who studies to love Jesus, always having a distinguished warrior with him? Or was he not one of those many who together with the angel Saint Michael up there in the empyrean defended the honor of God against satan and against all the other rebellious spirits and finally reduced them to loss and bound them to hell?
Well, know that he is still powerful against Satan and his satellites, his charity has not failed, nor will he ever fail to defend us. Make a good habit of always thinking about him. There is a heavenly spirit close to us, who from the cradle to the grave never leaves us an instant, guides us, protects us like a friend, a brother, but must always succeed us in consolation, especially in the hours that are saddest for us .
Know, O Raphael, that this good angel prays for you: he offers God all your good works that you do, your holy and pure desires. In the hours when you seem to be alone and abandoned, do not complain that you do not have a friendly soul, to whom you can open up and confide your pains to her: for heaven's sake, do not forget this invisible companion, always present to listen to you, always ready to console.
Or delicious intimacy, or blissful company! Or if all men knew how to understand and appreciate this great gift that God, in the excess of his love for man, assigned to us this heavenly spirit! You often remember his presence: you have to fix it with the eye of the soul; thank him, pray him. He is so delicate, so sensitive; respect it. Have constant fear of offending the purity of his gaze. Often invoke this guardian angel, this beneficial angel, often repeat the beautiful prayer: "Angel of God, who is my guardian, entrusted to you by the goodness of the heavenly Father, enlighten me, guard me, guide me now and always" (Ep. II, p. 403-404).