“Before every person there marches an angel proclaiming, ‘Behold, the image of God’.”
When I was very young and in Catholic grade school, the sisters taught us about angels, especially our guardian angels. We were even encouraged to name our guardian angels. I did: “Timothy Michael.” All these years later, I am not quite sure why I chose that particular name, but it’s still the name of my guardian angel.
When I became an Oblate, I learned that St. Francis de Sales had a great devotion to the angels, even suggesting that every country, city, and village had its own protective angel. On his many travels as Bishop to the towns and villages of his diocese, he would invoke the help of its angel before entering.
In my many years of spiritual direction, I often silently invoked the guardian angel of the person I was guiding, especially when they were trying to express something difficult but important in their spiritual lives.
In the Salesian tradition, angels are viewed within the larger scope of a caring, kind, and protective Providence. We are never on our own. God and his heavenly host are with us and for us. Hence, the Salesian emphasis on confidence, optimism, and hope: “Put all anxious thoughts aside!”
I come to the Jewish saying above. It captures so beautifully the role of our guardian angels. I will personalize this. From my baptism, “Timothy Michael” has marched before me every step of the way as I encountered life, people, and events, crying out the most important truth about me (and you!): “Behold, the image of God.”
If you ever begin to doubt who you are, whose you are, or your infinite worth, heed to the voice of your angel: “Behold, the image of God!”
Rev. Lewis S. Fiorelli, OSFS
Provincial
Wilmington-Philadelphia Province
