Mass of the Holy Guardian Angels
Lauren Ford’s “Guardian Angel” depicts a little girl walking through the Connecticut woods that I so love, on what appears to be a late October day. Miss Ford (1891-1973) lived and worked in Bethlehem, Connecticut, not far from the Abbey of Regina Laudis.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
MR
Bless the Lord, O you his Angels,
you mighty in strength who do his word,
hearkening to the voice of his word (Ps 102:20).
COLLECT
O God, who in your ineffable providence,
deign to send your holy Angels to watch over us;
grant that we who implore you
may be defended always by their protection
and rejoice eternally in their company.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
That the Church of Christ throughout the world
may be protected by the ministry of the angels,
and, from the rising of the sun to its setting,
raise her voice in harmony with the angelic hymns of praise,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That Pope Benedict XVI
may be strengthened in his apostolic service of the Church
and guarded by the holy Angels in all his ways,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That our nation
and the peoples of every nation on earth,
may be preserved from violence, terrorism, and war
by the angels sent by God to watch over us,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit,
and those who struggle with the temptations of the desert,
may be comforted today by an angel,
even as Christ was comforted by an angel in Gethsemane,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That we may be granted the gift of spiritual childhood,
so as to behold the face of the Father
revealed to us in the human Face of Christ,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
COLLECT AT THE GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
O Lord, our Master and God,
who in heaven established orders and armies
of Angels and Archangels for the service of your glory,
make this our liturgy to be a liturgy of holy Angels,
serving together with us,
and with us glorifying your goodness.
For to you is due all glory, honour and worship,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
now and ever and forever.
Or:
May the intercession of the angels
come always to our help, Almighty God,
since we abandon ourselves with confidence
to their guidance and protection.
Through Christ our Lord.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
GR
Bless the Lord, all you his Angels:
you ministers of His who execute His word,
hearkening to the voice of His word (Ps 102:20-21).
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Receive, Lord, the gifts
which we bring in veneration of your holy Angels,
and mercifully grant that,
by their constant protection,
we may be delivered from present dangers
and, at length, come happily to eternal life.
Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
Heaven is the worthy dwelling of the angels,
creatures mysterious and sublime;
and still, believers living in the obscurity of earthly life
dare, with a loving hope,
to rely on the light and comfort of these chosen spirits
who never leave their service of adoration and praise
in the bliss of your presence.
To their everlasting hymn we unite our voice
so that in our common joy, and from all the created universe,
to you, one and immense God with the Son and the Holy Spirit,
the hymn of glory may rise up:
Or:
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
Our praises for your Archangels and Angels should not fall silent,
for it redounds to your own splendour and glory
that your admirable angelic creatures should be so honoured;
And since they are most worthy of exalted admiration,
we see through them how boundless is your greatness
and how worthy you are to be preferred above all things,
through Christ our Lord.
Through Him the multitude of Angels celebrate your majesty,
and we, jubilant in adoration, are joined to them,
and, one with them, give forth the voice of your praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
MR
In the sight of the Angels, I will sing to you, O my God (Ps 137:1).
Or:
See that you do not despise one of these little ones;
in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father
who is in heaven, says the Lord (Mt 18:10).
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Through the ministry of the Angels, Lord,
guide into the way of salvation and peace
as many as you have seen fit to nourish
with these sacraments of eternal life.
Through Christ our Lord.
