THE FEAST OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS (OCT. 2ND)

A Chinese Version of the Ancient Byzantine Icon of the Holy Guardian Angel Helping Princess St. Helena Give Alms to the Poor

Edited by Bp. Joseph

Today, according to the Ancient Western Calendar that our Holy Church upholds, we keep the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, giving thanks to God for those heavenly ministers whom He appoints for the protection and guidance of His people. “He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:11). Their ministry reminds us that the Christian life is lived not only amid the things which are seen, but within the greater communion of the unseen creation, where the angels continually worship before the throne of God. All of life, truly, is spiritual warfare! 

Holy Scripture speaks naturally and repeatedly of angelic guardianship. Our Lord warns us not to despise His little ones, “for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). The angels belong wholly to God, and their ministry always directs us toward Him. They guard, strengthen, warn, and accompany according to His command, fellow servants with us beneath the kingship of Christ.

On this feast, Western Orthodoxy preserves the ancient Christian instinct of gratitude for these unseen companions of our pilgrimage. May Almighty God grant that, defended by His holy Angels amid the dangers of this present life, we may persevere faithfully in the way of salvation, until with Angels and Archangels and all the company of heaven we behold the glory of the Most Holy Trinity forever.

COLLECT

O ALMIGHTY GOD, who in thy merciful providence hast appointed the holy Angels to minister unto the heirs of salvation: Grant, we beseech thee, that by their watchful guardianship we may be defended from all perils of body and soul, strengthened against the assaults of the adversary, and guided faithfully in the way of thy commandments; that, being preserved by thy grace through the pilgrimage of this mortal life, we may at the last, with Angels and Archangels and all the company of heaven, behold thy glory and rejoice before thy throne for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

聖護守天使瞻禮 

十月二日 

今日，我聖教會循其所奉守之古西方教曆，慶祝聖護守天使瞻禮，感謝上主差遣諸天上侍臣，護衛並引導祂的子民。經云：「因他要為你吩咐他的使者，在你行的一切道路上保護你。」（聖詠九十一篇十一節）天使之職事提醒我們，基督徒之一生，不獨行於有形可見之世，亦身處於那更廣大、肉眼不可見之受造界共融之中；在彼，眾天使常侍立於上主寶座之前，晝夜不息，敬拜頌讚。誠然，人生一切，皆為屬靈之爭戰！ 

聖經屢屢明言天使護守之職。吾主親自警戒我們，不可輕看祂的小子，因祂說：「我告訴你們，他們的使者在天上，常見我天父的面。」（聖瑪竇福音十八章十節）諸天使全然屬於上主，其一切職事亦莫不引人歸向上主。他們奉上主之命而護守、堅固、警戒並陪伴我們；在基督君王之權柄下，他們與我們同為事奉上主者。 

值此瞻禮，西方正教保存古代基督徒素有之虔敬，為我們塵世旅途中這些肉眼不可見的同行者而感謝上主。願全能之上主施恩，使我們在今世諸般危難之中，蒙祂聖天使之護佑，忠貞恆守救恩之道；及至此生旅程告終，得與眾天使、總領天使及天上諸軍，共瞻至聖三一永恆之榮耀，在祂寶座之前歡欣踴躍，世世無窮。 

本日祝文 

全能之上主，爾以慈悲之聖佑，命諸聖天使服事承受救恩之人：伏求爾施恩，使我等賴其警醒護守，得免身靈諸般危難；抵禦仇敵之攻擊，蒙爾堅固；遵行爾之誡命，蒙爾引導；又使我等於此必死之生旅中，常蒙爾恩保全，至終得與眾天使、總領天使及天上諸軍，同瞻爾之榮耀，永遠歡欣於爾寶座之前；此賴我主耶穌基督而求，祂與爾及聖靈，一上主，永生永王，世世無窮。阿們。