July 29

There is joy in the presence of the Angels.

WHEN thou goest into the church . . . see that thou leave behind thee the tumult of wavering thoughts, forget utterly the care of outward things; so shalt thou make room for God alone. . . . Turn the ear of the Lord with vows and humble prayer, yea with tears and sighs beseech His mercy on thy sins. Also do thou with spiritual songs praise Him and give Him glory in all His works. For there is no sight more welcome to the citizens of heaven, nor any tribute more pleasing to the most high King, who Himself beareth witness "whoso offereth the sacrifice of praise he honoureth me." Happy indeed shouldst thou be if once to the eye of thy spirit it were shown in what array the princes go forth, and with them the singers in the midst of the damsels playing on the timbrels. So wouldst thou doubtless see with what care they make their footfall to the beat of our psalmody, how their voices mingle with our prayers, how they stand by our meditations, hover over our silences, and mingle with our hopes and longings. Truly, those powers above love their fellow-citizens below, eagerly they rejoice with us heirs of salvation. They are our comfort and strength, our protection and providence.

For they all long for our coming, since it is indeed to us that they look for the building up of the ruins of their city. Good of the good they diligently require; good of the good they gladly hear. Busy is their swift embassage betwixt us and God; faithfully do they bear to Him our sighs; humbly do they return to us His answering grace. How then shall those disdain to be our fellows who are now so truly our ministers. Our penitence is their joy. Let us therefore make all haste that by our means their joy may be made full.

DIVI BERNARDI, Meditationes, cap. vi., trans. by P. W.

ANGELS