Twenty-seventh Day
St. Bonaventure has written extensively on the holy angels, and has meditated on their ways. It was a useful practice to him and helped to sanctify him. He gives us twelve effects consequent to the duty of taking care of us, which these angel guardians manifest and perform. First, they accuse of sin, as we read in Judges ii. 1. Second, they absolve from the debt of sin by inspiring sorrow in the soul, and a firm purpose of amendment. Third, they remove the obstacles that stand in the way of doing good; for the angels strangled the first-born of the Egyptians, who opposed the going away of the Israelites. Fourth, they drive away demons, as is related in the twelfth chapter, of Tobias. Fifth, they teach us in matters of religion. Sixth, they reveal the secrets of God to us. “Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?”—Gen. xviii. 17. Seventh, they console us. Eighth, they strengthen us in the way of God. Ninth, they convey and bring back, as we read in Tobias, “I will conduct him thither and bring him back to thee.” Tenth, they overthrow our enemies.—Is. xxxvii. Eleventh, they mitigate the violence of temptations. Twelfth, they pray for us, and bear our prayers to God.
Prayer.
O angel of God, etc., etc.