Editor’s Note: We originally published this post on October 2nd, 2019.
October 2nd is the Feast of the Guardian Angels. These messengers of God played pivotal roles throughout the events of the Bible. In fact, the word angel derived from the Greek word angelos which meant “messenger”. Angels visited Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Gideon to name a few examples. In the New Testament, the angel Gabriel visited Mary recognizing her holiness and that God called her to be the mother of Jesus.
I grew up fascinated with the topic of angels. My parents always had us recite the Guardian Angel prayer before bedtime. This tradition has continued in my family, and my kids even say that prayer that before school. Catholics believe in spiritual beings, yet on a practical level and in “adult” conversations I have to admit this has been a teaching of the Church that I need to be better at living out and believing in myself.
Unfortunately, life gets busy, stress-inducing, and chaotic. It gets easy to forget out spiritual matters when all your troubles are tangible. Mortgage payments, hospital bills, strained family dynamics, or dissatisfaction at work are things people often battle. These are definitely pain points in my life. We crave truth, peace, and joy. Catholics live in the world while dreaming and hoping for the world to come. St. Augustine wrote, “Our hearts are restless until it rests in You (God)”.
The Feast of the Guardian Angels is a reminder that we should never give up hope. We always have someone to help us out even if our eyes cannot see.
An Angel for All
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 336, “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” You. Me. Everyone now, in the past, and who will live in the future has a guardian angel to protect them from harm.
We Don’t Transform into Angels
It is common for people to post in reaction to the death of a love one: “He/she just received their angel wings in Heaven!” Angels are separate beings from humans. If you go to Heaven in Union with God after you die, you will remain yourself. You will receive a gloried body, but you will not become an angel.
There’s something about the rhythm of a day that either drags us down or draws us closer to heaven.
You know what I mean. Morning rush, midday crash, evening blur, and late-night scrolling. Then we wake up and do it all again. It’s easy to get caught up in the noise, in the cycle, in the relentless pace of “just getting through the day.”
But what if our day—yes, the messy, ordinary Tuesday with lukewarm coffee and school drop-offs—could become prayer?
That’s the invitation of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office. It’s not just for monks in cloisters or clergy in Roman collars. It’s for us: lay people, parents, teachers, students, and that one guy at your parish who somehow always sings the wrong verse. And it’s the Church’s way of sanctifying time itself.
What Is the Liturgy of the Hours?
The Liturgy of the Hours is the daily prayer of the Church. It’s meant to consecrate the entire day to God. While the Mass is the “source and summit” of our spiritual lives, the Divine Office flows around it like a river of praise, scripture, and reflection. It baptizes each hour of the day in prayer.
Rooted in ancient Jewish tradition and lived by Jesus Himself, the Liturgy of the Hours is built primarily around the Psalms—those raw, poetic cries of the human heart. Whether it’s “The Lord is my shepherd” or “Out of the depths I cry to You,” the Psalms become a bridge between our lived experiences and God’s eternal Word.
Fr. Timothy Gallagher puts it beautifully: “Jesus not only prayed the psalms: He fulfilled them.” When we pray the Liturgy of the Hours, we don’t just imitate Christ; we enter into His own prayer to the Father.
The Purpose: Praying with the Church and with Christ
The Divine Office isn’t private prayer in the strict sense. It’s a liturgical prayer. That means it’s public, communal, and offered with Christ to the Father through His Body, the Church.
The Catechism describes it as a “dialogue between God and His people.” Sometimes that dialogue feels grand and glorious. Other times, it feels like groaning in hope. Either way, when you open your breviary or app, you’re joining a chorus that spans continents, languages, and centuries.
As St. Pope John Paul II said in 1979:
“Through this prayer of Christ to which we give voice, our day is sanctified, our activities transformed, our actions made holy… We pray the same Psalms that Jesus prayed and come into personal contact with him.”
That’s not just poetic. It’s powerful.
Image credit: Catholic Link
The Structure: Hinging Your Day on Prayer
The Liturgy of the Hours follows the natural rhythm of the day and is made up of five main “hours” of prayer:
Office of Readings – A longer, meditative time with Scripture and writings from saints or Church Fathers. Can be prayed at any time.
Morning Prayer (Lauds) – The “hinge” of the day, offered at sunrise. Focuses on hope, resurrection, and consecrating the day to God.
Daytime Prayer – Short moments of prayer midmorning, midday, or midafternoon. Think of it as a spiritual coffee break.
Evening Prayer (Vespers) – The second “hinge” hour. Offered at sunset to give thanks, reflect, and surrender the day’s work to God.
Night Prayer (Compline) – A peaceful end to the day, preparing your heart for rest and entrusting everything to God.
Each Hour includes:
An opening verse
A hymn
A set of psalms or canticles
A Scripture reading
Prayers of intercession
A concluding blessing
At the heart of it all are the Psalms, those ancient prayers that become surprisingly personal the more we pray them.
A Prayer for All the Faithful
While bishops, priests, and religious are obliged to pray the Divine Office daily, the Church invites all the faithful to take part. Vatican II encouraged the laity to pray the Hours either with clergy, in small groups, or individually.
It doesn’t have to be the whole thing. You could begin with Night Prayer before bed, or try Morning Prayer with your spouse or kids. Apps like iBreviary, Divine Office, or Universalis make it easy to access the prayers on your phone. Perfect for the carpool line or a quiet moment during your break.
Even just one psalm a day is a step toward that unceasing conversation with God.
Sanctifying the Ordinary
Here’s the beauty. The Liturgy of the Hours doesn’t remove us from daily life—it transfigures it.
That 10-minute Evening Prayer on the couch with the dog snoring and your toddler dumping Cheerios on the floor? That’s holy. That’s liturgical. And that’s you offering your tired, faithful love to God, just like the monks and martyrs and mystics did.
As you pray, you join in Christ’s own praise of the Father. You unite with the Church universal. You lift up the world, hour by hour, into the hands of God.
And over time, the psalms get into your bones. They come back to you when you’re anxious, joyful, weary, or unsure. They become the soundtrack of your soul.
Final Thoughts: A Quiet Antidote
In a world that confuses distraction for peace and noise for meaning, the Liturgy of the Hours is an antidote to religious indifference.
It reminds us: time is sacred. Words matter. Worship isn’t reserved for Sunday. It’s meant to shape every hour.
As St. Ambrose once said, “the Psalms soothe the temper, lighten sorrow, offer security at night, and stir up holiness by day”.
And as John Paul II said with fatherly clarity:
“Christ’s prayer goes on in the world… With the Liturgy of the Hours among the highest priorities of our day—each day—we can be sure that nothing will separate us from the love of God.”
So maybe it’s time to dust off that breviary. Or download the app. Or just start with the Benedictus tomorrow morning.
Either way, take a moment. Breathe. Pray.
Because God doesn’t just want your Sunday. He wants your whole day.
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In the cosmic battle between good and evil that rages both in the heavens and in human hearts, Catholics have long recognized that we are not defenseless. We have been given powerful spiritual weapons. Chief among our protectors stands the Blessed Virgin Mary—the Destroyer of All Heresies and our most reliable ally in spiritual warfare.
The Ancient Enmity
The battle lines were drawn in the very beginning. In Genesis 3:15, God Himself establishes the fundamental conflict: “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.” This prophetic declaration reveals Mary not merely as a passive figure in salvation history, but as Satan’s greatest adversary—the one who would ultimately crush the serpent’s head through her divine Son.
This enmity is not accidental but divinely ordained. Where Satan’s rebellion was rooted in pride, Mary’s triumph comes through perfect humility. As St. Louis de Montfort observed, “What Lucifer lost by pride Mary won by humility.” Her complete “yes” to God at the Annunciation became the antithesis of Eve’s “no” in the Garden, making Mary the new Eve who would undo what the first had corrupted.
The Destroyer of Heresies
Mary’s title as “Destroyer of Heresies” reveals her active role in defending divine truth. This title was formally recognized by Saint Pope Pius X in his encyclical Pascendi Dominici gregis, where he invoked Mary under this powerful title in the Church’s battle against modernist errors. Unlike Satan, who is the father of lies and the author of confusion, Mary stands as the embodiment of pure faith. Her unwavering acceptance of God’s revelation serves as a beacon of truth in a world clouded by deception and false teaching.
This protection against heresy is not merely theological—it’s deeply personal and practical. Mary serves as our model of faith, showing us how to receive God’s truth completely and without reservation. She exemplifies the virtues of faith, hope, and charity that we need to combat the lies that Satan whispers in our daily lives. Her example teaches us to ponder God’s word in our hearts, constantly seeking deeper understanding rather than being swayed by every wind of doctrine.
The Perfect Advocate
Mary’s role as our advocate in spiritual battle goes back to the early Church Fathers. St. Irenaeus contrasted Eve’s disobedience with Mary’s perfect obedience, showing how Mary’s “yes” defended all of humanity and freed us from the consequences of disobedience. This advocacy continues today—she who stood faithfully at the foot of the cross now intercedes for us from heaven.
Her maternal mediation is uniquely powerful because it combines a mother’s tender care with perfect union to God’s will. God has placed Mary close to Christ, uniting her intercession as a mother with Christ’s intercession as our eternal High Priest. She presents our petitions to her Son and transmits His graces to us, serving as both our advocate before the throne of grace and our protector against the evil one’s attacks.
Weapons of Prayer
In this spiritual warfare, Mary has given us specific weapons—most notably, the holy Rosary. The Rosary is not merely a prayer but a weapon of spiritual combat. As tradition holds, the Rosary serves as both “a weapon of war and a battering ram against heresy.” Through the repetitive prayers and meditation on the mysteries of salvation, we unite our hearts with Mary’s contemplative spirit, allowing her to lead us deeper into the heart of her Son.
The genius of the Rosary lies in its accessibility and portability. Like any effective weapon, it must be readily available when the battle intensifies. Modern Catholics understand that spiritual warfare doesn’t confine itself to scheduled prayer times—temptations arise throughout our daily routines, requiring us to have our spiritual weapons always at hand. This understanding has inspired innovations like The Last Weapon’s pocket-clipped rosary, designed to ensure this powerful prayer is never out of reach when the spiritual battle calls.
Daily Readiness for Battle
Mary’s protection is not reserved for extraordinary moments but extends to our ordinary daily struggles. Her universal spiritual motherhood means she cares for all of Christ’s brethren “who are still journeying on earth amidst dangers and difficulties, until they reach their heavenly home.” This maternal care recognizes that we face spiritual battles in boardrooms and classrooms, in traffic jams and family disagreements, in moments of temptation and discouragement.
The key to accessing Mary’s protection is maintaining constant connection with her through prayer. Just as St. Padre Pio would call the Rosary his weapon, understanding that regular, accessible prayer creates an unbreakable bond with our heavenly Mother. This consistent devotion transforms Mary from a distant figure into an intimate protector who walks with us through every spiritual skirmish.
The Church’s Battle Plan
The Church herself seeks to imitate Mary’s example in the ongoing battle against error and evil. Like Mary, the Church contemplates God’s saving plan and accepts divine will, striving to present God’s true face to a world that often distorts or rejects divine truth. Mary serves as both the Church’s model and protector, showing us how to embrace mystery while maintaining unwavering faith.
Her role as teacher of true theology guides the faithful in growing in knowledge and discernment—essential skills for recognizing and rejecting the subtle heresies that pervade our culture. In an age when religious truth is often relativized or rejected outright, Mary’s example of complete faith provides the stability we need to remain anchored in authentic Catholic teaching.
Victory Assured
Perhaps most encouraging of all is the certain knowledge that Mary’s protection guarantees our ultimate victory. The woman clothed with the sun in Revelation represents the Church under Mary’s maternal care, and despite the dragon’s fury, her offspring are ultimately protected. Satan may rage against those “who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus,” but Mary’s intercession ensures that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.
This confidence allows us to engage in spiritual battle not with fear, but with the bold assurance that comes from fighting under the banner of the Queen of Heaven. With Mary as our protector, advocate, and guide, we can face each day’s spiritual challenges knowing that we are never alone in the fight. The Destroyer of All Heresies stands ready to crush the serpent’s head once again in our own lives, leading us safely to her Son who is our eternal victory.
In recognizing Mary as our surefire protector in spiritual battle, we discover not only a powerful intercessor but a loving mother who desires nothing more than to see all her children safely home in heaven—victorious over every assault of the evil one.
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Years ago, a friend invited me to a seminar on the Jesus prayer.
As a cradle Catholic, I no longer felt that attending mass on Sunday was enough. Over time, I joined a choir, attended several weekend retreats for young adults and made friends who were more active in parish life than I was, all intended to bring me closer to God.
When I was asked to join one of those friends to learn about the Jesus prayer it felt like another opportunity to enhance my faith and prayer life.
Our group met one cold winter night in downtown Montreal (Quebec.). Before the session began, I struck up a conversation with two religious sisters. At first I thought they were the speakers, but no, they told me, they had come to learn about this prayer, too. I thought that if these two nuns were eager to enhance their faith, there was hope for my own.
Origins of the Jesus Prayer
We learned that the Jesus prayer has its roots in Eastern Christianity. Whereas traditional meditation has the intent in the emptying of minds, the Jesus prayer, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is invoking the name of Jesus Christ to God the Father.
This makes total sense, because Christ IS the focal point of Christian prayer.
We have access to the Father only if we pray in name of Jesus (Catechism 2664). It is the one name that contains everything (Catechism 2666). In fact when we pray to Jesus, we not only invoke him but “call him within us.”
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
We closed our eyes and pondered over those few words speaking quietly and repeating them over and over again.
In all prayer we strive to pray with an open heart and it is no different with the Jesus prayer.
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner
Those words held more weight than I knew. As I continue to delve more into scripture and God’s promise of salvation that awaits each of us, those words paint a thousand more.
God Meets You in the Struggle
In our sinfulness and brokenness, God welcomes us through his Son. Like the heavenly prize that Paul speaks of, I too, despite my daily struggles, strive for that perfect spiritual life. Despite obstacles along the way, I press on, knowing the journey towards Him, though difficult at times, will ultimately bring lasting joy and fulfillment. That glimpse of eternal joy is a sliver in our present life, but it is by God’s grace that we experience those moments on our earthly journey.
I am often guilty of being blind to God’s promise of salvation, just as St. Paul was. When I think of God crying out to Paul, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 3:9), I know too well how many times I have offended God, not just by what I have done, but also by what I have failed to do.
The Lasting Impact of the Jesus Prayer
It’s been more than forty years since that night in Montreal. I still pray the Jesus prayer, striving to carve those words permanently into my spiritual life. I’m not always successful, but I like to think that perseverance, in spite of all the worldly obstacles we face these days, is what counts.
At mass, when the host and chalice are raised, I meditate on the words of the Jesus prayer. In that moment, the gift of God’s grace is both convicting for me as a sinner, and at the same time, comforting.
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
I say those words slowly, over and over again.
When I do, I cannot help but examine my own heart:
Do I come before God in humility knowing that I need him?
Do I trust God as his adopted daughter knowing that he is with me, and that not my will but his will be done?
Do I persevere in prayer, by praying without ceasing so that through prayer I strive to become more like Jesus, even in moments of dryness and distraction?
We may strive to do all of these things, and sometimes we may do them well, and at other times fall short. It is a battle of prayer that so many saints struggled with, but never gave up by asking for God’s grace through their faith and trust in him.
Prayer brings us closer to the Father
St. Teresa of Avila says of contemplative prayer that it is “nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who loves us.” (Catechism 2709).
We need to remain open to God’s promise of salvation that awaits each of us in the heavenly kingdom. But it is only when we pray from the heart that we will receive His gift of grace and begin to forge that ultimate relationship with him.
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
May we respond to God our Father’s call to prayer, by the power of the Holy Spirit and through his Son Jesus Christ, with unwavering faith, hope and love.
About Our Guest Blogger:
Jackie lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Her publications include Blessed (Calla Press, 2023), Stories of Faith (Our Sunday Visitor, 2020), Hello and Goodbye (Dribbles, Drabbles and Postcards, 2022), and Birthdays 2022 (Grief Dialogues Stories, US). Besides writing, Jackie enjoy hiking, reading, and traveling. You can find Jackie’s work at cherishingthedeathprocess.com and at fromsimplewordstorealstories.home.blog.
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Father Richard Libby via phone call on August 23rd, 2023. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
Today’s topic is sacramentals and Catholic saints and devotions attached to them. I had the pleasure of interviewing Father Richard Libby about his experience with sacramentals and how they impacted his spiritual life.
Thank you for meeting with me again Father Libby. 🙂
Happy to talk with you Matthew!
What’s a sacramental?
An object that leads us to greater devotion. Items like the Rosary, the scapular, and the medal. They are intended to stir up our devotion.
Has your mindset towards sacramentals change much since you were ordained a priest?
There wasn’t much of a change in my attitude over the sacramentals since becoming a priest. But I have seen more and more how sacramentals are instruments to help us our journey. I have developed a new appreciation.
What sacramentals have you used during your priesthood most often?
The Rosary and the Brown Scapular. I’m also developing a greater appreciation of the Saint Benedict Medal and the Holy Face Medal.
Holy water is a sacramental and some people don’t see it as a sacramental. I like to do the rite of sprinkling once a month at my parish. I enjoy having it in the Epiphany Blessing. Holy Water is recommended in blessings such as the investiture of the Brown Scapular.
Describe a bit of your spirituality.
I was a devotee of the Brown Scapular. Since becoming a priest, I have have the opportunity to visit a Carmelite hermitage and developed friendships with them.
Which Catholic saint has had the biggest impact on your spiritual life?
The Blessed Virgin Mary and Her Rosary. I try to make it a point to pray it daily. While it’s not a required devotion, it’s such a part of our life it’s hard to imagine a Catholic without a rosary.
The three popes (John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis) I know the best in my lifetime have had a notable devotion to Mary.
John Paul II had a year of the Rosary during his pontificate. JPII wrote a document on the Rosary. He was influenced by Saint Louis de Montfort. Perhaps there is no more noteworthy child of Mary, in recent history, than John Paul II.
Benedict XVI’s devotion was a bit more reserved than JPII’s. However, he did dedicate his Pontificate to Mary, so there’s no question the Blessed Virgin Mary was influential on his papacy.
Pope Francis goes to the Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome anytime he goes on a major trip.
Any last words of advice, for new Catholic converts in terms of beginning or learning about a sacramental and devotion.
Meet with your parish priest and ask them for guidance. They should be able to connect you with resources about sacramentals.
Thank you for your time, Father Richard! It was great chatting with you.
You’re welcome! Great talking with you too.
About Father Richard Libby:
Father Richard Libby is a priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, where he serves as pastor of St. Helena Parish and as the chancellor of the diocese. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing poems and short stories, and birdwatching.
The half way point of Lent is a time period when many people begin to cave into their Lenten promises. I know for me it is a struggle. I gave up negativity and fast food. Though in giving it up I find myself with a lot of extra time. I have spent more time in prayer with God during these forty days.
The Latin word for Lent, quadragesima, literally means forty days! However, this number does not mean much to the average person unless they understand the significance of the number forty in Scripture.
God and Geography
The number forty is also attached to particular geography: mountains and deserts. When one thinks of these places words such as desolate, barren, alone, and harsh might come to mind.
God seems to have a close presence to individuals in the Bible in these settings. Take Moses for instance, in Exodus 24:18 when he stays on the peak of Mount Sinai for forty days and nights. It was here that Moses met God and received the Ten Commandments.
Elijah also met God upon a mountain, after traveling for forty days and nights. On the mountain, Elijah faced strong winds and an intense earthquake. But he continued to hold steadfast in faith and met God in a quite whisper.
How often do we let the “noises” of daily life distract us from God?
In this modern world, people hate the quiet and constantly surround themselves with “things” (cellphones, internet, television, etc.) to keep from silence.
Importance of Fasting
During Lent we are called to a life of fasting. While Christians should always be fasting in some degree throughout the year, the Church urges us to reflect upon it more deeply.
The first thing Jesus does after His Baptism is to fast in the desert for forty days and nights. Probably weak from hunger, He is tempted by the devil. But Jesus fails to give into worldly pleasures. It is this example that all Christians are called to in Lent. By giving up things from this world, we can center our life back onto Christ.
Though it may feel like you are on a mountaintop or in a desert thirsting, know that Lent is not a time for punishing yourself with guilt. In fasting one learns to give up unnecessary and sometimes harmful objects or habits and grow into a closer relationship with Jesus.
Hopefully at the end of Lent, we can all say that we truly experienced God in a deeper way, like Moses and Elijah did on the mountaintop!
