The presence of Angels in Divine Liturgy

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Quote

The Angelic hosts above are glorifying; on earth, the people in the churches are chanting in a chorus offering the same doxology as them. The Seraphim above cry the Thrice-Holy Hymn; on earth, crowds of people ascribe the same hymn. Common banquet that of the heavens and of earth that is being set up."
- Saint John Chrysostom, Homilies on King Uzziah.

Teaching

According to Father François Cassingena-Trévedy, O.S.B.:

The Angels come at the time of the Divine Liturgy to fill the Cathedral and celebrate with the priest. They perform the Liturgy with him. When we are in church, so are the Angels, as they aspire to our company. 

The Old Testament brings our attention to the liturgical function of the Angels, whereas the book of Revelation emphasizes their role. Let's mention only the Seraphim surrounding the throne of the Lord in the narrative of Isaiah's vocation, crying to one another the Sanctus words of our mass (Isaiah 6,1-3):

"In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feed, and with two they hovered. One cried out to the other: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!'"

As for the Gloria, another masterpiece of our Sundays and holidays liturgies, it simply fell from Heavens during the Nativity night, according to Luke 2,13-14: "And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'"

Angels are not those benevolent genies that today's agnostic spirituality likes to imagine, they are bodyguards: the guards of the God-body, the guards of the eucharistic body of Jesus Christ, and the guards of his ecclesial corps. The Angels are where the Mystery is; they are where there is a Christian assembly celebrating this Mystery. 

Angels are not some old liturgical folklore, but the real living environment of the liturgy, as they bear, reflect and amplify the Glory of the Holy God. 

Prayer

God eternal and almighty, my praise is so imperfect; I can barely feel Your presence when I sing the psalms, You are so far away.

Then I remember that the Angels, who behold your face night and day, are right next to me, and strengthen my prayer.

Then I feel that a part of myself, the deepest place in my soul, beholds You, that You wrap me with your greatness and your grace.

That is when the heaven opens above me, and I don't live prayer like a chore anymore, but instead as a joy.

By Father Anselm Grün.

Community prayer

Angel of God

Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom His love commits me here, Ever this day be at my side, To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Thank you! 389 people prayed

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6

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Nine days with the angels

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