What is the Confraternity of the Holy Guardian Angels?
The Confraternity of the Guardian Angels is a public association of the faithful in the Opus Sanctorum Angelorum (OA or Work of the Holy Angels), recognized by the Church, whose members want to honor and imitate in a special way their Guardian Angels and all the holy angels.
The Confraternity of the Guardian Angels in Opus Sanctorum Angelorum was originally erected in Innsbruck, Austria, by Bishop Dr. Paulus Rusch with a decree of April 20, 1961. The Confraternity was then erected in several other countries. It was also erected in 2006 in the United States and stands under the direction of the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross.
Objectives of the Confraternity of the Holy Guardian Angels
Members are personally devoted to the Guardian Angel and promote this devotion.
They strive towards Christian perfection with the help of the holy angels.
They respond to the common vocation of all Christians to the apostolate in union with the holy angels for the edification of the Kingdom of GOD.
They promote vocations in the Church.
Spirituality of the Confraternity of the Holy Guardian Angels
The spirituality of the Confraternity of the Guardian Angel is orientated according to the following spiritual principles:
The love for prayer and for Eucharistic Adoration is a powerful means of spiritual growth. The holy angels teach us how to adore God as they “constantly behold the face of My Father in heaven” (Mt. 18:10).
The Contemplation of the word and the salvific works of God helps us to know God more and more, and to recognize and fulfill His will in our daily lives.
The imitation of Christ in the spirit of Expiation, especially the readiness to sacrifice for priests and consecrated souls, is strengthened by a life lived in union with the holy angels.
The collaboration in the apostolic Mission of the Church, effective help of neighbor through corporal and spiritual works of mercy, is a fruit of conscious collaboration with the holy angels.
Apostolate of the Confraternity of the Holy Guardian Angels
Members promote the Work of the Holy Angels (OA) through a living devotion to the Guardian Angel.
Through courageous confession of faith in word and deed, members defend the truths and values of the Gospel in the family, work place and society.
Members grow in the love of God and neighbor through spiritual reading, days of recollection and retreats.
Members support priestly and religious vocations through prayer and sacrifice, as well as by contributing towards the formation and sustenance of priests and religious.
Admission into the Confraternity of the Holy Guardian Angels
Those of the Catholic faithful may be received into the Confraternity of the Guardian Angels who aspire toward the exemplar of the Guardian Angel and possess the necessary qualities. They should be familiar with the spirituality of the Work of the Holy Angels and feel drawn to pursue a more intimate relationship with their Guardian Angel.
There are two ways of membership:
The Confraternity’s two consecrations–to the individual’s own Guardian Angel and to all the holy angels–along with the respective Promises of the Confraternity formally delineate the two modalities of membership in the Confraternity of the Holy Guardian Angels. To each consecration, there corresponds a particular form of spiritual commitment to God and the holy angel(s) within the Confraternity.
a) Associate members: Those who make the official Consecration to the Guardian Angel and the simple Promise of the Confraternity become associate members in the Confraternity of the Holy Guardian Angels. The Consecration to the Holy Guardian Angel aims principally at the spiritual good of the individual himself.
Admission to become an associate member is granted after a year of probation in which the candidate comes to know the spirituality of the Confraternity through monthly formation letters and the guidance of a priest in Opus Angelorum, as well as through retreats and days of recollection. The simple promise in the Confraternity is made jointly with the Consecration to the Guardian Angel. The Consecration and admission to the Confraternity takes place within a liturgical celebration, and if possible, during a retreat or a day of recollection.
b) Active membership: Associate members of the Confraternity can apply for active membership. After a further formation period of three years, they make the Consecration to All the Holy Angels along with the perpetual Confraternity Promise and become active members of the Confraternity. The Consecration to All the Holy Angels entails a greater commitment to service in the Kingdom of God. The active members strive to collaborate with all the holy angels under the banner of Christ Crucified. In the imitation of Christ and strengthened by the holy angels, this commitment implies a readiness to sacrifice and bear sufferings for the salvation of souls. The Consecration to All the Holy Angels and admission to active membership in the Confraternity takes place within a liturgical celebration, and if possible, during a retreat or a day of recollection.
The Seven Most Important Tasks of the Members
1. Members strive to live, like their angel, continually in the presence of God.
2. They love silence which disposes them to listen to and to obey their angel.
3. They imitate the Guardian Angel through Christian love of neighbor.
4. They want to be, like their angel, servants of the heavenly Queen, Mary.
5. They daily renew their consecration to the Guardian Angel.
6. They practice and promote the praying of the Angelus.
7. They draw their strength from the Cross and from the Sacrifice of the Mass with the reception of Holy Communion, if possible daily. They also observe the devotion of the Passio Domini, watching with our Lord during the time of the Agony in the Garden on Thursdays and compassionating with Him on the Cross on Fridays. The active members should try to spend at least one hour with our Lord on each of these days.