Basic Elements of the Spirituality of the OA
I. The Four Bearings
"Bearing" is taken to mean a foundational direction or orientation.
Just as the four points of a compass give us clear indication with regard
to the way we should travel, in a similar way the four bearings act as
fundamental orientations in the life of every member of the Work of the
Holy Angels.
The four bearings represent man’s proper response to the principle
attributes of God. God is Holy, Wise, Just, and Omnipotent. In acknowledgment
of God’s Holiness, man seeks the most fitting ways to adore and worship
His holiness. In response to the Wisdom of God, man seeks the ways of
meditation and contemplation to fathom the depths of His revealed Word.
To respond to God’s Justice man strives to make reparation by expiation
for offenses committed against His Divine Majesty. To participate in the
strength of God, man seeks to discover and fulfill his God-willed mission.
For more in-depth treatment each of these bearings, we refer you to the
Formation Letters.
These bearings are common to many spiritualities in the Catholic Church.
What makes the Work of the Holy Angels distinct is the attempt to accomplish
each of these bearings in union and collaboration with the holy angels
of God. We recommend the treatment of Fr.
William Wagner which explains each of the four bearings in reference
to the holy angels.
II. Six Traits Needed to Work with the Holy Angels
Members of the Work of the Holy Angels are encouraged to pray and invoke
the help of the holy angels. But beyond that, they are also expected to
cultivate in themselves the qualities needed to be open to the guidance
and help of the holy angel. Six of the fundamental traits which dispose
man to be better prepared for the inspiration of God’s holy angels
are: to be silent, to be listening and obedient. These fulfill the admonition
of God to Israel in mount Sinai. There He said to the chosen people: Behold
I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to
the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and hearken to his voice,
do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for
My Name is in him." (Ex 23:20-21)
The last three traits are ones by which we seek to imitate the angels,
and so become more disposed to their guidance. Poverty of spirit detaches
man from the disordered, distracting preoccupations about temporal things,
so as to enjoy the true freedom of the children of God. Purity is both
the chastity of body, and purity of soul by which man, in accordance to
his state in life, seeks to imitate the angels of God who are pure spirits.
Fidelity demands a faithfulness to God’s will, the guidance of His
Church on earth, to every legitimate superior, and the duties of one’s
state in life.
Devotion to Mary, Queen of
the Angels
The angels give great honor to Mary their Queen, and they likewise
lead us to a devotion to Mary as our Queen and Mother.
The Angels and the Cross
of Christ
The angels recognize that the greatest work that Jesus Christ
accomplished while on earth was the redemption of man through His suffering
and death. They also recognize the great dignity we may share by being
able to participate in the sufferings of Christ, in order to "make
up in our own bodies what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the
sake of His body the Church." (cf. Col 1:24) Blessed Padre Pio once
said, "The angels envy us for one thing only, that we can suffer
as Christ did, and they cannot."
Passio Domini
An integral part to the Work of the Holy Angels is a devotion to the Passion
of our Lord Jesus Christ. The angels wish to strengthen us as an angel
in the Garden of Gethsemame strengthened Jesus when He began His passion.
For this reason the members of the Work of the Holy Angels try to observe
the Passio Domini to the extent possible.
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