OA Angel Stories

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When It Is Nine-Thirty… (December, 2005)
On the occasion of a parish Mission, a woman from a neighboring town sought out one of the priests. “Father, your counsel to call upon the holy Guardian Angels of those around us has already worked! My husband used to go to a bar pretty frequently. Usually, he came home drunk late in the night. Then I heard your counsel: “If a husband goes out to a bar, then the wife at home should greet and ask for help from his Guardian Angel and the Guardian Angels of his friends.” Right away I followed your counsel. For a while now, my husband has been coming home at 10 o’clock, and he’s not drunk. Finally he said to me, “I just don’t know what it is. At 9:30, I always get restless and uneasy. It drives me crazy: the beer doesn’t taste good anymore, I don’t get along with my friends anymore… It’s as if someone wanted to drive me out. Something must be wrong with my heart; I gotta go see the doctor.” “No, no. You are perfectly healthy. I know you. Just come on home at a fitting time; that’ll be medicine enough for you.” Then the woman said to the priest, “I’m sure that uneasiness comes from his Guardian Angel. Whenever he went to the bar, I prayed the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary in honor of his Guardian Angel and the Guardian Angels of all those in the bar, so that my husband would be healed and not turn into a drunk.” Fr. Gerard Stegmiller, Der Schutzengelpater Erzählt, Kral-Verlag, p. 14
The Theif
Many people know of angelic interventions only in relation to emergency situations, as for example in street accidents. But the holy angels concern themselves even more with our spiritual well-being, though we do not always recognize their loving solicitude. In the following story, both dimensions of their solicitous help are united. On August 16, 1936, a thief paid a “visit” to the owner of a leather factory, Herman Moebius, who lived in a small town on a lake in Germany. Herman’s four year old daughter, Helga, was sleeping in the nursery. The thief, Frederick Metzler, who had already been arrested several times for stealing, entered through the back garden, climbed up onto the balcony and entered the window on the second floor of the home. He broke into a desk and two cabinets, and looted a few jewels of no particular value. Suddenly, little Helga stood before the thief in her pajamas. “What are you doing?” the child asked. (This is what the thief later recounted to the police.) “I’m looking for the jewels that your Mommy must have somewhere around here.” “Mommy’s jewels?” repeated the little girl. “They are where Daddy keeps his money.” “And where does your Daddy keep his money?” “I’m not going to tell you,” answered the little one, “I bet you’re a thief!” Then the thief shook the child by the shoulders and threatened, “If you don’t tell me where your Daddy keeps his money, I’ll slit your throat!” “You aren’t allowed to do that,” said little Helga. “Oh yeah! Why can’t I do it?” “My Guardian Angel won’t let you.” “And where do you have your Guardian Angel, huh?” Helga led the thief into her small nursery and pointed to the picture of the Guardian Angel on the wall. “I always pray to him,” the child remarked. Then the thief felt his eyes moisten. There rose up in him memories of his own childhood, memories of his mother who had died so long ago… Hadn’t he also had such a Guardian Angel hanging over his poor little cot? “Okay,” said the thief and left the room. He kicked aside with disdain the pile of stolen jewels which were ready to be packed up. Then he climbed down from the balcony back into the garden, without having taken anything with him. At that point, he was overtaken and arrested by the police. Only later was Metzler’s explanation confirmed by the testimony of the child and by the abandoned loot (From Rev. A.M. Weigl, Schutzengelgeschichten, Grignion Verlag, Altötting, p. 64 ff.)
A Trip to Nigeria
Travel in Africa can be very dangerous because of the armed robbers who lurk on the out-of-the-way roads between towns. A bus ride can be a life-threatening situation. Our Sisters of the Holy Cross, when they are stationed in other continents, have permission to visit home every three years. Sr. Maria E., while stationed in Brazil had permission to visit her family in Nigeria. This usually entails three days of travel. After an overnight flight from São Paolo, she needed to take an all day bus trip to another town, before she could make arrangements to get to her own village. The bus system in Africa is very different from the buses in America. They are not marked, neither the times nor the destination. A bit confused, Sister began to pray to her Guardian Angel. A man came up to her who was also seeking the same bus. So she invited him to pray with her to the Guardian Angels. A short time later, a bus driver came up to them and announced he would be leaving for their destination. They were very happy, and thanking their good angels, entered the bus. At the beginning of the ride, Sister asked and found out that all on the bus but one Christian man were Catholic. With his permission, therefore, she invited all to pray a Rosary in honor of the angels for a safe trip. All agreed to pray with her because, as was said, bus travel was known to be dangerous. While they were still praying the Rosary, however, the bus came to a stop. They had broken down. Another bus came and passed them by while they sat waiting for the driver to fix the bus. As it turns out, they sat there all day until 5 o’clock in the evening until the bus was fixed. All were more than a little disgruntled, and asked Sister, “We were praying to the angels, why did they let this happen?” Sister could only respond, “God only knows”, and they continued their trip, praying the Rosary again. When they arrived the next morning at the town, they saw all the people from the other bus which had passed them by and from a bus which had left earlier. They were all badly shaken and weeping. Both buses had been stopped by robbers, and they were lucky to have escaped alive, though losing all they had with them. Then all from Sister’s bus understood, the angels had allowed them to break down until they were out of danger. They thanked God and the holy angels for their safe trip. (From Rev. A.M. Weigl, Schutzengelgeschichten, Grignion Verlag, Altötting, p. 64 ff.
My Daughter Joined the Army
Last July, my 18 year old daughter joined the army. Having only two children, when she left, my heart felt as if it was being torn from my breast. During basic training, the only communication we were allowed was by writing and an occasional phone call. I knew she was lonely and very homesick. Again, my heart felt like breaking. She was all I could think about and I worried all day long, from the time I woke until the time I fell asleep. I knew all I could do was pray for her and I felt the best way to do that was to pray to her holy angel and mine. Having a relationship with my angel, my prayers weren’t so much formal, but rather a pleading with him to please go to my daughter and take my love to her. I would ask him to bless her and even kiss her good night for me. Also, I would say to him, “I know you don’t really have wings, but I like to imagine your wings surrounding her with my love”. During the day I would ask him to please help her do whatever she was doing at that moment no matter what it was. So this is how I passed the nine weeks of basic training. In October, we went to her graduation. We were having a conversation and she said to me, “Mom, you don’t understand what has been happening to me. At night when I go to bed, I feel cradled in love, and during the day sometimes when I prayed, I felt everything get easier.” When she said that, I think I went into shock. I always knew my angel was answering my prayers, you see, but I didn’t expect to get such a confirmation! Thanks be to the good God! It reminds me of the angel Raphael when he said to Tobias, “When you prayed with tears, I offered your prayer to the Lord” (cf. Tobit 12:12). Not only did the good God answer my prayers, but He let me know He answered them. Thanks to the holy angels! ~ Paula Z

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