Holy Confidence in the Intercession of Angels

From the Desk of Thomas McKenna

Dear Friend,

Angels may have different meanings to different people, but one thing for sure is that they are not little chubby babies with wings playing musical instruments in the heavens or floating on clouds. 

Nor are they like the common holy card image of a pious, maternal being with flowing robes hovering over little children to keep them from falling off a rickety bridge into rushing water. 

Both of these are emotionally comforting images but also entirely false. Angels are much more vital than that. They are not sent for comfort, they are sent for protection. 

If you don’t believe me, try finding a “maternal” angel in the Bible. There are none. The angelic function is masculine in a traditional sense, as witnessed by our Catechism that points out that guardian angels act as “protectors” and “shepherds”:

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” (St. Basil). Already here on earth, the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God. (CCC 336 <[link removed]>)

In so many words, the Catechism is saying that it would literally be impossible to get to Heaven without the help of angels. And I wholeheartedly believe this teaching of the Church.

It’s not that angels care nothing about our earthly well-being. Of course they do. They just see our lives differently than we do. 

From their eternal perspective, they see the end point of our journey and do everything in their power to remove obstacles so we can get there. We, on the other hand, in our human tunnel vision, usually only see the next step of the journey and forget that each point of the trip is filled with eternal meaning. 

So the angels act in certain ways that help us keep our eyes fixed on the things above and purify the things we endure below. This is why we ask them in the traditional Guardian Angel Prayer: “to light and guard, to rule and guide” us on our way. It is a prayer we should pray every day.

Angels do all of this and more for us, in a silent, deliberate, and behind-the-scenes way. Every so often someone receives a visit from an angel dressed in human garb, one who was sent to communicate a message or offer some kind of immediate protection. But this is rather rare and we shouldn’t ask for it. Only God knows when direct angelic intervention in our lives is necessary.  

What the Church urges us to do—always—is to increase our cooperation with our Guardian Angel and invoke his help in all circumstances.

Angels are not detached from our lives. In fact, they are very engaged with our day to day lives if only we will pay attention to their presence and ask their help. 

And we have to be intentional about this: invoking their aid in our daily struggles; asking help for mental health and strength in times of testing; seeking to understand and follow God’s will; and begging the grace to be faithful in all things. 

The Book of Hebrews reminds us to be confident that with God’s grace we will reach the end point of our journey: 

“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised” (Heb 10:35-36).

No doubt, it is much easier to have that kind of holy confidence when we know that a mighty angel is standing by our side at all times.

Yours in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary,



Thomas J McKenna

Founder and President

Catholic Action for Faith and Family
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P.S.If you have not submitted your intentions <[link removed]> for Operation Storm Heaven LIVE September 1, please take this opportunity to do so now.



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