Sermon of Saint Bernard

"À his Angels he has given you a mandate ". A marvellous elevation, and a truly great testimony to charity. Who gave the mandate and to whom ? What are the subjects and purpose of this mandate? ? Let us consider it carefully, brothers, and let us entrust this great mandate to our memory. Who, indeed, gave this mandate ? He to whom the Angels belong, whose orders they carry out, whose will they obediently do. Yes, " he has given his angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways ". They don't even hesitate to take you in their hands. So it is the Sovereign Majesty who has given a mandate to the Angels and a mandate to his Angels. Yes, it is to these sublime beings, as happy as they are intimately united with him, to his true familiars, that he has given his mandate concerning you. And who are you ? " What is man that you remember him ? the son of man, that you should care ? "As if man were not rottenness, the son of man, a worm ! But what order do you think he gave about you ? To look after you. Just as this word should command your respect, bring you devotion, give you confidence ! Reverence for the Angel's presence, devotion to his benevolence, trust in his care. Walk cautiously, as he whom the Angels assist, as they have been commanded, " in all your ways ". Wherever you find yourself, in a guesthouse or in a secret corner, keep your reverence for your Angel. Do not be so bold as to do in his presence what you would not dare to do under my gaze. Do you doubt the presence of the one you do not see ? What would you do if you heard it, if you touched it, if you felt it? ? See, then, that it is not by sight alone that the presence of things is proved. In God then, brothers, let us affectionately love his Angels, as our future co-heirs and, in the meantime, as our trainers and protectors, established and prepossessed by the Father. What can we fear with such guardians? ? Those who keep us in all our ways cannot be overcome or seduced, much less seduce us. They are faithful, they are prudent, they are powerful: why should we tremble ? Let us only be concerned to follow them, to unite ourselves with them, and to "... be their friends". remain under the protection of the God of heaven ". Whenever, therefore, you see a very serious temptation pressing upon you, or violent tribulation threatening you, call upon your guardian, your guide, your helper, at the appropriate moment, and in tribulation, cry out to him and say: " Lord, save us, we are perishing "