September somehow marks the beginning of a new year. Schools reopen, work resumes after the summer holidays, and we prepare to leave the sunny season behind and welcome the introspection of autumn... And we are not alone in the new beginning that awaits and motivates us, because the angels are with us. Let's discover more about them!

Who are the angels?

The first important thing to remember is that the existence of angels is a dogma of faith recognized by the Church. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, angels are spiritual, incorporeal beings created by God to be his servants and messengers.
The word “angel” derives from the Greek “angelos,” meaning “messenger”; angels are personal and immortal beings endowed with will and intelligence.

Why is September the month of the angels?

To answer this question, we need to go back a little in time to 1670, when, under the papacy of Clement X, the feast of the guardian angels was established. Initially, in fact, our heavenly friends were celebrated in September; only later was the date moved to October 2.

Real, personal presences

Angels are not mythical figures, not even remotely like fairies or imaginary friends, but as Christian tradition teaches, beginning with the Bible, they are personal beings with a very important role in the history of salvation. From the moment of creation, they have been at God's service for the benefit of humanity.
Jesus’ very coming is announced by an angel—the archangel Gabriel brings the announcement to the Virgin Mary—and angels are present at all the key moments in the life of the Son of God: they assist him after the forty days in the desert and during his agony in Gethsemane; an angel of light announces to Mary Magdalene that the Crucified One has risen, and angels reassure the disciples when Jesus ascends into heaven.

Companions on the journey and along the way

Just as angels accompanied the life of Jesus and, even earlier, that of patriarchs and prophets, so they accompany every man and woman. They personally protect every individual from the beginning of life, every day.
Angels are on a “mission” on earth, sent by the Lord to protect us from dangers and enlighten our understanding in the small and great choices of daily life. Their task is to accompany people on their journey toward the destination: eternal life.
Yet, although they help people on earth, they never lose contact with God or his beatific vision, because they have the ability to combine action with contemplation.
So, along with the resumption of our daily activities and the good intentions that accompany every new beginning, we could also devote special attention to our guardian angel—with a thought or a prayer. Let us not be afraid of bothering him. He was created to be by our side and wants nothing more than to walk with us and be in relationship with us. He rejoices in our joy and supports us in our struggles, constantly carrying our hearts into the heart of the Father in heaven.