Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels: Angels-link ūnus, Angels-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

A guardian angel is an angel that is assigned to protect & guide a particular person, group, kingdom, or country. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Émilie de Villeneuve, Religious (1811-1854), foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Jan Beyzym, Priest, S.J. (1850-1912): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Book of Zechariah, chapter eight, verses one thru eight;
Psalm One Hundred Two, verses sixteen, seventeen, & eighteen; nineteen, twenty, & twenty-one; & twenty-nine, twenty-two, & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses one thru five & ten.

Commentary: "The Gospel for this memorial is proper."

Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today we celebrate the memorial of our Guardian Angels. Why does God send these spiritual messengers to help us? Well, Aquinas says that each of us, due to our fallible nature, have been assigned a heavenly guide. Is all of this just speculation and conjecture?

One of my favorite stories about angels [is] this one: two relatively inexperienced pilots found themselves lost on a foggy day. Though they tried desperately to make contact with an airport, they were incapable of doing so. One of them then prayed for protection.

In time, a voice crackled onto the radio. The speaker identified himself as a controller from a small airport. Through very precise instructions, he guided the two pilots through the fog to a landing-strip at that airport.

Once they had arrived to their astonishment they discovered that the airport was closed and that there was no one on duty. A bizarre coincidence? A happy accident? Or perhaps a sign that we are being protected by powers at a higher pitch of ontological perfection. As you know, stories such as this come out of the woodwork once people are given the opportunity to share them.

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-three, verses twenty thru twenty-three;
Psalm Ninety-one, verse eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses one thru five & ten.

†

Bible Study—The Bible Timeline: Return
The Book of Nehemiah, chapter nine, verses six thru thirty-seven;
The Book of Nehemiah, chapter eleven (verses one thru thirty-six);
The Book of Nehemiah, chapter twelve (verses one thru forty-seven).
The Book of Nehemiah, chapter thirteen (of thirteen; verses one thru thirty-one).
The Book of Nehemiah, chapter ten (verses one thru forty).

Commentary: Confession of the People (9:6-37), Repeopling of Jerusalem (11:1-2), the Residents of Jerusalem (11:3-24), the Other Cities (11:25-36), Priests & Leviates under Zerubbabel (12:1-9), High Priests (12:10-11), Priests & Levites under Joiakim (12:12-26), Dedication of the City Wall (12:27-43), Offerings for Priests & Levites (12:44-47), Separation for Aliens (13:1-3), Reform in the Temple (13:4-14), Sabbath Observance (13:15-22), Mixed Marriages (13:23-31), Agreement of the People (10:1-28), & Provisions of the Pact (10:29-40).

Bible Study—Proverbs in a Month
The Book of Proverbs, chapter two (verses one thru twenty-two).

Commentary: The Blessings of Wisdom (2:1-22).