Built on the Rock Feature

Where Are all the Angels?

Where Are all the Angels?

Peter Arnez

“Where are all the angels?” I wanted to know.

“This is the hard part,” my mom said. “You have to slow down long enough to see and hear all the angels flying above and around you.”

The Imitation of Christ appeals to me, as a guide on how to get from one place to another place.

This book is nothing less than a spiritual transport guide. The word “admonishments” is used by the author to describe the “path” he has outlined to get to a special spiritual destination. The “path” is a mental exercise, requiring a reconditioning of how we perceive and then proceed to act out in our day-to-day activities.

My mom explained this very concept to me and to my brothers in a special way that has stayed with me long since she has passed on to heaven…

I remember as a kid of maybe six years old going into the brand-new Saint John Vianney church for the very first time with my two younger brothers. I remember thinking, “this place is so huge!” My brothers and I promptly got down on our bellies and dove under the pews, starting in the back of the church and then crawling on the floor under all the rows of beautiful new wooden pews,

all the way up to the front… and magically popped out in the front pews. A fantastic experience. My mom must have caught us by then and sat us down for a serious talk on how to behave properly in this beautiful new Church.

I’ll never forget how mom said that this church is LARGER on the inside than it is on the outside. She said the ceilings all point to heaven, and that CHRIST is the one that is going to lead us there. For a six-year old this was a lot to take in. And sure enough, there was the crucified Christ hanging above the altar.

She also said that there are ANGELS EVERYWHERE in the church, dancing in the aisles and all around the altar praising Christ and pointing the way up to heaven. Mom really had our attention. “Where are all the angels?” I wanted to know. “This is the hard part,” my mom said, “you have to slow down long enough to see and hear all the angels flying above and around you.”

The “admonishments” in the Imitation of Christ are the “how-to” instructions, on how to transport yourself spiritually. Once there you can see and hear what is invisible to the outside world. This is exactly what my mom was teaching us all those decades ago as we sat in the pews looking at the angels flying above and around us.

I will never forget that child-like wonder and awe experience that my mom shared with me that day. It enabled me as a child to “erase” all outside distractions and experience Christ in a fuller way. In essence, I was transported to a place of spiritual perception, where I could see angels dancing everywhere.

Fifty years later, I can no longer erase the outside world distractions the way I could as a child. The book, Imitation of Christ, is in my opinion is an incredible guide on how to get on a more spiritual path. Still, I like to think that even if I can no longer “see” the angels flying all around, I can at least “feel” their presence.

Book Review

The Imitation of Christ Revisiting an old classic.

Review by Father Donnell Kirchner, CSsR Try placing a copy near your favorite easy chair, next to the remote control, making it readily available.

You can even download it onto your i-Pad.

Distractions. For instance, in Composed and organized around 1425 by Thomas à Kempis, a Dutch monk, this book has exercised great influence on western spirituality, second only to the Bible according to my experts, inspiring readers from Thomas More and St. Ignatius Loyola to Thomas Merton and Pope John Paul I.

spiritual messages from us, but are we equipped to hear those messages to which we need to pay attention?

To be challenged? To grow?

Temptations. In book one, chapter 13, no. 2, this eternal truth alerts us: “Temptations can really profit us, even though they test us and weigh heavily. Temptations humble, purify, instruct. . . .

No community is so holy, no place so isolated from the world that temptations and adversities disappear.”

book one, chapter 6, we find under the topic of inordinate affections, “The man who is not yet wholly dead to self, is soon tempted, and is overcome in small and trifling matters. It is hard for him who is weak in spirit, and still in part carnal and inclined to the pleasures of sense, to withdraw himself altogether from earthly desires.” The Imitation We all face our demons. No Church

“When one has only about 90 seconds to spare for a quick meditation or to grab a thought for the day, The Imitation offers short, quick, pithy sayings to nourish us as we move on to other activities.”

The Imitation of Christ was not so much an original work, but a collection of sayings from medieval mystics who reflected upon the Scriptures and the writings of the Church Fathers. Thomas à Kempis discovered many insights into human nature, how easy it is to fool or deceive oneself. What makes this seemingly out-of-date text practical and useful for the busy pastor today is that when one has only about 90 seconds to spare for a quick meditation or to grab a thought for the day, The Imitation offers short, quick, pithy sayings to nourish us as we move on to other activities.

I compare it to the Book of Proverbs.

reminds me that in current-day America, there are lots of creature comforts that can separate me from the love of Jesus Christ (c.f., Rom 8:35ff). Pleasure in food or drink, a nice car or computer, that 45-inch HD TV screen or my next vacation can easily fill my life with distractions — distractions that end up taking over and controlling my life.

Listening. In book one, chapter 7,

no. 2, we are reminded to “not trust too much in your own opinion, but be ready also to hear the opinions of others.” I guess that is why the Lord gave me two ears, but only one mouth. Many people want to hear

position, title or activity keeps us immune from some types of sinful inclinations, whether it be lust, anger, laziness, jealousy, pride, etc.

Instead of only being annoyed or disturbed, the Scripture says that the finest gold is purified in the hottest fires. Those trying moments strengthen and transform us into the men of God we were meant to be. As Thomas à Kempis wisely says, “If we could depend on ourselves to make God the pure object of our desires — then we would not cloud our critical faculties by carnal thinking” (book 1, chapter 14, no. 1).

Patience. Like the Serenity Prayer

attributed to St. Augustine, in book

1, chapter 16, no. 1, we are reminded that “what you cannot change in yourself or others, you must put up with patiently until God

This minimal effort will guarantee that our spiritual GPS keeps us in contact with the Lord. “Find a convenient and unhurried time for

“Face truth! We deceive ourselves by pampering our bodily desires” (book 1, chapter 24, no. 2). Or “Do not over trust yourself. You don’t possess that

“Lord, I want to find You only…so I will speak to You as one speaks to a lover, as friends talk at dinner.” make changes possible. Such trials develop patience, without which all your good deeds have little worth.

When you pray about your stubborn impediments, ask God to help you.” In what parish are there no conflicts, no messy relationships, no unpleasant situations? Who does not need to practice patience?

Self-denial. “Our happiness rests not in the abundance of possessions; a modest number of possessions suits us better. Earth has a way of bringing us unhappiness” (book 1, chapter 22, no. 2). If we are honest, we will never say to ourselves that we now possess enough. Our fallen nature will always ask for more, to our great spiritual detriment and distraction. How much of our energy and attention have we allowed to be directed that way, leaving us far away from the Lord? “Unless you discipline yourself, don’t expect to conquer sin. For so long as we live in these bodies, we meet sin, weariness and sorrow” (book 1, chapter 22, no.

5).

Praying. As we face the many

challenges and demands of daily parish life, we may find consolation from this phrase: “If you cannot manage frequent devotional periods, rest content with what you can do.

Surely you can mediate twice a day: in the morning plot your day; in the evening review your day, how you have behaved in word, deed, thought” (book 1, chapter 19, no. 4).

meditation on God’s love. Don’t meddle in matters beyond you, but read materials that move head and heart to spiritual sensitivity” (book 1, chapter 20, no. 1). Our first pastoral concern should be to pray for our people; in the time left over, go forth and work for their salvation.

We all know that harboring anger or resentments, refusing to pardon or forgive, being addicted to a certain vice, spending too much time with television or on the computer can lead to those situations which make it hard for us to pray. Get rid of the junk in your life.

Examination of Conscience.

“Notice your weakness. Observe your bent to evil. Today you confess your sins; tomorrow you commit the very same sins. . . before long you behave as if you never examined yourself at all” (book 1, chapter 22, no. 6).

much grace or understanding. You possess limited light…you detect little problems in others, but overlook big problems in yourself ” (book 2, chapter 5, no. 1).

Nothing like stopping and checking out what is going on around us and in us. A good examination of conscience keeps up always on the correct course.

Reflecting and pausing not only make good sense spiritually, but also for good health of the body. It reduces stress, heart attacks and anxiety!

Jesus as your friend. When other

friends go away, He sticks by you” (book 2, chapter 7, no. 1).

“Listen, then, to the Good News: die with Him so that you will live with Him…in the Cross lies all true meaning: (book 2, chapter 12, nos.

2, 3). Or in book 1, chapter 23, no. 2, “What does it profit to live long, when we amend so little?”