Memorial of the Guardian Angels

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Exodus 23.20-23

Behold, I send an angel before you,
to guard you on the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
Pay attention to him and listen to his voice.
Do not provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him.
But if you indeed listen to his voice, and do all that I speak,
then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries.
For my angel shall go before you, and bring you to
the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite,
and I will cut them off.

Responsorial - Psalm 91.1-2, 3-4ab, 4c-6, 10-11 Resp. 11

R. He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
who rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Say to the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”

R. He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler,
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers.
Under his wings you will take refuge.

R. He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
nor of the destroying plague at noonday.

R. He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

No evil shall befall you,
nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.
For he will put his angels in charge of you,
to guard you in all your ways.

R. He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

Gospel – Matthew 18.1-5, 10

The disciples came to Jesus, saying,
“Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them,
and said, “Amen I say to you, unless you turn, and become as little children,
you will not even enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Whoever therefore humbles themself like this little child,
they are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me.

See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.