By: Erinn Peterson
Each year on October 2nd, the Church observes the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. Several biblical passages connect to this feast, including Matthew 18:10: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven,” and Psalm 91:11–12: “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Throughout the Bible, God lovingly sends angels to watch over humanity, protect people from harm, and carry out His will on earth. 
For the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, October 2nd marks a turning point in Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd’s (Frances Siedliska) efforts to found her new religious congregation. In Rome, Father Laurençot, a Jesuit assistant for the French Province, became her “guardian angel” by securing her an audience with the Holy Father to present her petition to begin a new congregation. In her petition, Blessed Frances expressed her desire for the congregation to “pray, work, suffer, and give itself entirely for the Supreme Pontiff and the holy Catholic Church.” After reading her petition, Pope Pius IX responded, “May God bless you and ever enlighten your understanding that you may walk in the ways of the Lord.” This simple statement gave Blessed Frances exactly what she needed to move forward with founding the religious congregation.
In retrospect, God seems to have inspired Father Laurençot to help Blessed Frances secure an audience with the Holy Father on that particular day. Her “guardian angel” came not with wings and a halo, but as a humble priest, who was God’s chosen instrument to help fulfill her vision for a new congregation. We may initially overlook people and brief moments, yet later recognize how powerfully they shaped a person’s story. The Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels celebrates not only the angels in heaven, but also their loving presence and guidance in our daily lives, especially as they help us recognize God’s grace in the people who cross our paths.
Blessed Frances Siedliska served the Lord with piety and faith, but she also resembled each of us: she experienced fears, uncertainties, and doubts about her place in the world and God’s will for her life. Meeting the Holy Father and receiving his blessing for her work confirmed in her heart that she had faithfully answered the Lord’s call.
Nearly 153 years later, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth can trust that many guardian angels in heaven watch over the congregation and help sustain its mission of love and service. Every year the Sisters celebrate the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels with special thanksgiving for their support and protection as the initial plans for founding a new community were presented. and in the many ways they have cared for the community in the years since. Most importantly, the sisters continue to follow Blessed Frances’ example by faithfully listening for the Lord’s guidance, not only in moments of silence and meditation, but also in the words, actions, and experiences of the people they encounter each day. We too are called to take moments to listen with our hearts and our souls to the guiding voice of our Lord to contemplate what He may be asking of each one of us, as Blessed Frances did in 1873. Like her, may we also trust in the intercession of our guardian angels throughout our lives.
