Chapters of motives to devotion to the angels from 'Devotion to the Nine Choirs of Holy Angels' by Bouden:
FIRST MOTIVE.
THE ADMIRABLE PERFECTIONS OF THESE SUBLIME INTELLIGENCES.
The greatness of the angels beyond the thought of man to conceive. They are spirits pure and bright. Called Intelligences. How they are represented in Scripture. Their marvellous power. Their enchanting beauty. Everything about them enrapturing. They are the mirrors of God's perfections. Called by the name of God in Scripture.
SECOND MOTIVE.
THE INCOMPARABLE GOODNESS OF THESE SPIRITS OF LOVE.
Angels the kings of heaven. They love us with every variety of love. Their love untiring and unchangeable. They are our best and oldest friends. Yet they meet with nothing but ingratitude and contempt from men. Hence their love for men is past understanding.
THIRD MOTIVE.
ALL THE HOLY ANGELS ARE ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF MEN.
All the angels are ministering spirits; even the highest and most exalted. Proofs of this from Scripture. Their numbers exceedingly great. What gratitude we ought to feel to these princes of heaven, and what joy and confidence in their friendship.
FOURTH MOTIVE.
ALL MEN ARE ASSISTED BY THE HOLY ANGELS.
The love of God to man has no other motive but itself. The smallest sin has in it something terrible and abominable: the angels clearly discern this, yet cease not to assist sinners. Heretics and unbelievers have their protecting angels; even Antichrist will have a guardian-angel. No excess of malice and ingratitude prevents these beings of heavenly purity from devoting themselves to the service of men.
FIFTH MOTIVE.
THE HOLY ANGELS DO ALL THAT IS POSSIBLE TO BE DONE FOR THE GOOD OF MEN.
Angels have assumed visible forms in the service of men. They accompany us everywhere, despite our folly and vileness. The princes of Paradise are our servants and slaves. They watch over everything belonging to us. Scripture instances. The whole world is full of them.
SIXTH MOTIVE.
THE HOLY ANGELS ASSIST US IN TEMPORAL THINGS.
Their considerate kindness and liberality. They have care of our bodily nature and sustenance; and confer all sorts of benefits upon us. Instances of this from Scripture and the Lives of Saints. They deliver us from all kinds of evil, and assist us in all our distresses. Instance of the pillar of cloud and of fire that accompanied the people of Israel.
SEVENTH MOTIVE.
THE HOLY ANGELS RENDER US GREAT SERVICES FOR ETERNITY.
The affair of eternity the one great affair. The zeal which the angels show to procure men the life of grace. The care they take to maintain and increase it. They instill a love of all virtues, and especially of purity. They inspire men with love for Jesus and Mary. An incident in the life of St Dominic. They communicate light to the understanding and pious impulses to the heart. They preserve from sin, and deliver from it. They animate and encourage in labours and sufferings.
EIGHTH MOTIVE.
THE PROTECTION OF THE HOLY ANGELS AGAINST THE DEVILS, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THEIR DIFFERENT TEMPTATIONS, WHICH ARE HERE TREATED OF.
Life one long temptation. We are weak, and our enemies are mighty. The devils cruel in their rage. Their formidable strength. Their subtle machinations. The devil ever busy in laying snares. Baits them cunningly. Attacks if he cannot seduce. Chooses well his time. Feigns to retreat. Amuses with a false peace. These wicked spirits mislead souls in the ways of grace. Turn men aside from their true vocation. Tempt them to frustrate God's intentions. Delude them in the matter of prayer, confession, and communion. The artifices they employ in the highest paths of grace. They tempt to presumption, impatience, weariness, despair. Distort the imagination. Take advantage of their smallest imperfections. Present false notions of devotion. Insinuate a censorious and critical spirit. Raise persecutions against the servants of God. Promote scandals and abuses. Some persons their special instruments. The devils find their stronghold in heresy. They are indefatigable in pursuit. They penetrate everywhere. Their assaults more violent in proportion to our love of God. Their number beyond conception. Our blindness and insensibility. The power of humility and of self-mistrust. We must avoid occasions of temptations; and be prompt in resisting. When chastity is assailed the only safety is in flight. Remedies to be adopted in case of other interior sufferings; scruples, or other disquietudes; temptations to blasphemy, or the idea of reprobation. Living by faith the sure rule of the spiritual life. It is one of the devil's stratagems to make us be occupied with anything but what we ought to be about. Another is to give us a taste for occupations which are not suitable to our state. Against all the artifices of hell God has given us the defence of His holy angels. Instances of their protecting power. The devils have a great dread of them.
NINTH MOTIVE.
THE GREAT ASSISTANCE WHICH THE HOLY ANGELS AFFORD US AT THE HOUR OF DEATH, AND AFTER DEATH.
On the moment of death hangs the sentence of eternity. The thought of God's judgments terrible. The angels our friends when creatures abandon us. Blessed are they who have been devout to them during life. The angels present our souls before the tribunal of God.
And the motivations go on
in the book.
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