THE GUARDIAN ANGEL’S LAMENT

Thou hast sorrowed the spirit that loved thee,

And watched o’er thy footsteps for years:

Thou hast made me at last sigh o’er thee,

In secret, in silence, and tears.

For my Father in Heaven I loved thee,

For His sake have I guarded thy ways.

Return, O return, I implore thee,

Him to love, to serve, and to praise.

O’er thy pathway through life still I hover.

Thee to comfort, to solace, to cheer;

With the love of a fond, saving brother,

Through this desert of trial and fear.

Oh! When shall I clasp thee, how fondly

And bear thee, all dangers no past,

To the arms of God Who dies for thee

To our home in the heavens at last!

NOVENA TO OURGUARDIAN ANGEL

[Say the novena for nine consecutive days.]

O holy angels, whom God,

by the effect of His goodness and His tender regard for my welfare,

has charged with the care of my conduct,

and who assists me in all my wants

and comforts me in all my afflictions,

who supports me when I am discouraged

and continually obtains for me new favors,

I return thee profound thanks,

and I earnestly beseech thee,

O most amiable protector,

to continue thy charitable care and defense of me

against the malignant attacks of all my enemies.

Keep me away from all occasions of sin.

Obtain for me the grace of listening attentively

to thy holy inspirations

and of faithfully putting them into practice.

In particular, I implore thee to obtain for me

the favor which I ask for by this novena.

[Here mention your need(s).]

Protect me in all the temptations and trials of this life,

but more especially at the hour of my death,

and do not leave me until thou hast conducted me

into the presence of my Creator

in the mansions of everlasting happiness.

Amen.