Day 20: Mary Hidden in Advent- Daniel in the Lion's Den

Daniel in the Lion's Den, Macha Chmakoff

Day 18:  Daniel in the Lion's Den

      

     Read the story today from the Bible or a Bible story book.  Hang ornament (lion).

     Daniel is saved by God from the fearsome lions and bears witness to the True God in a pagan land.

     Scripture references:  Daniel 6

     Comments:  Daniel served the king of Babylon.  He used his wisdom and his gifts as a prophet in service to his adopted country.  But more importantly, he remained constant in prayer and did not abandon his faith or God, even when his life was in danger.  Because he remained faithful, God preserved his life when the king threw him into a den of hungry lions.  The holy angels came to shut the lions' mouths.  Our Lady is the Queen of the Angels.  When we ask for her intercession, she sends the holy angels to us to guide us, instruct us, and guard us.  Let us always remember that the angels see all we do and let us always thank them for their daily care of us.

Related Title: Our Lady, Queen of Angels

Song of the Angels, William-Adolphe Bouguereau

According to Revelation, the angels who participate in the life of the Trinity in the light of glory are also called to play their part in the history of the salvation of man, in the moments established by divine Providence.  "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to possess salvation?,'' asks the author of the Letter to the Hebrews (1:14).

This is believed and taught by the Church, on the basis of Sacred Scripture, from which we learn that the task of the good angels is the protection of people and solicitude for their salvation.--Catechesis on the Holy Angels, John Paul II

Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of the Angels

August Queen of Heaven!
Sovereign Mistress of the angels!
Thou who from the beginning
hast received from God
the power and mission to crush the head of Satan,
we humbly beseech thee
to send thy holy Legions,
that, under thy command
and by thy power,
they may pursue the evil spirits,
encounter them on every side,
resist their bold attacks
and drive them hence into the abyss of eternal woe.

Amen

The Church's teachings on angels are given in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

If you would like to read extensively on the teachings of the magisterium, the Fathers, St. Thomas, and Scripture on angels, visit Raphael, a site dedicated to the teaching of the Catholic Church on the angels.