MUSIC OF ANGELS AND SWORDS OF SAINTS by Joan Foo Mahony
Smitten By Faith Issue # 00030 26th February 2022
The beginning of this week in Hong Kong has been bitterly cold and rainy. A quiet empty city in a dreary Winter now battling its fifth ( and possibly worst ) wave of the Covid Pandemic. And, at the end of the week, it got worse because when I turned on the television, I saw war and fear in Ukraine. So much doom and gloom. I need to write something consoling and uplifting. And so, here is my take on two of my favourite subjects - Angels and Saints.
ANGELS
Angels do exist. In fact, the Bible is very clear on this.
“For he will command his Angels concerning you
To guard you in all your ways;
They will lift you up in their hands
So that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”Psalm 91:11-12
Hebrews 13:1-2 says “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to Angels without knowing it.”
The word ‘Angel’ comes from the Greek ἄγγελος ‘angelos’ which means ‘messenger’. In Christianity, Judaism and Islam, an Angel is a super-natural spiritual being, a benevolent celestial intermediary between God and earthly beings. Angels protect and guide us – hence the term, ‘Guardian’ Angel.
In the Quran, the word for Angel in Arabic is ملاك Malāk which derives from ‘Malaka’ meaning "he controlled" and refers to heavenly spirits of the divine world.
According to one of my favourite Saints, St. Augustine of Hippo :
“Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature.
If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit';
If you seek the name of their office, it is 'Angel'.
From what they are, 'spirit' ; and from what they do, 'Angel'.”
What do Angels do ? Duties assigned to Angels include communicating revelations from God, glorifying God, recording every person's actions and taking a person's soul at the time of death.
Guardian Angels are always working behind the scenes in your life to protect you from danger and from evil. I will write about 2 well-known and special Angels : Michael the Archangel and the Archangel Gabriel. In Renaissance and medieval artworks, there are some magnificent and wonderful paintings where Angels look like humans but are painted with haloes, wings, auras of light and most of all, are radiantly beautiful.
THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
Left : Francesco Maffei, The Archangel Michael overthrowing Lucifer; ca. 1656; Oil on stone. Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
Right : Bronze statue of Archangel Michael, 1753 by Peter Anton von Verschaffelt at Castelo Sant’Angelo, Vatican City, Rome
In fact, the Archangel Michael is the first Angel - the top Angel - and the most important of the 4 Archangels ( Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel ) who leads all the Angels in Heaven. Archangel Michael is our protector against everything especially against all evil and snares of the devil. With his supernatural powers, Michael is in fact the divine version of ‘Superman’ and as the spiritual warrior, is the patron saint of soldiers. In artworks, Michael is often portrayed with wings and full armour. Indeed, the ‘Great Captain’ as you can see in the wonderful painting above by Francesco Maffei where Michael destroys the devil, Lucifer and also in the painting below by Peter Paul Rubens. The concept of the spiritual warrior has extended from Angels to Catholic saints such as St. Joan of Arc as you will see below in the second part of this article. Read about how the Archangel Michael appeared to St Joan of Arc and guided her; protecting her all the way. His sword was her sword.
Above : St. Michael expelling Lucifer and the Rebel Angels by Peter Paul Rubens; ca. 1622; oil on canvas; Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
This magnificent painting by Peter Paul Rubens shows Archangel Michael as the Great Warrior expelling the fallen Angels as described in the Revelation of Saint John. He narrates the battle in the sky between Saint Michael and his Angels against the Devil with his legions of rebel ‘ fallen’ angels. In the end “that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan” was cast out of Heaven onto the earth as were his rebel angels.
Above : In honour of the brave people of Kyiv and to reiterate and assure them that the world is praying for them, here is the wonderful statue of Archangel Michael in full armour which stands proudly and PROTECTIVELY at the top of the famous Lach Gate at Independence Square in Kyiv. The Archangel Michael, the Divine Protector and Great Warrior is also Kyiv’s Protector and symbol of freedom and independence after enduring the many sieges of Kyiv in medieval times.
ARCHANGEL GABRIEL
In contrast to Archangel Michael, the Archangel Gabriel is no warrior.
Above : Lit up against the night skies, the Archangel Gabriel’s statue ( by Gyorgy Zala ) holding the Holy Crown in one hand while the other holds the holy Cross, standing on top of the tallest Corinthian column at Heroes' Square in Budapest. The Archangel Gabriel is regarded as Hungary’s own Guardian Angel.
The Archangel Gabriel is also a high ranking Archangel and as a Heavenly Messenger of God, the very gentle Gabriel was the perfect messenger to send and make the announcement ( the ‘Annunciation’) to Mary, a young virgin in Nazareth that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Above : The Annunciation by Federico Barocci, 1535-1612. Oil on canvas, Pinacoteca, Vatican museum, Vatican City . ( In this incredible painting you see Gabriel, this high Angel of God in a rare pose - kneeling - before the Virgin Mary)
I wrote about the Archangel Gabriel in my book, ‘Millennials Meet Mary’ ( see www.millennialsmeetmary.com ). According to legend, when Mary walked to the spring towards dusk to draw water from the well, she heard a pleasing voice addressing her directly with the words: ‘Hail Mary, full of grace! You are blessed among women!’ Upon hearing this, Mary quickly ran home but the Angel appeared to her again with the same salutation. In the Gospel of Luke, he specifically mentions the Archangel Gabriel appearing to the Virgin Mary. As shown in the Federico Barocci painting of the Annunciation above, Gabriel is bowing low and kneeling before the Virgin Mary. This Angel – one of the finest of God’s Celestial Messengers, handsome and shining with the brightest light - kneeling before this young girl is captured beautifully by Barocci in his painting. The young Mary must have been in awe – if not terror – not only by the light and the powerful scent – it was said that everything smelled so sweet – but also by the incredible words of the Angel Gabriel’s greeting. According to the Gospel, Archangel Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid. Gabriel informed Mary that she had found favour with God and that, as a result she was to bear his son Jesus who would be made flesh (incarnate) in her virgin womb. The Angel also told her that the Son of God when born will be called Jesus or yeshua in Aramaic which means ‘salvation’; the Messiah who would come for the salvation of the world.
Then follows Mary’s famous reply which is clearly written in the Gospel of Luke: ‘How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?’ Gabriel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the most high shall overshadow thee. And therefore, the Holy One to be born shall be called the Son of God.’
MUSIC OF THE ANGELS
Did you know that Angels make beautiful wonderful celestial music ?
In the famous flight to Egypt by Mary, the baby Jesus and Joseph flee Israel, away from the murderous King Herod. The journey to neighbouring Egypt for the little family of 3 with probably very little provisions and with just a single donkey must have been arduous and very difficult. They probably suffered from heat, thirst and hunger. Jesus was only a little over 40 days old and Mary was still nursing him. How long was this journey? We don't know exactly how long but it must have been many weeks with constant stops for rest and shade. However, all along the way, they were protected and comforted by the Angels of Heaven and their celestial music.
Left : Song of the Angels by William-Adolphe Bouguereau 1825-1905; Oil on canvas (1881); Forest Lawn Memorial Park, California, USA
Right : Rest on the Flight to Egypt by Caravaggio 1571-1610; Oil on Canvas (c 1586); Dora Pamphili Gallery, Rome, Italy
The legendary stories of Angels who accompanied, protected and comforted the Holy Family during the flight to Egypt have provided much inspiration for many artists. I have selected 2 paintings from 2 different periods where the respective artists have depicted the Virgin Mary and child being comforted by the music of the Angels. ‘Rest on the Flight to Egypt’ is the earlier painting by the incomparable Renaissance artist, Caravaggio. The later painting is a 19th century painting by the not so well-known, but very important French neo-classical academic painter, William-Adolphe Bouguereau whose ‘Song of the Angels’ depicts eloquently the divine relationship between Mary and the Angels as the Angels sing and play - such heavenly and soothing music for Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.
The depictions by both Caravaggio and Bouguereau allow us to enter into the sublime harmony of the moment; Angels playing music and intoning songs and glory to God in their sweet voices. How wonderful to be able to enjoy the uplifting music of the Angels and not worry about anything else !
There is an 18th century song which I still sing today :
“Angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o'er the plains,
and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo”
SWORDS OF SAINTS - St. JOAN, A MEDIEVAL SAINT FOR MODERN TIMES
Saints are real.
Saints are spiritual giants; many of them are martyrs who gave up their lives for God and Saints have led incredible extraordinary lives. Among the many stories of Saints and Angels, I shall feature on just one today as she fits perfectly into the picture of a strong brave fighter. The story of Saint Joan of Arc ( who is my patron saint ) is like a shooting star across the dramatic landscape of French and English history. Women identify with her; men admire her courage and she challenges us in fundamental ways.
Left : Joan of Arc 1882 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti; Fitzwilliam Museum (University of Cambridge), Cambridge, UK
Right : Gilded Bronze statue 1874 by Emmanuel Frémiet at the Place des Pyramides in Paris
Who was St. Joan of Arc or ‘Jeanne D’Arc’ (in French) ? She is a national heroine and Patron Saint of France. A peasant girl who believing that she was acting under divine guidance at the age of 16 years led the French army in a momentous victory at Orléans in 1429 that repulsed an English attempt to conquer France during the Hundred Years' War. From the young age of 13 for the next few years , St Joan began hearing voices and seeing visions of Saints and an Angel. She heard and saw :
- Michael the Archangel ;
- St. Margaret of Antioch, who lived in the 3rd century Roman Empire, a brave young woman who endured martyrdom after 3 horribly painful attempts to force her to renounce her faith; and
- St. Catherine of Alexandria, who converted many pagans to Christianity in the 4th century and who was also tortured and martyred at young age of 18 .
At her trial, Joan said of her Saints and Angel : “ I shall call them to help me as long as I live” .
You can see how Michael the Archangel himself delivers God’s unequivocal message to Joan. At the same time, Archangel Michael also guides this very young girl to - not just any Saints - but to 2 gentle comforters, two young girl Saints and heroines whose paths Joan too would later follow. She was told by them that God had chosen her to lead France to victory in its long-running war with England. With no military training, this illiterate 16 year old peasant girl on her mission from God was able to convince the embattled Crown Prince Charles of Valois to allow her to lead his French army to the besieged city of Orléans where it achieved a momentous victory over the English and their French allies, the Burgundians. However, after seeing the prince crowned King Charles VII, Joan was then captured by Anglo-Burgundian forces, tried for witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake in 1431 at the age of 19.
The trial of Saint Joan is gripping and so sad. At the trial, you see this peasant girl speaking with incredible eloquence answering her inquisitors and facing them with unfazed courage and bravery. One very well-known exchange which bears mention here was when Joan was asked by her persecutors if she knew whether she was in God's grace. She answered: 'If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me.' The question was itself a trap because the church doctrine was that no one could be certain of being in God's grace. If she answered yes, she would have been charged with heresy. But if she answered no, she would have been confessing her own guilt.
The trial by Joan’s enemies was rigged; the sad conclusion, a foregone one. in 1431, despite the lack of incriminating evidence, Joan was quickly condemned of heresy and witchcraft and sentenced to death by burning on a stake before hundreds at the market square in Rouen. As the fire was lit, and spread, Joan uttered her last words, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus,” she said, repeating Christ's name several times before her death.
St. Joan lived at a time of cultural change. But she was also at the beginning of her own adult feminine life. Just imagine the drama of a beautiful young girl having to cut her hair, dress as a man in armour and lead soldiers to war ? So brave ! As a young girl growing up, I recall going to the cinema to see the movie ‘St Joan’ where Jean Seberg played her brilliantly. At school, I even directed and acted in George Bernard Shaw’s play St Joan. Guess what role, I had ? St Joan of course ! My patron saint continues to inspire me and I have no doubt that she has been and is with me throughout my life.
Saint Joan’s impact can be seen in her :
- Virtues - a young girl who obeyed the command of God to perform such extraordinary deeds !
- Her spiritual formation and zeal.
- Her Identity – her strong sense of self and her personal calling.
- Her immense power of persuasion and attraction – as when she persuaded Charles of Valois to let her lead his army.
- Her purposeful action in executing her mission.
- Realism – her ability to judge.
- Inspiration – how she led the French to victory - a leader indeed !
I mentioned George Bernard Shaw earlier and his lovely play about Joan of Arc. He described the impact of St. Joan as :
“What I really believe is that if we are humble enough to be pliable in God’s hands, letting God continually mould and create us , each one of us becomes the absolutely unique human beings we were always meant from eternity to be.”
St Joan is as important in the 20th century as she was in the 15th. In addition to her battlefield accomplishments, at her trial, Joan of Arc defied the societal norms during her time for how the thoughts of women should be viewed. She spoke up against political and theological issues - topics that women's words rarely made an impact on. St Joan’s issues of mysticism, calling, identity, trust and betrayal, conflict and focus are still our issues today. And, St. Joan was renowned not just for her bravery but her true devotion to God. She strengthened people's faith into God and into the Catholic Church because she showed a great example that "...with God, all things are possible".
Left : A remarkable artwork - Episodes from the life of Joan of Arc in 1884 by Albert Maignan – pen,ink and wash
Right : Here I am at my Baptism in Singapore when I was 5 years old and given the name ‘Joan’ after St. Joan of Arc. My entire family was baptised together. Can you see the happy grin in my face as my God-Mother tips my head into the baptismal font for the priest to pour water over me ?
I would like to end with the words of a great modern French Catholic Jesuit theologian, Cardinal Henri de Lubac S.J. I take the liberty of paraphrasing some of his beautiful words. He said :
"We have at our disposal for loving, understanding, and serving God not only our own powers; but everything from the Blessed Virgin in the summit of Heaven…. The whole of creation, visible and invisible, all history, all the past, the present, and the future, all the treasure of the Saints, multiplied by grace—all that is at our disposal as an extension of ourselves, a mighty instrument….All the Saints and the Angels belong to us……Everything of the good, the great, and the beautiful from one end of the earth to the other.”
We don't need to keep Angels and Saints at a distance. Keep them close to our hearts- especially now at the time of Covid and wars and we will all prevail over this dreadful Pandemic and territorial invasions.
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