Every September 11th, we reflect on the events of 9/11/01. When I first published this piece, it was the 14th anniversary. It’s unavoidable, if you turn on a television, radio or look at social media. And I believe that is a very good thing! I for one mean it when echoing the sentiment, “We must never forget.”
For many of my generation, 9/11/2001 was the event (to date) that changed our lives and perspective of the world, much like Pearl Harbor did for America’s “Greatest Generation” that fought and won World War II.
However, unlike WWII, that ended just 4 years later, we are decades into the chaos that September day brought us, with no end in sight. In fact, many wonder how serious our current leadership takes the “We must never forget” slogans, banners and memes. We wonder if something else evil is approaching, something terrible and yet unseen outside of the minds of mad men.
Well I may sound like a broken record to those who read my columns each month, but I’ve got good news.
For to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. – Psalm 91:11
You are truly never alone. In addition to the Lord Himself and the saints that are happy to befriend you, there are angels under God’s command. Angels are real, and defined in the Catechism as “spiritual, personal, and immortal creatures, with [superior] intelligence and free will, who glorify God without ceasing and who serve God as messengers of His saving plan.”
Some of these superior intelligent, eternal beings have a specific job to do – watch over you. You have a bodyguard. You may even have a celestial security detail that rivals that of a president, dignitary or celebrity in this life (admit it, that’s a pretty cool thought). The 336th paragraph of the Catechism states “beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.”
Life is fragile, and with so many things beyond our control, I wonder: what catastrophes have been averted through our angels’ diligence? It’s comforting to realize that your security is not left to just yourself and other people. Remind yourself once in awhile to thank them. And also know if you’re hurting at this very moment, they see, they hear and they understand your need.
For those that lend an ear to voices of doubt, and say, yeah right. Easy for you to say. You’re still alive. I say you are missing the point – we might not understand what forms of “guidance and protection” an Angel provides, or how many days we each have on Earth, but the fact that they exist and that there is indeed a plan (i.e. God wins!) should always be enough to remove the suspicions and fear we live with, all these years after 9/11.
From that same Psalm, we get a more succinct response.
You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day. Psalm 91:5
John C Connell 
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