Belief in guardian angels. "God’s angel hath been my keeper”, said Judith; and her words show us that she believed that she had a guardian angel. The Catholic doctrine about guardian angels is thoroughly founded on Holy Scripture.
Application. Do you always give glory to God, or do you cherish vain thoughts, and boast of your own attainments? Are you fond of talking about yourself? Do you try to depreciate others in order to exalt yourself? Renounce pride! Be ashamed of your silly vanity and boasting! Each day direct all your intentions to the greater glory of God, for this is an excellent way to put down pride and to obtain merit in the sight of God.
V. EPOCH:
THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.
(606—536 B. C.)
Chapter LXXV.
FALL OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDA.— THE BABYLONIAN
CAPTIVITY (588 B. C.).
[4 Kings 24 — 25. Jerem. Baruch. Ezech. Daniel.]
At last the people of Juda became so hardened in sin that the divine chastisements had no longer any effect upon their hearts. They gave themselves wholly up to the vile practices of idolatry, and persecuted the prophets of God, several of whom they put to death. In vain did the great prophet, Jeremias[1], who lived at that time, endeavour to recall them to repentance. Finally, the patience of the merciful God was exhausted, and the ruin so often foretold by the prophet Isaias fell heavily on the people.
- ↑ Jeremias tried to convert the people and avert the threatened punishment by his own penances. He put on himself an iron yoke (i. e. the strong bar which fastens two oxen together), and thus preached penance to the people. He did this in order to bring home to them into how degrading a servitude they had fallen. But they scourged him and threw him into a dungeon, from which he was delivered by Nabuchodonozor when he conquered Jerusalem.
