Memoirs of a Guardian Angel
by M. L' Abbe G. Chardon, 1871

Quote:The child was presented at the sacred font. I was full of joy. It seemed to me that I was myself about to receive some great favor.*

* St. J. Chrysostom, Sermon on the Ascension. St. Thomas Villavona, Sermon on the Angels.

"Flow, regenerating water! spread thyself upon its brow; and may I see as soon as possible its soul such as my love desires." But no. . . . Standing face to face with Satan, the minister of Jesus Christ will not send away the usurper without humbling him. Under the veil of the exorcisms, I saw the priest chain him, scourge him, pierce him with darts. What cries that angel of evil uttered! Each anointing lit up within him the fire of a new hell.*

* St. Cyprian, Letter to Magnus. St. Basil Caesar, Homily on Humility. Life of St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, Boll

The priest gave him only the withering names of unclean spirit, of spirit worthy of damnation, of damned spirit. He recalled to him the anathema he incurred, the second judgment he is to undergo, the increase of woe that awaited him, and forced him to give glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. +

+ Ceremonies of Baptism

The water flowed at last. What virtue in a drop of water! All the wonders of grace were contained in it. From the instant it touched the brow of the new-born infant there were no stains, no malediction and, no death. Satan had fled swift as lightning; the Spirit of Love had come down, and from heaven a voice made itself heard, "This is my child." *

* St. Matthew, iii. Tertullian, Tract on Baptism. Life of St. Mary d Oignies, Boll.

For this child of men become a child of God, everything had changed: it was called by a new name, a new family had adopted it, a new life circulated in its members. To sin had succeeded grace. From the hands of Satan, it had just passed into the hands of an angel. +

+ Origen, Hom, in Ezechiel. Life of St. Bassianus, Boll.

Nothing was indifferent to its happiness. The fingers of the elect had swept the harps of gold, and in hell the demons had roared. Two souls, that had just made for it a profession of faith, looked on it as their child, and from the borders of its country a saint had bent toward the exile and said, " I will be thy protector." ++

++ St. Gregory Naz., on Baptism. Life of St. Genevieve, Boll.