St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady as Theotokos

Mosaic of Our Lady from the Hagia Sophia, taken from The Religion Network
[The following is excerpted from St. Francis de Sales' sermon on Our Lady's Nativity, given on 10 September 1620, and translated by the Nuns of the Visitation in Frederick, Maryland, USA in "The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady," published by TAN Books. 11 October is the feast of Our Lady's Maternity on the traditional sanctoral calendar.]

"The great Apostle St. Paul, who is certainly admirable in all that he said, offered an argument by which we can understand how great is the dignity of the Mother of God: Is there an angel, even a seraphim, to whom the Eternal Father has said: 'This one is My Son'? (Heb. 1:5). Oh no, that applied only to our dear Savior and Master, who was His true and natural Son. And we can add: Is there any creature to whom the Son of God has said, 'My Mother'? No, certainly, that was due to this Virgin [Mary] alone, who had carried him for nine months in her sacred womb. Let us conclude, then following this great saint, that the greatest title that can be given to the Holy Virgin is to name her Mother of God."

One Way to Remember Your Guardian Angel

The Church in the West's feast day for our guardian angels is on 2 October. Here's one prayer from the Christian East that I recently found that really struck me.



Russian Icon of a Guardian Angel, taken from St. George Books
Byzantine Prayer to the Guardian Angel
Holy Angel, overseer of my wretched soul and miserable life, do not abandon me a sinner, do not desert me because of my inconstancy; leave no place for the evil demon to obtain dominion over me by gaining control of this mortal body; strengthen my wretched and feeble hand, and guide me into the way of salvation. Yea, O Holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body, pardon me all things whereby I have saddened thee all the days of my life, and whatever sins I have committed this day; shelter me in the coming night and protect me from every abuse of the adversary, that I may not anger my God by any sin; and intercede for me to the Lord, to strengthen me in His fear, and show me to be a worthy servant of His goodness. Amen.

[Taken from Free Republic Religion Forum: The 12 most important things to know about angels.]