During the Vatican’s February Lenten spiritual exercises, Bishop Erik Varden delivered his eighth meditation titled “God’s Angels” to Pope Leo XIV, cardinals, and Roman Curia heads. He rejected popular views of angels as comfort-givers, instead describing them as uncompromising guardians who serve divine will alone. Drawing on medieval prayer and St. Bernard‘s teachings, Varden emphasized that angels enlighten, govern, and guide through obedience rather than indulgence. He warned that authentic spiritual encounters flow through personal relationships, not human wish-fulfillment. The meditation’s full theological framework and contemporary warnings reveal further dimensions.
Bishop Erik Varden challenged a common misconception about angels during his eighth meditation at the Vatican’s Lenten spiritual exercises on February 26, 2026, telling Pope Leo XIV, cardinals, and heads of the Roman Curia that celestial beings serve as guardians of holiness rather than indulgers of human whims.
Angels serve as guardians of holiness rather than indulgers of human whims, Bishop Varden told Vatican officials during Lenten exercises.
The meditation, titled “God’s Angels,” formed part of a retreat themed “Enlightened by a Hidden Glory” running from February 22 to 27 in the Apostolic Palace. Bishop Varden examined how Satan misused Scripture during Christ’s desert temptation, citing Psalm 90 to urge Jesus to throw himself from the Temple pinnacle with promises of angelic protection.
The bishop contrasted the devil’s challenge with God’s authentic invitation, explaining that God calls believers to “jump into my arms” rather than “throw yourself down.” This distinction emphasized obedience and trust over reckless presumption. He warned that angelic interventions are not always comforting or reassuring, noting that angels embody perfect obedience to divine will rather than human comfort.
Drawing on a medieval prayer attributed to Reginald of Canterbury, a contemporary of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Bishop Varden highlighted verbs describing angelic action: “enlighten, keep, govern, and guide.” These words denote authority and gravity, suggesting angels fortify rather than flatter those under their care.
The meditation connected to broader themes about St. Bernard, whom Bishop Varden described as a realist grounded in mercy. Bernard’s teachings exhorted an ascent to “highest and eternal truth,” directing even carnal human desires toward fulfillment in God, with angels guiding those desires to their ultimate goal.
Bishop Varden emphasized that angels perform their most decisive act of charity at death, tearing away veils of rhetoric and pretense to reveal truth. He noted they cannot be vanquished or seduced, standing attuned to divine mercy.
The bishop concluded with a warning relevant to contemporary times: true encounters, whether angelic or educational, are intrinsically personal. Grace flows through living relationships and cannot be replaced by downloads or chatbots. The meditation was published on his website Coram Fratribus Intellexi in English and Italian.
Angels, as described in Scripture, are created spiritual beings who serve God, minister to believers, execute judgment, and worship God, acting always in obedience to divine will and not as indulgent servants of human whim created spiritual beings.
