The Guardian Angel Clock

The book entitled "The Clock of the Guardian Angel" was dedicated by Father Drexel to all the young men of the Brotherhood of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, in Upper Germany, on St. Michael's Day in the year 1621; but this dedication is preceded by another one that the author addresses to his Guardian Angel. Following this first dedication, Father Drexel placed the Angel's reply, in which the principles of his book are set out. He had asked his Guardian Angel to teach him how to pray, live and die. The Angel replied that "it is rather in reverse order that the instruction must be given. I want to teach you first to die," he said, "then to live, then to pray. It would be ridiculous to desire a good death, and to live badly; and he will never know how to pray well to one who has not already shaken off the yoke of vice".

For every hour of the day and night: A teaching to learn how to die, to learn how to live. Each hour ends with a prayer to learn how to pray.