The Holy Guardian Angels

The Holy Guardian Angels 

The existence of angels is a dogma of our Catholic Faith, and is abundantly documented in Sacred Scriptures and Catholic Tradition.

 

An angel is a spiritual creature, superior to human beings, with a three-fold mission: to praise God, to act as His messengers, and to watch over mortals. "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? ... For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:4-5).

The name "angel" is from the Greek "angelos" meaning "one who is sent" or "messenger". Though purely spiritual, they can show themselves to men in human form as in the story of Tobias.

Passages in Scripture point to the existence of an angel specifically assigned to each human being to help, guide and protect him or her through the journey of life: “Behold I will send my angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have prepared. Take notice of him, and hear his voice” (Exodus 23:20) And in the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ speaking of children: “See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10).

Guardian Angels are often visible to Catholic saints as in the life of St. Frances of Rome, St. Gemma Galgani and St. Pio of Pietrelcina. St. Gemma’s angel even delivered letters for her, and brought her coffee in bed when she was sick.

Pope Clement X (1590–1676)

Like many other feasts, the feast of the Guardian Angels was celebrated on a local level before it was placed on the Roman calendar.

Pope Clement X officially established the feast of the Guardian Angels for the Universal Church on October 2.

Prayer is essential in our relationship with God and a necessary spiritual component of our daily life.  We also have a faithful guardian assigned to each of us by God to aid us in our journey and to protect us.  Our guardian angel should also be included in our daily prayers.  For without our prayer life with God and our prayers to our own guardian angel, we leave ourselves at risk to temptation and many others dangers – both spiritual and physical.

PRAYER TO OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL “O angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me everything wherein I have offended you every day of my life, and protect me from all influence and temptation of the Evil One.

May I never again anger God by my sins.

Pray for me to the Lord, that He may make me worthy of the grace of the All-Holy Trinity, and of the blessed Mother of God, and of all the saints.

Amen.”