Rosal

Who is my guardian angel? What guardian angels are and do

A boy sleeps hugging a toy lamb while his guardian angel, with white wings and a golden halo, watches over him beside the bed at night

Your guardian angel is an angel God gives each person to accompany, protect and guide them toward heaven, from the beginning of life until death. Angels really exist: they are spiritual creatures, without bodies, who serve God as his messengers. We don’t see them, but our angel is beside us, watching over us and praying for us.

Who is my guardian angel?

That angels exist is a truth of faith, taught by the Bible and Tradition. They are spiritual creatures: they have no bodies, but they have intelligence and will; they are persons, not forces, and they do not die. Their name, angel, means messenger: it says what they do. And all of them serve Christ.

Your guardian angel is one of them, entrusted by God with caring for you. One point that helps with children: loved ones who die do not become angels. Angels and people are different creatures, and those who die in God’s friendship are called to be saints in heaven.

Does everyone have a guardian angel?

Yes. The Church teaches that every person’s life, from its beginning until death, is surrounded by the protection and prayer of the angels. Jesus spoke of the angels of little children, who in heaven always see the face of his Father (Matthew 18:10), and many saints, like Saint Basil, taught that beside each believer stands an angel as a guide. It doesn’t have to be earned: it is God’s gift.

What does a guardian angel do?

They care for us in body and soul, prompt us toward what is good, help us turn away from evil, and pray for us before God. The Bible is full of angels who accompany and protect: the archangel Raphael guided young Tobias on his journey and brought him home safe (Tobit 5-11), and an angel led Saint Peter out of prison (Acts 12:7-11). A psalm says God commands his angels to guard us in all our ways (Psalm 91:11; in some Bibles, 90:11).

We almost never see or feel our angel, and we don’t need to. It is enough to know he is there, to trust him, and to talk to him.

Can I know my guardian angel’s name?

You can’t know it, and you don’t need to. The Church does not make our angel’s name known, and she asks us not to give names to angels, except the three the Bible names: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, no. 217). Be wary of websites, quizzes or rituals that promise to reveal your angel’s name or put you in touch with him: they don’t come from the Church’s faith. To talk to him, it is enough to call him my guardian angel.

How do you pray to your guardian angel?

The Guardian Angel prayer is short, children learn it in a few days, and many pray it every night at bedtime. You can also talk to your angel in your own words at any time: to thank him, to ask for help before a test or a trip, or to ask him to look after someone.

When is the feast of the Guardian Angels?

The Church celebrates the Holy Guardian Angels on October 2. A few days earlier, on September 29, she celebrates the archangels Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael.

As a family

When the children leave for school or the family sets off on a trip, entrust the day to your angels together in a few words, and at night thank them for their company. If someone is afraid of the dark, remind them that their angel is there.

To read more, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 334, 335, 336, 350.

This topic in Rosal

In the app, this lesson teaches this topic:

  • “Your guardian angel”Unit 3: Creation and the angels. Taught by Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.

Every lesson starts with a saint’s story and comes with two or three questions that give the Catechism paragraph, one small thing to do at home, and a version for children 6 to 10. Units 2 to 6 are part of Patron. Unit 1 and all 20 feast lessons are free.

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