Oct 2 – Memorial for The Holy Guardian Angels
The term ‘guardian angels’ refers to the belief that each soul has an angel who is available to shepherd the soul through life, and help bring them to God.
Belief in the reality of angels, their mission as messengers of God, and Man’s interaction with them, goes back to the earliest times. Cherubim kept Adam and Eve from slipping back into Eden; angels saved Lot and helped destroy the cities of the plains; in Exodus, Moses follows an angel, and at one point an angel is appointed leader of Israel. Michael is mentioned at several points, Raphael figures large in the story of Tobit, and Gabriel delivered the Annunciation of the coming of Christ.
The concept of each soul having a personal guardian angel is also an ancient one, and long accepted by the Church:
“See that you despise not one of these little ones [children]: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” – Jesus, Matthew 18:10
“How great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it.” – St. Jerome in his commentary on Matthew.
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?” – Hebrews 1:14
The feast, celebrating the angels who helped bring us to God began in many local calendars centuries ago, and was widely known by the 16th century. Pope Paul V placed a feast venerating the angels on the general calendar on 27 September 1608. Ferdinand of Austria requested that it be extended to all areas in the Holy Roman Empire.
Initially placed after the feast of Michael the Archangel, it was seen as a kind of supplement to that date. Pope Clement X elevated the feast, celebrated on 2 October, to an obligatory double for the whole Church. On 5 April 1883, Pope Leo XIII raised the feast to the rank of a double major.
- Patron Saint Index
“O angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom whose love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to rule and guard, to light and guide. Amen.” – Prayer to our guardian angel
Zec 8:1-8
Mt 18:1-5,10
….for I tell you that their angels in heaven….
Anyone raised Catholic is most definitely a fan of the – their – Guardian Angel. With your Guardian Angel, you are never alone, never without hope and never consumed with fear – after all, your Guardian Angel is there to love and protect! As a young child, I loved knowing that God chose a specific angel to stay by my side – love me and protect me. That is something I STILL know, and it brings me deep, quiet joy. I am sure most of you have often prayed at least one of these Guardian Angel prayers:
Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom His love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side, To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen
Angel sent by God to guide me, Be my light and walk beside me
Be my guardian and protect me; On the paths of life direct me. Amen
Dear Guardian Angel by my side
Dear Guardian Angel be my guide.
Protect and guard the whole day through
My Guardian I pray to you.
The Lord has chosen you for me
So I am happy as can be
To have a loving friend like you
Protecting me the whole day through. Amen
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds the adults to become like the little children. It is easy when we are young to believe in our Guardian Angels, chosen just for us by our Heavenly Father. We don’t even question it, we just live in the peace of knowing this truth. And then, as we leave childhood behind and wade into, then become entrenched in, the scientific logic of the intelligence of this age, suffering numerous scrapes and cuts, broken bones and broken hearts…as we journey through this world, it is easy to honestly forget, or not believe, that we each have a Guardian Angel. A guardian sent to guard us from the temptations of the devil, as well as the scrapes and cuts of simply living on this earth. I’ve not always remembered this, but I’ve always believed that our Guardian Angel knows the intention of our heart – and their assistance in helping us clearly see, and acknowledge our decisions, is invaluable – like our moral conscience, they are there to guide us to our greater good, to keep us on the path that God has willed for us.
There have been times in my life when I prayed to my Guardian Angel, asking for additional protection – and there have been times I’ve asked my Guardian Angel to accompany the Guardian Angel of a close friend or family member when I felt they needed the ‘extra help’.
I’ve decided to add a prayer to my Guardian Angel every morning, asking for extra help in directing my thoughts, my words, and my steps. Extra help – that’s the job description for Guardian Angels. And extra help is what we all need, isn’t it?
(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)
Prayer: Lord, we ask you to reveal to us the intention of our hearts based on our actions, so that we can adjust what is necessary to be in alignment with your will, in all manner of things.
Thanksgiving: Father God, we are grateful for the love you give us in the protection of our own Guardian Angel. Thank you for never leaving us alone.
OXYGEN 
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