PRAYERS ON THE MEMORIAL OF HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS - October 2

The Role of Guardian Angels in Our Lives: Protection, Guidance, and Prayer

The word “angel” comes from the Greek angelos, meaning “messenger.” Angels are pure spirits created by God, endowed with extraordinary intelligence and power. They exist to serve God and assist humanity, fulfilling missions as diverse as announcing divine messages to providing physical protection. Though without a material body, angels transcend time and space, and their existence defies typical classifications, including gender (cf. Mark 13:25). Among the many roles angels play, perhaps the most personal and intimate is that of the Guardian Angels.

Who Are the Guardian Angels?

Guardian Angels are divine beings assigned to guide and protect every human being throughout their journey on Earth. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 336), “From infancy to death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.” The existence of these angels is confirmed throughout the Bible, as in Psalm 91:11: “For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.” Jesus himself affirmed the presence of Guardian Angels when He said: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Matthew 18:10). This indicates the closeness of Guardian Angels to both humans and God, highlighting their role as constant intercessors for us.

Missions and Roles of the Guardian Angels

The mission of Guardian Angels is multifaceted. They are commissioned by God to protect us from physical and spiritual dangers, enlighten our minds, and guide our souls towards salvation. However, while they can influence our senses and imagination, Guardian Angels do not have control over our will. We are free beings, and our final decisions are made through our own volition.

Guardian Angels also help us discern the will of God, nudge us towards virtue, and offer divine inspiration during times of moral confusion. Many saints have testified to the help of their Guardian Angels during difficult times. St. Padre Pio, for instance, often mentioned how he would send his Guardian Angel to assist others or to carry his messages to his spiritual children.

The Universal Nature of Guardian Angels

The belief in Guardian Angels is not exclusive to Christianity. In fact, the idea of protective spirits can be found across multiple religions and cultures. In Islam, angels are believed to record all human actions. In Judaism, angels are considered as both messengers of God and protectors, a belief similar to the Christian understanding. This universal nature of angels speaks to the intrinsic human longing for divine assistance and protection.

How to Cultivate a Relationship with Your Guardian Angel

The Church encourages us to cultivate a relationship with our Guardian Angel, as these angels constantly remain at our side, offering unseen assistance. One way to foster this connection is through prayer.

QUOTE

"The world of pure spirits stretches between the divine nature and the world of human beings; because divine wisdom has ordained that the higher should look after the lower, angels execute the divine plan for human salvation: they are our guardians, who free us when hindered and help to bring us home." -Saint Thomas Aquinas

Prayers to our Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day [night] be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule and guide Amen.

O holy Angel, ever-vigilant guardian, watch over me while I sleep and when I wake. May your consoling presence bring me peace and dry my tears when I am sad or troubled. Avert all dangers that threaten my body and soul, and mercifully warn me of those yet to come, that I may be spared from harm. Amen.

Heavenly Father,
On this special feast day of our Guardian Angels, we thank You for the heavenly protection and guidance You provide us through these celestial beings.
May they watch over us, helping us to navigate life's challenges with courage and faith. Amen.

COLLECT PRAYER

God our Father, in your loving providence you send your holy angels to watch over us. Hear our prayers, defend us always by their protection and let us share your life with them for ever. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Guardian Angel Prayer for Friends

Guardian Angel, watch over those whose names you can read in my heart.
Guard over them with every care and make their way easy and their labours fruitful.
Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, repentance if they fail.

A Mother's Prayer to the Guardian Angels of her Children

I humbly salute you, O you faithful, heavenly Friends of my children! I give you heartfelt thanks for all the love and goodness you show them. At some future day I shall, with thanks more worthy than I can now give, repay your care for them, and before the whole heavenly court acknowledge their indebtedness to your guidance and protection.
Continue to watch over them. Provide for all their needs of body and soul. Pray, likewise, for me, for my husband, and my whole family,
that we may all one day rejoice in your blessed company. Amen.

A Prayer to Holy Guardian Angels

Heavenly Father,
Your infinite love for us has chosen a blessed angel in heaven and appointed him our guide during this earthly pilgrimage.
Accept our thanks for so great a blessing. Grant that we may experience the assistance of our holy protector in all our necessities.
And you, holy, loving angel and guide, watch over us with all the tenderness of your angelic heart. Keep us always on the way that leads to heaven, and cease not to pray for us until we have attained our final destiny, eternal salvation.Then we shall love You for all eternity.
We shall praise and glorify You unceasinglyfor all the good You have done for us while here on earth. Especially be a faithful and watchful protector of our children. Take our place, and supply what may be wanting to us through human frailty, short-sightedness, or sinful neglect.
Lighten, O you perfect servants of God, our heavy task. Guide our children, that they may become like unto Jesus, may imitate Him faithfully, and persevere till they attain eternal life. Amen

A Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angels

Heavenly Father, Your infinite love for us has chosen a blessed angel in heaven and appointed him our guide during this earthly pilgrimage. Accept our thanks for so great a blessing. Grant that we may experience the assistance of our holy protector in all our necessities. And you, holy, loving angel and guide, watch over us with all the tenderness of your angelic heart. Keep us always on the way that leads to heaven, and cease not to pray for us until we have attained our final destiny, eternal salvation. Then we shall love You for all eternity. We shall praise and glorify You unceasingly for all the good You have done for us while here on earth. Especially be a faithful and watchful protector of our children. Take our place, and supply what may be wanting to us through human frailty, short-sightedness, or sinful neglect. Lighten, O you perfect servants of God, our heavy task. Guide our children, that they may become like unto Jesus, may imitate Him faithfully, and persevere till they attain eternal life.
Amen

Guardian Angel Prayer - Saint Gertrude

O most holy angel of God, appointed by God to be my guardian, I give you thanks for all the benefits which you have ever bestowed on me in body and in soul. I praise and glorify you that you condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemies. Blessed be the hour in which you were assigned me for my guardian, my defender and my patron.
In acknowledgement and return for all your loving ministries to me, I offer you the infinitely precious and noble heart of Jesus, and firmly purpose to obey you henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my God. Amen

Holy Guardian Angel

Dear Angel at my side, my good and loyal friend, you have been with me since the moment I was born. You are my own personal guardian, given me by God as my guide and protector, and you will stay with me till I die. He who created you and me gave me to you as your particular charge. You assisted in great joy at my baptism, when I became part of the Mystical Body of Christ, and was made a member of the household of God and an heir of heaven. You saw the dangers that beset my path, and, if I sinned, it was in spite of you.
You envied me when Christ came to me in Holy Communion.
Even though you probably were there among the angels that adored Him the night that He was born, you have not been able to receive Him as I can. O, help me to appreciate these gifts! Help me to realize, as you do, with every fiber of my being, that to serve Christ is to be a King! Help me steadfastly to avoid evil and do good and always guard my soul from sin. Protect me as well from physical evils
as I go about my daily work. You will be with me all my life, and at the hour of my death. Help me to face death bravely, patiently,
with great love of God, knowing that it is only through death that I can come to Him in heaven! Then, come with me to my Judge,
and when the hour of my salvation comes, take me home to my Father, God. Amen

As we celebrate the presence of our Guardian Angels, let us open our hearts to their wisdom and love. May we feel their gentle guidance in our everyday lives.