Personal and immortal spiritual creatures of pure intellect and will, angels, meaning, messengers, with their whole being, are servants of God, always beholding His face, always hearkening to the voice of His Word (CCC §§ 328-330).
From infancy to death, human life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession of their guardian angel. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading them to life.” Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.
What good tasks do our Guardian Angels perform for us?
According to the direction of divine providence, they:
- protect our body, especially before we reach the age of wisdom;
- prevent demons from harming us;
- inspire good and holy thoughts;
- offer our prayers to God, and join their prayers to ours;
- console souls in purgatory, and conduct souls to heaven.
What are our duties toward our Guardian Angel?
We should have:
- respect for his presence;
- devotion, because of his great care for us;
- confidence in his protection, but without presumption;
- docility to his illumination and direction, which comes from God.
– Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Credo: Compendium of the Catholic Faith, p. 24
Let us pray to our Guardian Angel:
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.
