Let us reflect today on who our Guardian Angel is? We all have numerous doubts and questions of the existence of the guardian angels, we’ll look into the character and nature of them.

The guardian angel prayer is to be recited by everyone and it’s the first prayer parents teach their children; for their protection. This prayer is not only for children but adults also should recite this prayer.

An historical fact about the Divine Retreat Centre – St. Augustine Abbey in Canterbury, originally was a Benedictine Monastery. During the reformation time, Henry the 8^th destroyed the Abbey and after the Church regained freedom to worship publically, this Abbey was rebuilt. 

The prayer to the guardian angel has long been attributed to St. Anselm of Canterbury, a Benedictine monk associated with this Abbey. However, recent scholarly research indicates that it was actually written by Blessed Reginald of Canterbury in the 11th century. This prayer originated from St. Augustine’s Abbey and has played a significant role globally. On the feast of the Guardian Angel, let us express our gratitude to the Lord for designating this Abbey as the birthplace of such a meaningful prayer.

According to the teaching of the Church, there are nine grades of angels which are: 

Seraphim

Cherubim

Thrones

Dominions

Virtues

Powers

Principalities

Archangels

Angels

Each individual is assigned unique guardian angel for eternity. Upon our death, that specific angel returns to heaven and is not reassigned to another individual. Thus, there exist billions of angels in the universe that have come and gone before us and continue to accompany us.

God has created this universe, which we can see with the naked eye, however some scholars and church fathers predict, 99% of God’s creation are invisible to the human eyes.

Colossians 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn to all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.  

Angels are beings that exist both in Heaven and on Earth, often remaining invisible. Their presence is a fundamental belief within the Church, from the beginning to the conclusion of the Bible. In the book of Genesis, angels are depicted as guardians of paradise, and Abraham experienced a vision of angels ascending and descending to Heaven. The existence of angels is a core aspect of our faith. Throughout the history of salvation, it was the Angel Gabriel who delivered the message of the Annunciation. Additionally, it was the guardian angel Gabriel who appeared in a dream to St. Joseph to protect the Holy Family. During Jesus’ temptation and His forty days of fasting, angels ministered to Him.

Since the time we are in the womb of our mother’s an angel is appointed to us, take care, help and support us.  What does an angel signify? An angel is a messenger, duty to pass on a message or minister.

Hebrew 1:14 Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Angels are spiritual beings and have spiritual forms, intellect and will. They are spirits sent by God for the people, to serve. Guardian angels are submissive to the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and only the Trinity have authority over all the angels. We can’t control the guardian angel, however we can request them to help us and we are ruled by them.

In the Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy, the principles and guidelines published by the Vatican for the congregation for divine worship – article or para no 217 says, very clearly “it discourages people from naming their Guardian angel,” why? The reason – if we name someone we have authority over them. 

Adam was given the task of naming every creation made on Earth by God. The father has the right to choose the child’s name at birth. God gave Jesus and Mother Mary their names; since they are celestial beings, the name John the Baptist was also revealed from heaven.

The Bible already reveals to us the names of three angels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. What is the angels’ method of communication? The angels communicate grasping from mind to mind and will to will. Only God has access to and the ability to read our minds; angels lack this ability. However, because angels are extremely intelligent beings, they can understand our thoughts through our past, present, and future as well as our expression, behavior, and attitude. Both the good and bad angels can read our minds in this way. God doesn’t tell anyone, not even angels, our secrets unless He intends to accomplish something significant in our lives. Because angels know how much God loves human beings, angels show their love for God by giving us their wholehearted devotion and by loving us.

We have seen certain angels depicted with wings, which has a symbolic meaning. They resemble ‘swiftness’. They are not Omni present but are fast. This information about the angels handed over to us; comes from the Church fathers, from biblical examples and from teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Pope Gregory, the great and also saints who had encounter with the angels. 

Daniel 10:10-13 But then a hand touched me and roused me to my hands and knees. He said to me, “Daniel, greatly beloved, pay attention to the words that I am going to speak to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.” So while he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling. He said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me twenty-one days.  Prince of Persia, means another bad angel i.e. fallen angels, which are one third of them and the good angels are the ones who are obedient and submissive to God. Daniel’s guardian angel was blocked for twenty-one days. If an angel is Omni present, he can be present at another place almost immediately. Because the angel of Daniel is not Omni present, the bad angel could stop him. Persia was controlled by the bad angels due to their worshipping idols and being disobedient. If we continuously committee sins we will be controlled by the bad angels and the guardian angel will be helpless to save us. Prayers from the family may not be effective or heard because the bad angel has blocked the good angel and our blessings will not be received. Daniel being holy was praying and God send an angel to protect him, but his protection was blocked and blessings delayed because of the bad angel. 

How do we know that we are controlled by a good or bad angel? If in a family; parents, children, spouse speaks to the other and each can understand the other through proper communication, there will be peace and unity in that family as it’s controlled by the guardian angel. 

However, in some families when parents, children, spouse speaks to the other and there is misunderstanding in the communication, which leads to the multiple problems, abusive words and disunity, this show that we are controlled by the evil angel. In such situations even if we pray, blessing may be delayed. 

The Church encourages members in a family to repent, make a good confession, forgive others, and have the priest bless the house; so that the guardian angel will be able to guard the house. 

Daniel overcame his block, because it was Archangel Michael who protected him.

Let’s read: 

So Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia and have come to help you understand what is to happen to your people at the end of days. For there is a further vision for those days.” 

Angels are given the task to help and protect us. This being an act of faith, which we should believe. At times are faith wavers and we refuse to believe the existence of guardians/archangels. These kind of stories are related only to children and not to adults. 

Do we remember who Padre Pio is?

He’s the one who believed in guardian angels. God granted him the vision not only of his own guardian angel but those of others. Many times it was through the guardian angel of a person that their need was brought to Padre Pio’s attention, who then prayed for that person.

One might ask, why would the angel bring the need to Padre Pio, rather than directly to God? First, people often sent their angel to Padre Pio to ask for prayer. The angels, for their part, were happy to perform this little service for their proteges, especially the ones who habitually listened to their guidance. 

Padre Pio was especially careful for the well-being, spiritual and material, of those whom he had accepted as his spiritual son or daughter, who were numerous. They would receive his help through his Guardian Angel. 

According to the Church fathers, every priest ordained; there is a guardian angel appointed and every bishop and pope appointed there is a powerful guardian angel to guide them. 

The more we communicate with our guardian angel the more we will empower them to rule, guide and help us. Let us ensure to have a healthy communication with our guardian angel regularly. 

Jesus would always communicate with the angels and were surrounded by them, that’s the reason they were always there to guard Him in times of loneliness, during the forty days of fasting, at the garden of gethsemane, even after His resurrection – at His tomb and during His Ascension.

God considers us special, important and unique and hence He has sent us His angels to take care and serve us, this is the reason the concept of the guardian angel is very significant in our lives.

Duties of the guardian angel is to collect all our prayers and read it out in front of God.

Let’s read:

Matthew 18:10 Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. There exists a perpetual connection between the angels and the Heavenly Father. Whenever we experience a reaction within our bodies, the Father is cognizant of it, as the angels serve as His ambassadors. They promptly convey every aspect of our lives to God.

If we cause harm to another individual, that person will lament our actions before God. The guardian angel of that person will bear witness against us. 

Let’s read:

Genesis 4:10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! This is the guardian angel crying out to God against Cain.

Genesis 18:20-21 Then the Lord said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! If the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were enjoying/committing all kinds of fleshly sins, from whom did the outcry come against them, as per the bible?

I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.” This outcry is from all the guardian angels crying out to God.

We should not hurt our guardian angels, for they will cry out to God against us.

Exodus 23:20-22 I am going to send an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Be attentive to him and listen to his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him. 

Angels are there to guard us and take us to the right place and hence we should be attentive and listen to their voices, we should not disobey or go against the command of our angel, in this way we are rebelling against our guardian angel and God. The name of the angels ‘ending in El means Elohim – God Himself. But if you listen attentively to his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. When we listen to the voice of the angel, we are obeying God. 

Psalm 91:11-12 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. When God allows suffering to enter our lives, our angels are present to offer us comfort. Even Jesus experienced profound anguish, as evidenced by His sweating of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane; the angels did not take away His suffering but instead provided Him with consolation and strength.

Padre Pio recounted an experience in which he faced relentless torment from an evil spirit. In his distress, he called upon his guardian angel, who initially did not respond to his plea. Eventually, after some time, he collapsed. When the guardian angel finally appeared, Padre Pio expressed his anger by turning his face away. In response, the angel began to dance around him, singing glorious hymns to the Father in an effort to regain his attention. The angel then approached him, embraced him, gazed into his eyes, and gently wiped away his tears.

When Padre Pio inquired of the angel regarding his absence, the angel responded that his mission was distinct. It was the Father’s intention to subject him to this suffering, enabling him to grow closer to Jesus. You are loved by Jesus and He wants you to be with Him forever, and fully aware of your capacity to withstand this anguish. Upon embracing his angel, Padre Pio experienced a profound sense of relief, as if all his suffering had dissipated, replaced by an overwhelming joy and happiness that couldn’t be described.

Angels on their hands, they will bear us up, so that we don’t dash our foot against the stone.

Job 33:23 Then, if there should be for one of them an angel, a mediator, one of a thousand, one who declares a person upright.

Tobit 12:12-15 So now when you and Sarah prayed, it was I who brought and read the record of your prayer before the glory of the Lord, and likewise whenever you would bury the dead. And that time when you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner to go and bury the dead. Tobit’s deeds were read by angel Raphael before God. All our good works are written in the Book of Remembrance, which are noticed by the angel and conveyed to the Lord. I was sent to you to test you. And at the same time God sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law. Occasionally, the guardian angel may permit us to go through a testing period. Through our guardian angel healing come through and we too can heal others. Just like Padre Pio healed numerous people through his guardian angel. I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord. 

Revelations 8:2-3 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel with a golden censer same and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne.

Every angel is an individual specie. Each of them reflect one perfection, quality of God.

Isaiah 6:6-8 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” Angels they cleanse and prepare us to listen to the voice of God. Numerous times our angel urges us to go for confession, but we reject them and listen to the bad angels. By listening to the bad angel, we deny the advice of the good angels.

Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. When one sinner repents, there is joy in Heaven.

All of this are the realities of the guardian angel whom we should respect, listen and honour. 

Transcribed by Durriya Alphonso