In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Guardian Angel is the best friend of the human being.
Each person has a guardian angel who accompanies him tirelessly day and night from birth to
beyond death,
until he comes to enjoy the full happiness of God.
During the time of purgatory, the guardian angel is by his side to comfort him and help
him in those difficult times.
However, for some the existence of the guardian angel is just a pious custom for those who
want to accept it.
They do not know that it is clearly expressed in Sacred Scriptures or the bible
and in the
doctrine of the Church,
and all the saints tell us about it from their own experience.
Some have even seen him and had a very close personal relationship with him, as we will hear.
How many guardian angels do we have?
At least one, which is enough.
But some people, because of work as the Pope or because of his degree of holiness, may have more.
We know a nun to whom Jesus revealed that she had three and told us their names.
To Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, when she was advanced on her path of holiness,
our Lord Jesus Christ gave her a new angel, who told her:
"I am one of the seven spirits who
are closest to the throne of God,
and who most participate in the ardors of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus Christ,
and my plan is to communicate it to you as soon as you are able to receive them ".
To understand the following, please make sure you are using a catholic bible with a nihil
obstat and imprimatur,
and not a protestant bible where you will get confused and deceived.
In the Bible it says:
"I am sending an angel to precede you, to guard you as you go and
bring you to the place that I have prepared.
Revere him and obey what he says.
Do not defy him
he will not forgive any wrong-doing on your part,
for My name is in him.
If, however, you obey what he says and do whatever I order,
I shall be an enemy to your
enemies and a foe to your foes."
Exodus chapter 23 verses 20-22.
"For man there is an angel near him, a Mediator, one in a thousand, to remind him where his
duty lies,"
Job chapter 33 verse 23
"My angel is with you and will ask you to give account"
Baruch chapter 6 verse 6
"The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them."
Psalms chapter 34 verse 7
His mission is "to guard you wherever you go."
Psalms chapter 91 verse 11
And Jesus says that "the angels of the little ones are continually in the presence of My Father in heaven."
Matthew chapter 18 verse 10.
The guardian angel will take care of you like Azariah and his companions in the furnace.
"the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace beside Azariah and his companions;
he drove the flames of the fire outwards from the furnace and,
in the heart of the furnace,
wafted a coolness to them as of the breeze and dew, so that the fire did not touch them
at all and caused them no pain or distress."
Daniel chapter 3 verses 46 to 50.
The angel will save you like Peter.
"Then suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light.
He tapped Peter on the side and woke him.
'Get up!' he said, 'Hurry!'
and the chains fell from his hands.
The angel then said, 'Put on your belt and sandals.'
After he had done this, the angel next said, 'Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.'
He followed him out, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed through the first guard post and then the second
and reached the iron gate
leading to the city.
This opened of its own accord;
they went through it and had walked the whole length of one
street when suddenly the angel left him.
It was only then that Peter came to himself.
And he said,
'Now I know it is all true.
The Lord really did send His angel and save me"
Acts of Apostles chapter 12 verses 7 to 11
In the primitive Church the guardian angel was normally believed in.
When Peter was released from jail, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark,
where a number of people had assembled and were praying.
Peter knocked at the outside door and a servant called Rhoda came to answer it.
She recognized Peter's voice and was so overcome with joy, that instead of opening the door,
she ran inside with the news that Peter was standing at the main entrance.
They said to her, 'You are out of your mind,'
but she insisted that it was true.
Then they said, 'It must be his angel!'
Acts of Apostles chapter 12 verse 15
The Church's doctrine is clear in this
"From infancy to death,
human life is surrounded
by their custody and intercession.
Each faithful person has at his side a protector and shepherd angel to lead him to life" Catechism of the Catholic Church 336
Also Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary had their angel.
It is probable that the angel who warned Saint Joseph to take Mary as his wife (Matthew chapter 1 verse 20)
or to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13) or to return to Israel (Matthew 2:20) was
his own angel.
Since the first century the figure of the guardian angel appears clearly in the writings
of the Holy Fathers.
The famous 1st century book "The Shepherd of Hermas" speaks about the guardian angel
Saint Eusebius of Caesarea who lived from 260 to 340 calls our guardian angels "tutors"
of men.
Saint Hilary of Poitiers who lived from 310 to 367 called our guardian angels, "mediators".
Saint Basil the Great who lived from 330 to 379
calls our guardian angels "companions
on the way".
Saint Gregory of Nazianzus who lived from 329 to 390 calls our guardian angels "protective shields".
Origen of Alexandria also known as Origen Adamantius who lived from 184 to 253
affirms
that "near every man there is always an angel of the Lord who enlightens him and guards
him and protects him from all evil."
From the 3rd century there is an old prayer to the guardian angel in which he is asked
to enlighten, protect and guard the person protected by him.
Saint Augustine of Hippo also speaks to us frequently of the angelic intervention in our life.
Saint Thomas Aquinas dedicates an article to the guardian angel in his Summa Theologica,
(or Summa Theologiae I, q.113)
and wrote
"The Angelic custody is like an extension
of divine providence,
however, as no creature lacks it, all must be in the custody of angels."
The feast of the guardian angels in Spain and France dates back to the 5th century.
Perhaps since then the prayer that we learned as children began to be prayed
"My guardian angel, sweet company, do not abandon me by night or by day".
Pope Saint John Paul II said on August 6th, 1986:
"It is very significant that God entrusts
His little children to angels,
always in need of care and protection."
Pope Pius XI invoked his angel at the beginning and end of each day
and often during the day,
especially when things got complicated.
He recommended devotion to the guardian angel and said when he said goodbye
"May the Lord bless you and His angel be with you."
And he told Pope Saint John XXIII,
when he was apostolic delegate in Turkey and Greece
"When I have to deal with someone in a difficult conversation,
I have the habit of asking my
angel to speak to the guardian angel of the person with whom I have to deal
to help to solve the problem".
On October 3rd, 1958,
Pope Venerable Pius XII told some American pilgrims about the guardian angels
"They were in the cities that you have visited
and they were your traveling companions."
Another day in a radio message he said
"Have a lot of familiarity with the angels
if God allows it,
you will spend an eternity of joy with the angels,
learn to know them
from now on.
Familiarity with them gives us a feeling of personal security".
Pope Saint John XXIII,
in a confidence to a Canadian bishop,
attributed the idea of
the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican,
commonly known as the Second Vatican Council,
or Vatican II,
to his guardian angel
And he recommended that parents instill in their children devotion to the guardian angel.
"The guardian angel is a good counselor, he intercedes with God on our behalf;
he helps us in our needs, defends us from dangers and accidents.
I would like the faithful to feel all the greatness of this assistance from the angels"
dated October 24th year 1962
Also Pope Saint John XXIII said to the priests:
Let us ask our guardian angel to assist us
in the daily recitation of the divine office
so we recite it with dignity, attention and devotion,
it may be pleasing to God, useful for us and for our brothers"
dated January 6th year 1962
In the liturgy of the day of their feast which is October 2nd,
it is said that they are "heavenly companions
so that we do not perish before the insidious attacks of the enemies."
Let us invoke them frequently and do not forget, that even in the most hidden and lonely places,
there is someone who accompanies us.
For this reason, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux advises us
"Always walk with prudence as
one who keeps his angel in mind on all roads."
Why do we call him a guardian angel?
Because according to Psalms 91, verse 11, he guards you wherever you go.
The devotion to the guardian angel increases our chances of growing in the spiritual life.
Who invokes his angel,
it is as if he discovers new horizons invisible to the naked eye.
The angel is like the light switch,
which, when turned on or when he is invoked,
makes our life filled with divine light.
The guardian angel increases our capacity for love and saves us from many dangers and
difficulties.
So when we talk to other people, let's think about their guardian angel.
When we are in the Church, on a train, plane, boat or we are walking down the street,
let us think of the guardian angels of those around us
to smile at them and greet them with affection
It is beautiful to feel that all the angels of those around us, even if they are ill people,
are our friends.
They will also be happy with our friendship
and will help us more than we can imagine.
What a joy to feel the smile and friendship of the guardian angel!
Start today to think about the guardian angels of the people who live with you
and become friends with them
You will see how much help and joy they give you.
A good lesson for many theologians, who live off books and forget about these wonderful
spiritual realities.
The famous French priest Father John Edward Lamy also known as "Pere Lamy
who lived from 1853 to 1931 said
"We do not pray enough to our guardian angel.
We must invoke him for everything and not forget his permanent presence.
He is our best friend, protector and ally in the service of God."
And he says that, during the war, he had to help the wounded on the front lines,
and at times, he was transported from one place to another by the angels in order to fulfill
his mission well.
Something like this happened to Saint Philip the Apostle,
who was transported by the angel of God
Acts of Apostles chapter 8 verse 39.
And also to the prophet Habakkuk,
who was taken to Babylon to the den of lions, where
Daniel was
Daniel chapter 14 verse 36
Therefore, you invoke your guardian angel and ask him for help.
When you are working, studying or walking, you can ask him to visit the Sacramental Jesus
in your name.
You can say to your guardian angel, like many religious
"Holy guardian angel, run quickly
to the tabernacle and greet Jesus in the Sacrament for me."
Also ask him to pray for you at night or to be in adoration, guarding the Sacramental
Jesus in your name, in the nearest tabernacle.
Or to commission another angel,
one of those who are permanently before the Eucharistic
Jesus, to adore Him in your name.
Can you imagine the immense graces that you could receive
if there was permanently an
angel, who in your name, worshiped the Sacramental Jesus?
Ask Jesus for this grace with love and faith.
If you go on a trip, entrust yourself to the guardian angels of the passengers who go with you
to the churches and cities through which you pass,
and also to the angel of the driver
so that no accident occurs.
The same can be said of the crew of the ship, train, plane.
Invoke and greet the guardian angels of the people who talk to you or pass you on the
street.
Send your guardian angel to visit and greet distant relatives on your behalf
even those in purgatory, so that God may bless them.
If you have to undergo a surgical operation,
invoke the guardian angel of the surgeon,
the nurses and the people who will take care of you.
Invoke in your house the guardian angel of your family, your parents, siblings and the
people of the house or your work.
If they are far away and sick,
send them your guardian angel to comfort them
In case of dangers, for example earthquakes, terrorists, criminals, send your guardian
angel to protect your family and friends.
When you have to discuss an important matter with another person
invoke his guardian angel
to prepare his heart favorably.
If you want a sinner to get converted,
pray a lot,
but also invoke his guardian angel
If you are a teacher, invoke the guardian angels of your students
so that they can be calm and learn the lesson.
Priests should also invoke the guardian angels of their parishioners, who attend Mass,
so that they can better understand and benefit from God's blessings.
And do not forget the angel of your parish, your city and your country.
How many times has our guardian angel saved us from grave dangers to the body or soul
without us realizing it!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.