There are many stories in the bible and in history in which angels show their faithful fulfillment of the duty God has assigned them, and in their faithful service to man.
Who are the guardian angels?
In the company of God’s angels in heaven, the guardian angel is assigned to watch over a person who is given to him from the moment of his conception until his demise. The great St. Jerome mentioned “how great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it”.
Angels are spirits in their natural state and form. They do not have real flesh like human’s but they are able to manifest and interact with man in a supernatural way with God’s permission. As recorded in the Bible, Tobit traveled with St. Raphael the Archangel on his journey and even cured his blind father. Likewise, two angels went to Lot to see the condition of Sodom and Gommorah.
In the history of the Catholic church, guardian angels appeared to saints and had miracles and special favors of guiding them.
San Isidore the Laborer, despite the hard work on the field as a farmer always attend the Holy Mass. On one occasion his wealthy landowner saw an angelic being farming his land while St. Isidore is at mass. The angel accompanies the saint in his spiritual and temporal work.
In 1916 Fatima, Portugal, even before the Blessed Virgin of Fatima appeared to the three young shepherds, the Angel of Portugal appeared. The angel taught the three children to pray for sinners and also received Holy Communion.
Since they are from heaven, they have this natural radiance and light. As Saint Faustina experienced: “I saw an angel standing on every church we passed, but surrounded by a light which was paler than that of the spirit who was accompanying me on the journey, and each of these spirits who were guarding the churches bowed his head to the spirit who was near me.” According to the saint, he always sees the angel with her anywhere she goes.
Guardian angels are tasked to watch over us all the time, even in our sleep. They present our prayers to God. Enlightens even pious souls like the story of St. Gemma Galgani:
“One evening, when I was suffering more than usual, I was complaining to Jesus and telling him that I would not have prayed so much if I had known that He was not going to cure me, and I asked Him why I had to be sick this way. My angel answered me as follows: If Jesus afflicts you in your body, it is always to purify you in your soul. Be good.”
Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, a mystic stigmatist lived with illness and also carried Christ-like wounds. His angel appeared to her and brought a flower from the Garden of Eden that Christ Himself asked Him to give her. The angel instructed to put it in a vase with water for awhile and drink the water from it. The saint was healed and the water was also used to give to other sick nuns.
Angels also protect us from the dangers we may face everyday. St. Therese of Lisieux said: “Jesus has placed near you an Angel from Heaven who is always looking after you; he carries you in his hands lest your foot strike against a stone.”
We do not see them but they really are there to keep us out of danger, especially those that can destroy our souls.
There is a limit to their ability despite the fact that they are from heaven because of human’s free will. They are still given the power to save us and they know our weaknesses. That is why St. John Bosco advised us, “When tempted, invoke your Angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel.”
God loves us so much that each of us has a guardian angel. It mirrors how great His love for us that each of His creations are given the same opportunity to be saved.
If we only fully understood this we would not forget to talk to them as we did when we were young. As we grow old and become busy we forget our fondness to our guardian angel. Still, they never forget us, they always guide and protect us. St. Bernard of Clairvaux said, “We should show our affection for the angels, for one day they will be our coheirs just as here below they are our guardians and trustees appointed and set over us by the Father.”
We still live in trying days during this pandemic. The challenges we face in our economy, health, and uncertain days takes a toll to our physical and mental health. During lockdowns many have been left alone, separated from loved ones, lost their jobs, and unwanted anxieties.
Let us strengthen our spiritual life through constant prayer and devotion and friendship with our angel. Hopefully, we remember what St. Padre Pio said. “For whomever is alone, there is his guardian angel.”
Prayer to your guardian angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
