1. Revelation clearly teaches that a certain class of good angels fulfill the office of guardianship over men. Our Lord said of children: “They have angels of their own in heaven, that behold the face of my heavenly Father continually” (Matt. 18:10). Woe to him, then, who scandalizes a child, or anyone else who is a child of God through baptism, or who is even called to be such, as all men are; for God has assigned a Guardian Angel to every soul. All these angels are “spirits apt for service, whom he sends out when the destined heirs of eternal salvation have need of them” (Heb. 1:14). These comforting words of the Psalmist apply to all men: “He has given charge to his angels concerning thee, to watch over thee wheresoever thou goest” (Gradual). In the course of the year the Church celebrates the feast of individual angels, but on this day she honors all those spirits, to whom God has entrusted the protection of men, calling them Guardian Angels.
2. “God, who in thy transcendant providence deignest to send thy holy angels to watch over us …” (Collect). “Thus says the Lord God: now I am sending my angel to go before thee and guard thee on thy way, and lead thee to the place I have made ready for thee. Give him good heed, and listen to his bidding; think not to treat him with neglect . . . in him dwells the power of my name” (Lesson). God takes care of His children in a unique and kindly manner. “They will hold thee up with their hands lest thou shouldst chance to trip on a stone” (Gradual), St. Bernard amplifies this statement: “The Supreme Majesty commands his angels, those noble, blessed beings, His servants, and dwellers in His house, to protect you. Who are you? What is man, that Thou shouldst be mindful of him, O Lord? What is he but misery? For thy protection, He has given His angels charge. What if you could see, hear, and touch this angel?” (Lesson for Matins.) Today we renew our faith in the holy Guardian Angel at our side. We believe in the providence of God over us and surrender ourselves to Him with complete, unshakable confidence. We are grateful to Him and to our Angel.
“He has given charge to his angels concerning thee.” There is touching drama in some of the Scripture stories about the activities of angels on behalf of men. Any situation may have its angel. On all the paths traveled by nations and races from the beginning of history, angels have played a part as servants and messengers of the Most High, helping, enlightening, admonishing, warning, punishing. They have brought messages from God announcing His plans. They were especially active around His Incarnate Son. “You will see heaven opening, and the angels of God going up and coming down upon the Son of Man” (John 1:51). We can celebrate Christmas, Easter, and Ascension only in fellowship with angels. They stand at the crib and at the grave; they belong to the content of the great mysteries of Christ, the head of the Church. Therefore they belong to us, the members, too. With brotherly solicitude they watch over our physical welfare and protect us from misfortune and danger; they guard our spiritual life by enlightening and advising us; they remove this or that obstacle from our path; they stand by us in temptation; they comfort us; they prepare our heart for firm trust; they bring us joy and peace. They carry our prayers to God, support our efforts, and convey God’s grace and blessing to us. In a word, “they will hold thee up with their hands.”
3. “Lest thou shouldst chance to trip on a stone” (Gradual). They bear us up as a precious treasure entrusted to them by God. Just as older children carry and care for their younger sisters and brothers, so the angels wait on us until they have conducted us happily to our home in our “Father’s House.” It is only after they have carried us past the abysses that yawn along our path in life and have rescued us from a multitude of dangers; it is not until we are safely home with our heavenly Father, that we shall fully realize what we owe them.
“They [the angels] . . . behold the face of my heavenly Father continually” (Gospel). They behold that face as the essence of their own bliss; but they behold it also as a means of serving us, for in their vision of God they see His plans for us. Out of this vision they gain the light, strength, and nevertiring love which enables them to serve us so carefully. They see how dear we are to the Father, and that makes us dear to them.
Every one of our fellow men, every brother and sister in Christ, even if he has failed or gone astray, has his angel who is concerned about him. In this the Guardian Angel gives us good example, for we should also be helping, loving guardians of our every brother in Christ.
Today we express gratitude to our Angel for his guidance, protection, and prayerful care of us. “Angel of God, my guardian, to whom the loving solicitude of God has entrusted me, enlighten, protect, lead and guide me.”
Collect: God, who in Thy transcendent providence deignest to send Thy holy angels to watch over us, grant our humble petition that we may ever be safe under their protection, and may rejoice in their companionship through all eternity. Amen.
LITANY OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of the Angels, pray for us
Holy Angel, my guardian, pray for us
Holy Angel, my prince, pray for us
Holy Angel, my monitor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my counsellor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my defender, pray for us
Holy Angel, my steward, pray for us
Holy Angel, my friend, pray for us
Holy Angel, my negotiator, pray for us
Holy Angel, my intercessor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my patron, pray for us
Holy Angel, my director, pray for us
Holy Angel, my ruler, pray for us
Holy Angel, my protector, pray for us
Holy Angel, my comforter, pray for us
Holy Angel, my brother, pray for us
Holy Angel, my teacher, pray for us
Holy Angel, my shepherd, pray for us
Holy Angel, my witness, pray for us
Holy Angel, my helper, pray for us
Holy Angel, my watcher, pray for us
Holy Angel, my conductor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my preserver, pray for us
Holy Angel, my instructor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my enlightener, pray for us
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Holy Angel, my guardian, pray for us
Holy Angel, my prince, pray for us
Holy Angel, my monitor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my counsellor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my defender, pray for us
Holy Angel, my steward, pray for us
Holy Angel, my friend, pray for us
Holy Angel, my negotiator, pray for us
Holy Angel, my intercessor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my patron, pray for us
Holy Angel, my director, pray for us
Holy Angel, my ruler, pray for us
Holy Angel, my protector, pray for us
Holy Angel, my comforter, pray for us
Holy Angel, my brother, pray for us
Holy Angel, my teacher, pray for us
Holy Angel, my shepherd, pray for us
Holy Angel, my witness, pray for us
Holy Angel, my helper, pray for us
Holy Angel, my watcher, pray for us
Holy Angel, my conductor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my preserver, pray for us
Holy Angel, my instructor, pray for us
Holy Angel, my enlightener, pray for us
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Guardian Angel,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, Who in the counsel of Thine ineffable goodness hast appointed to all the Faithful, from their mother’s womb, a special Angel Guardian of their body and soul, grant that I may so love and honour him whom Thou hast so mercifully given me that, protected by the bounty of Thy grace and by his assistance, I may merit to behold, with him and all the angelic hosts, the glory of Thy countenance in the heavenly kingdom, Thou Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, Who in the counsel of Thine ineffable goodness hast appointed to all the Faithful, from their mother’s womb, a special Angel Guardian of their body and soul, grant that I may so love and honour him whom Thou hast so mercifully given me that, protected by the bounty of Thy grace and by his assistance, I may merit to behold, with him and all the angelic hosts, the glory of Thy countenance in the heavenly kingdom, Thou Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
EJACULATIONS
Hail, glorious Angel, appointed by God to be my guardian!
Hail, holy Angel, my protector in all dangers!
Hail, holy Angel, my defence in all afflictions!
Hail, holy Angel, my most faithful friend!
Hail, holy Angel, my protector in all dangers!
Hail, holy Angel, my defence in all afflictions!
Hail, holy Angel, my most faithful friend!
Hail, holy Angel, my guide!
Hail, holy Angel, my preceptor!
Hail, holy Angel, witness of all my actions!
Hail, holy Angel, my helper in every difficulty!
Hail, holy Angel, my counsellor in doubt!
Hail, holy Angel, my shield at the hour of death!’