Do Animals Have Guardian Angels?

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dorothytb

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Hello all,

I don’t believe they do, but is there any Church teaching stating that animals don’t have guardian angels? I don’t think it would make sense as I thought only humans were appointed guardian angels to guard us, and assist us in obtaining Heaven. If they did, wouldn’t that apply to every living thing (insects, plants, bacteria, etc.) which makes no sense at all.

Any information would be most appreciated.

God bless!
 
No, I don’t think there is any Church teaching on this. The only thing the catechism says about angels being guardians refers to human beings (CCC 336).

I suppose that one could ask his guardian angel to watch over his pets, or the angel might do this of his own accord if it contributes in some way to the pet owner’s salvation or sanctification, or perhaps merely as a little temporal favor or reward from God to the pet owner. In my opinion, service animals would better justify prayers than pets which merely amuse.

That said, your reasoning on the matter seems perfectly sound to me.
 
336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. 202 “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” 203 Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God
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It implies the aim of guardian angels, which cant be done for animals which dont have immotral souls.

Nevertheless,
2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. 197 Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals
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I have read, and this may fall under the rubric of private revelation, that while individual animals don’t have guardian angels, there are nevertheless angels which watch over different kinds of animals in general; i.e. an angel that is concerned with birds, one that is concerned with dogs, one that is concerned with cats, one for fish, etc. There are also angels (or perhaps one angel in particular) who watches over nature (nature on earth that is) as a whole.

God seems to like to delegate tasks to angels, and to make his creations have a sort of granular or particulate nature and then to have the interlocking parts (including angels) interact:
If you want to construct a mathematical curve, you can construct it out of sums of other curves or can go to segments called splines. Splines (or segments) have been found to make less excess mess.

Solid objects are constructed of atoms.

If you want to make a machine, you construct it out of interlocking parts like beams, plates, bolts, axles, gears, belts, and so on and so forth.

If you want to make an electronic circuit, you make it out of wires, transistors, diodes, resistors, etc. Even if it’s all on a chip there are still those separate patches.

The body of a plant or animal is constructed from cells, tissues, organs, etc.

Ecosystems are made from different plants and animals and works over long periods of time via cross-over, mutations, replication, and natural selection.

The universe is constructed from asteroids, moons, planets, suns, stars, black holes, interstellar clouds, galaxies, and so on and so forth.

The church appears to be constructed out of Christ, Mary, the saints, the angels, sinners like us, etc., with intercession being analogous to the interlocking moving articulated parts in articulated mechanisms like steam locomotive wheels with their coupling rods.

It appears that in God’s plan(s), He shows a great fondness for interlocking separate parts. Why? I don’t know, but He just does. Maybe in a parallel universe of the Tegmarkian sort, he does things in another way, but in this universe and with the heaven, hell, and purgatory we currently seem destined for, that’s how He does it.

You might as well be asking “Why love?” or “Why something rather than nothing?” Those subjects too have been discussed at length on this forum, with people all giving their various answers (and I have weighed in on some of them), but I think you’re basically just running into a wall here.

God likes interlocking parts and pieces, and that’s the way it is.
From: Intercession of the Saints is more effective than direct prayer to God?
 
Thank you everyone - I really appreciate all of the replies; it’s all been thought provoking and so helpful!
 
Thank you, Pat! This seems to be the case in the situation in which I’m in a discussion with a loved one. They found it in an old Catholic book. I’ll have to find out which book that is.
I have read, and this may fall under the rubric of private revelation, that while individual animals don’t have guardian angels, there are nevertheless angels which watch over different kinds of animals in general; i.e. an angel that is concerned with birds, one that is concerned with dogs, one that is concerned with cats, one for fish, etc. There are also angels (or perhaps one angel in particular) who watches over nature (nature on earth that is) as a whole.

God seems to like to delegate tasks to angels, and to make his creations have a sort of granular or particulate nature and then to have the interlocking parts (including angels) interact:From: Intercession of the Saints is more effective than direct prayer to God?
 
Thank you, Pat! This seems to be the case in the situation in which I’m in a discussion with a loved one. They found it in an old Catholic book. I’ll have to find out which book that is.
You are welcome! 🙂

Oh, and if you can find out the name of the old book, I would be interested in knowing what it is. 🙂
 
Pat,

I found out that the book is: Saint Michael and the Angels, available through TAN Books. It was originally The Precious Blood and the Angels.

God bless you!

dtb
You are welcome! 🙂

Oh, and if you can find out the name of the old book, I would be interested in knowing what it is. 🙂
 
NO saints for NO animals. When does this goofiness end?
If it’s goofiness to know that St. Francis (my Dad’s patron saint) is the patron saint for animals, I think I’ll stay goofy. :cool: :whacky:
 
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