guardian angels

[kristie_m]

I don’t recall an official church teaching on guardian angels. Are we each allotted one? Do we ask them to intercede for us as we do the saints? What is their purpose?

any guidence would be helpful…thanks.

 

[StCsDavid]

Guardian angels have never been something the Church has declared as an article of faith, but the belief in their existence has pretty much been around in the Church from very early on. Certainly one isn’t discouraged from believing in their existence as a good amount of scripture supports the possibility.

This article in New Advent might be a good resource for you.

From the article I thought it was interesting that St. Thomas Aquinas taught that only the lowest order of angels were sent to men. That might explain why there have been times in my life when it seemed like my guardian angel was asleep at the wheel

 

[blossom02]

See that you love these little ones, for I tell you that in Heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father. Matt 18:10
That’s the Bible verse that points to the existance of guardian angels.

 

[Mary_ann_R]

Kristie,

I found this link to be pretty interesting. It gives you info about Angels in the Old and New testament, what they are and why they exist…

tanbooks.com/doct/angels_devils.htm

 

[masterjedi747]

Are we each allotted one?

Yes. I’ve also heard speculation (and I doubt it’s much more than speculation, though it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s true, since it seems very fitting) that the guardian angel assigned to each of us has a very similar sort of personality that we do, so that they can understand us better and be closer friends with us, etc…

Do we ask them to intercede for us as we do the saints? What is their purpose?

I suppose you could. But you can also ask them to help protect you from physical harm and/or demonic influence and temptation to sin, or even to help you remember something important and/or remind you if you forget. But they’re real people, so you have to ask them for favors like you would ask favors of your friends, and don’t start thinking of them like servants who have to do what you ask (if God allows them to grant your request, they will… so yeah, in that respect I suppose they’re a lot like the saints in heaven). There are some saints and holy people who have been known to have real friendships and communicate regularly with their guardian angels. I think that they are a very real, and very overlooked, source of comfort and help that most people unfortunately don’t take advantage of.

 

[Joe_5859]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church on angels:

CCC 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.

Also, the Church celebrates a feast day for the Guardian angels on October 2nd.

So I would say this is pretty good assurance that we each have a guardian angel. :angel1:

 

[HelenRose]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church on angels:

Also, the Church celebrates a feast day for the Guardian angels on October 2nd.

So I would say this is pretty good assurance that we each have a guardian angel. :angel1:

It has just been recently that I have started praying on behalf of guardian angels: especially the guardian angels who watch over my grandchildren. I reason that these angels must be very busy and have their work cut out for them.

I thank the guardian angels of those whom I love, and I appreciate the help my own guardian angel has given me over the years.

I am so grateful that the Church teaches us about guardian angels.

 

[Cristiano]

OK now I am going to attract some flaming but I have a stupid question that I thought of last night.
As far as I understand the devil (a fallen angel) cannot read our mind however it is still so intelligent that he can figure out what we think based on our actions. Now I should assume that our guardian angels have the same limitation.
Usually when I pray by myself I use mental prayers (not spoken words) even when I thank my guardian angel. By looking at my actions he can see that I am praying but it is not obvious that I am thanking him and asking him to look after me. Maybe the whole thing does not matter but I have thinking about it this morning and I started to thank him out loud. Quite possibly I am just going through my stupid moment and missing something obvious.

 

[HelenRose]

We know so little, actually we know nothing, about angels except that they exist and that they are very close to God.

I think that it would be a mistake to try to speculate how it all works. I am just grateful that I am allowed to believe that there are guardian angels. I find great comfort in this beautiful concept. When I am worried, I can pray and believe with a certain confidence that help is close by.