Prayer to your Guardian Angel

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Hi all,

Do any of you feel a little niggle that something’s wrong with asking an angel to “rule” over you?

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.
 
Not at all. I feel my Guardian Angel has gotten me past some pretty close calls in my life.
 
Though it does seem a bit odd now that you point it out, the first thing that comes to mind is if the Pope assigned a Swiss Guard member to keep you safe on your trip to the Vatican. You wouldn’t necessarily deny the higher authority of the Pope when acknowledging the Swiss Guard member’s authority over you; rather, the Pope would expect you to listen to whatever he says. Just think of Jesus as a higher high priest and guardian angels as a heavenly Swiss Guard. If anyone with any deeper theological knowledge (read: any theological knowledge) than mine sees anything missing or wrong, please add to or correct this.
 
Billy112 said:
Though it does seem a bit odd now that you point it out, the first thing that comes to mind is if the Pope assigned a Swiss Guard member to keep you safe on your trip to the Vatican. You wouldn’t necessarily deny the higher authority of the Pope when acknowledging the Swiss Guard member’s authority over you; rather, the Pope would expect you to listen to whatever he says. Just think of Jesus as a higher high priest and guardian angels as a heavenly Swiss Guard. If anyone with any deeper theological knowledge (read: any theological knowledge) than mine sees anything missing or wrong, please add to or correct this.
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I really like this metaphor here. Comparing the two really helps give a visual picture of the role of the guardian angel
 
I know that my Angel has kept me from serious trouble numerous times. I also know that just as i have offended God, i have offended my Angel. So i have no problem asking my Angel to rule my day and night. I need all the help i can get.
If the God who created me, who gave his only Son to purchase my salvation, provides me with an Angel, how stupid would i have to be to refuse the Angel’s guidance?
 
Rahn said:
Hi all,

Do any of you feel a little niggle that something’s wrong with asking an angel to “rule” over you?

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.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by “rule”?
 
from Merriam-Webster

Simple Definition of rule

1: a statement that tells you what is or is not allowed in a particular game, situation, etc.

2: a statement that tells you what is allowed or what will happen within a particular system (such as a language or science)

3: a piece of advice about the best way to do something

Personally, I see absolutely nothing wrong with an Angel telling you what is or is not allowed according to the laws of God or giving advice.
 
thistle said:
What do you mean by “rule”?
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That’s probably the crux of the issue. I don’t have a problem with guardian angels, and agree with other posters that they have been instrumental in protecting both me and my family.

That word rule just hit me today when we were doing our family morning offering prayers.

When I hear rule, I think of the authority of a king over his subjects. That type of ruling should be reserved for Jesus alone, as our king.

How would you interpret rule in this context? Seems that many others don’t see it that way.
 
Billy112 said:
Though it does seem a bit odd now that you point it out, the first thing that comes to mind is if the Pope assigned a Swiss Guard member to keep you safe on your trip to the Vatican. You wouldn’t necessarily deny the higher authority of the Pope when acknowledging the Swiss Guard member’s authority over you; rather, the Pope would expect you to listen to whatever he says. Just think of Jesus as a higher high priest and guardian angels as a heavenly Swiss Guard. If anyone with any deeper theological knowledge (read: any theological knowledge) than mine sees anything missing or wrong, please add to or correct this.
Click to expand...
Yes, that’s protection, but I wouldn’t expect a member of the Swiss Guard to rule over me, for example, order me not to eat a cheeseburger because it’s bad for me.
 
oliver927 said:
from Merriam-Webster

Simple Definition of rule

1: a statement that tells you what is or is not allowed in a particular game, situation, etc.

2: a statement that tells you what is allowed or what will happen within a particular system (such as a language or science)

3: a piece of advice about the best way to do something

Personally, I see absolutely nothing wrong with an Angel telling you what is or is not allowed according to the laws of God or giving advice.
Click to expand...
Yes, that’s a rule (noun). But the word rule in the prayer is a verb, and implies an action (to rule over).
 
Rahn said:
When I hear rule, I think of the authority of a king over his subjects. That type of ruling should be reserved for Jesus alone, as our king.
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Why? Plenty of people legitimately rule over us who are not Jesus: for example, your bishop or city council, etc. Anyway, a synonym for rule is “govern.” Think of a captain governing a ship–this is why it is paired with “guide” in the prayer. If it makes you feel better, I don’t see why you couldn’t use a word like “lead” instead, as that has the same meaning.
 
Rahn said:
That’s probably the crux of the issue. I don’t have a problem with guardian angels, and agree with other posters that they have been instrumental in protecting both me and my family.

That word rule just hit me today when we were doing our family morning offering prayers.

When I hear rule, I think of the authority of a king over his subjects. That type of ruling should be reserved for Jesus alone, as our king.

How would you interpret rule in this context? Seems that many others don’t see it that way.
Click to expand...
A guardian angel does not have authority over you. It is there to protect and guide you. See the Church teaching below. A guardian angel does not rule over you.

CCC 336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.
 
I believe that praying to our Guardian is not wrong,for we all have an Angel,that we pray too ,that was given too us by God at Birth ,he is their to protect us from harm.Amen
 
thistle said:
A guardian angel does not have authority over you. It is there to protect and guide you. See the Church teaching below. A guardian angel does not rule over you.

CCC 336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.
Click to expand...
So then, why do we pray that?
 
Rahn said:
So then, why do we pray that?
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When I say that prayer to my guardian angel I am acknowledging his presence and readiness to assist me on my spiritual journey.

Angels cannot force us to do anything, but they can inspire us with thoughts to do the right thing.

If you are interested in the holy angels, here is a site that tells much about them. The site is loyal to the Magisterium of the Church. It is good to call upon the help of all the holy angels, others as well as our guardian. (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael).

opusangelorum.org/english.html
 
No, I actually feel comforted because I know without a doubt that my Guardian Angel can do a much better job than I ever could… 😃 I also believe that a Guardian Angel can help guide you to do God’s Will, and I need all the help I can get with that.
 
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