Guardian Angel plays various roles in our lives. While we may know that God has appointed a Guardian Angel to watch over us, their particular mission is not always evident.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church best summarizes the role of our Guardian Angel by explaining, “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’” (CCC 336).
This two-fold role of protector and shepherd is further elaborated in the traditional Litany to a Guardian Angel. The litany is a great aid in increasing a person’s relationship with his/her Guardian Angel and opens up the doors to a lifelong friendship with the spiritual being that accompanies us wherever we go.
LITANY TO A GUARDIAN ANGEL (For private recitation)
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 Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of Angels, pray for us.Holy Angel, my prince, pray for us. Holy Angel, my monitor, Holy Angel, my counselor, Holy Angel, my defender, Holy Angel, my steward, Holy Angel, my friend, Holy Angel, my negotiator, Holy Angel, my intercessor, Holy Angel, my patron, Holy Angel, my director, Holy Angel, my ruler, Holy Angel, my protector, Holy Angel, my comforter, Holy Angel, my brother, Holy Angel, my teacher, Holy Angel, my shepherd, Holy Angel, my witness, Holy Angel, my helper, Holy Angel, my watcher, Holy Angel, my conductor, Holy Angel, my preserver, Holy Angel, my instructor, Holy Angel, my enlightened, Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear
us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on
us! Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
Pray for us, O holy Angel Guardian. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray—Almighty, everlasting God, who in the counsel of Your ineffable goodness has 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 honor him whom You have so mercifully given me, that protected by the bounty of Your grace and by his assistance, I may merit to behold, with him and all the angelic host, the glory of Your countenance in the heavenly country. Who live and reign, world without end. Amen.