According to Christian tradition and belief, every one of us has a guardian angel. They accompany us from the moment we’re born until the moment of our death and stay at our side at every moment of our life.
In the Old Testament, we can read that God is surrounded by a genuine court of heavenly figures who worship Him and perform actions in His name. There are frequent references to angels sent by God as protectors of people and individuals, as well as messengers. In the Gospel, Jesus invites us to respect even the smallest and humble, in a reference to their angels, who watch over them from heaven and contemplate the face of God at every moment.
The Guardian Angel, therefore, is linked to anyone who lives within God’s grace. The Fathers of the Church, like Tertullian, Saint Augustine, Saint Ambrose, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Jerome, and Saint Gregory of Nyssa, maintained that a guardian angel existed for each person, and although there was not yet a dogmatic formulation concerning this figure, already during the Council of Trent (1545 – 1563) it was stated that every human being had their own angel.
From the seventeenth century onwards, the spread of popular devotion increased and Pope Paul V added the feast of guardian angels to the calendar.
Also in sacred representations and above all, in the images of popular devotion, Guardian Angels began to appear and were usually depicted in the act of protecting children from harm. In fact, it is especially by children that we are encouraged to talk with our Guardian Angels and to address our prayers to them. As we grow up, usually this belief is faded. Here are some ideas regarding Guardian Angels:
- The Guardian Angels Stay with Us
Our Guardian Angel is not the one who is there and being with us at the time of our birth. They have always existed, from the instant at which God created all of the angels. It was a single event, a single moment in which Divine Will generated all the angels, by the thousands. After this, God no longer created any other angels.
There is an angelic hierarchy and not all angels are destined to become Guardian Angels.
Even the angels differ from each other in their tasks, and above all in their positions in heaven compared to God. Some angels in particular are selected to take a test and, if they pass it, they are qualified for the role of Guardian Angels. When a child is born, one of these angels is chosen to stand by his side until death and beyond… and only one we have. We cannot sell it, we can not share it with anyone and we cannot see them but can be felt in our many difficulties. And also can pray to God to say them to take care of us.
2. Our Angel Leads Us on the Pathway to Heaven
Our Angel cannot insist us move to the path of goodness. He cannot decide for us, impose choices on us. We are free to according to our will and wisdom. But the role of the Guardian Angel is precious and important. As a silent and trustworthy advisor, our angel stays beside us, trying to advise us for the best, to suggest the right path to follow, to obtain salvation, to deserve Paradise, and above all to be good people and good Christians.
3. Our Angel never Abandons us
In this life, we can trust our angel as our best friend.
4. Our Angel is not the Spirit of Deceased
There are notions that when someone we love died, they became an Angel. They returned to be by our side. Our guardian angel cannot be anyone we have known in life, nor a member of our family who has died prematurely. It has always existed, it is a spiritual presence generated directly by God. This does not mean that it loves us less! We should remember that God is Love first and foremost.
5. Our Guardian Angel has No Name
Michael, Raphael and Gabriel are the three angels mentioned in the Scriptures. Any other name attributed to these celestial creatures is neither documented nor confirmed by the Church.
6. Our Angel Fights on Our Side with all his Strength
Our Angel is a warrior, a strong and courageous fighter, who ranks at our side in every battle of life and protects us when we are too fragile to do it alone.
7. Our Guardian Angel is a Messanger
He is our personal messenger, charged with bringing our messages to God, and vice versa.
It is to the angels that God addresses himself in communicating with us. Their job is to make us understand his Word, and move us in the right direction.