The Guardian Angel Memorial - October 2

The Guardian Angels

Memorial
October 2

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.

Amen.

The Church teaches clearly that each of us, throughout our earthly lives, from conception to death, are accompanied, protected and assisted by a personal guardian angel appointed by God. They protect our body and our soul by guiding us away from evil and inspire us to do what is pleasing to God. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 336).

The belief in guardian angels is based on Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.”

From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. In the past, there was a custom of naming our guardian angel. This is now discouraged by the Catholic Church, possibly due to some crossing the line in their familiarity with their angel and unintentionally embracing a New Age practice. “Popular devotion to the Holy Angels, which is legitimate and good, can, however, also give rise to possible deviations: The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, who are mentioned in the Bible. (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy Principles and Guidelines Vatican City December 2001 Paragraph 217).

Dear Lord, thank you for my guardian angel who is ever this day or night by my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Thank you for the earthly “angels” who come to my aid without being asked. And if you call me Lord, give me the grace to be an “angel” to someone in need.

For devotional items related to the Catholic Church
please visit Lynn's Timeless Treasures and Gifts 
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Guardian Angel - Pietro da Cortona
Gethsemane - Carl Bloch