Do I Have a Guardian Angel?
The Catholic tradition promotes devotion to a person’s Guardian Angel. Just recently we had this special feast on our Church’s calendar. The notion and belief in angels transcends Christian denominations deriving itself from the scriptures themselves. We are familiar with some of the archangels like St. Michael, prominent in the books of Daniel and Revelation. St. Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus to Mary in Luke’s gospel. The idea of Guardian Angels also has basis in the scriptures. In the book of Exodus the Lord says, “My angel will go before you” and in the gospel of Matthew (18:10) Jesus says, “I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
For Catholics, the Guardian Angel prayer is one of the first few prayers we learn as children, “Angel of God, my guardian dear to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my sight, to light and guard, to rule and guide.” Popular images of Guardian Angels exist such as the children on the bridge and an angel protecting them. Our prayer and these images are reminders of the presence of our Guardian Angels. Have you had an experience of your Guardian Angel? One person shared with me when they stepped out into a crosswalk and almost was hit by a car, some force pulled them back, even though no one was around them. Another heard a voice telling them not to put their kid in the car. Moments later the car erupted in flames. Again, a credit given to their Guardian Angel.
If you might be interested in having a greater awareness of your Guardian Angel, I’d recommend two simple practices. First trust your spiritual instinct. The Holy Spirit might inspire within us something to say to someone or somewhere we should go. Allow the Holy Spirit to cooperate with your Guardian Angel. Trust that if you feel called or led, that the Spirit and your angel and leading and guiding you. Secondly, strive not to disappoint your Guardian Angel, and in so doing, you will not disappoint our God. Our Angel’s purpose is to lead us to union with God in Heaven. Sin separates us from that union with God. You might remember cartoons with the angels on a person’s shoulder, the good angel, and the devil on the other. The good angel, our Guardian Angel, wants us to choose the good, which leads us to God. An awareness of our Guardian Angel might help us to strive to please God and also accomplish their mission.
God is the creator of the visible and invisible. Angels belong to the realm of the invisible. Just because we can’t see them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. I hope in the days ahead, you might notice the subtle presence of your Guardian Angel.
For Catholics, the Guardian Angel prayer is one of the first few prayers we learn as children, “Angel of God, my guardian dear to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my sight, to light and guard, to rule and guide.” Popular images of Guardian Angels exist such as the children on the bridge and an angel protecting them. Our prayer and these images are reminders of the presence of our Guardian Angels. Have you had an experience of your Guardian Angel? One person shared with me when they stepped out into a crosswalk and almost was hit by a car, some force pulled them back, even though no one was around them. Another heard a voice telling them not to put their kid in the car. Moments later the car erupted in flames. Again, a credit given to their Guardian Angel.
If you might be interested in having a greater awareness of your Guardian Angel, I’d recommend two simple practices. First trust your spiritual instinct. The Holy Spirit might inspire within us something to say to someone or somewhere we should go. Allow the Holy Spirit to cooperate with your Guardian Angel. Trust that if you feel called or led, that the Spirit and your angel and leading and guiding you. Secondly, strive not to disappoint your Guardian Angel, and in so doing, you will not disappoint our God. Our Angel’s purpose is to lead us to union with God in Heaven. Sin separates us from that union with God. You might remember cartoons with the angels on a person’s shoulder, the good angel, and the devil on the other. The good angel, our Guardian Angel, wants us to choose the good, which leads us to God. An awareness of our Guardian Angel might help us to strive to please God and also accomplish their mission.
God is the creator of the visible and invisible. Angels belong to the realm of the invisible. Just because we can’t see them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. I hope in the days ahead, you might notice the subtle presence of your Guardian Angel.
Rev. Edward Looney pastors the Catholic communities of Brussels and Lincoln/Rosiere. He is the author of A Heart Like Mary’s: 31 Daily Meditations.
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