Image by Adrianna Tucker/Graphic by Lauren Gates
Angel of God My guardian dear, To Whom His love Commits me here, Ever this day Be at my side, To light and guard To rule and guide Amen
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11
“The guardian angels are our most faithful friends, because they are with us day and night, always and everywhere.” St. John Vianney.
To think that from the moment we were born, God already gave us a best friend, one who will always be with us, even if nobody else is around. What’s really interesting to me, though, is that there were some saints who really had a close relationship with their guardian angel.
Saint Gemma Galgani was said to often pray with her angel and that he always guided and corrected her in her everyday life. St. John Bosco saw his guardian angel as a big grey dog. St. Isidore’s guardian angel was said to be out plowing the fields while Isidore went to Mass. St. Therese of Lisieux wrote a poem to her Guardian Angel. All the saints encouraged the idea of developing a good friendship with one’s own angel.
As a cradle Catholic, I was familiar with my guardian angel from a very young age. I feel like my angel has been a great friend to me, even though I wasn’t always aware of him. One way we can honor the guardian angels in our lives is to simply pray the Guardian Angel prayer. We may not be able to talk to them like some of the saints were able to, but we can still acknowledge them as our secret friends and signs of their intercession will eventually manifest.
If you’re Cradle Catholic, you’ll probably be familiar with this prayer: “Angel of God, my guardian dear to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day, be at me side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.”
I also invite you to pray this prayer, as it reveals that guardian angels also watch over every city and even the planets and stars:
“Come to our assistance, O holy Angel Guardians. For you are helpers in our needs, consolers in our distress, illuminators in our darkness, protectors during times of danger, inspirers of good thoughts, intercessors with God, defenders against the evil enemy, faithful companions, sure friends, prudent counselors, models of holy obedience, and mirrors of humility and purity.
“Come to our assistance, O Angels who guard over us, Angels of our families, Angels of our children, Angels of our country, Angels of the Church, and Angels of the universe. Amen.”
To Jesus through Mary-Monique Ocampo
