Guardian Angels – Devotion and Catholic Magisterium

The doctrine on the Guardian Angels – each of the faithful has a personal protecting angel assigned by God from birth – is one of the most consoling truths of the Catholic faith. Confirmed by Sacred Scripture, by Tradition and by the Magisterium, devotion to the Guardian Angels runs through the whole history of the Church with particular intensity.

Biblical foundation

Old Testament

• Ps 91:11-12: “For he will give his angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone”
• Ps 34:7: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them”
• Ex 23:20: “Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way”

New Testament

• Mt 18:10: “Do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven”
• Acts 12:15: The faithful say of Saint Peter, freed from prison: “It is his angel!”
• Heb 1:14: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
• Lk 16:22: Lazarus was “carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham”

Patristic tradition

Saint Basil the Great (fourth century)

“Each of the faithful has an angel at his side as protector and shepherd to lead him to life” (Adversus Eunomium 3, 1: PG 29, 656B). It is the quotation that will be taken up by CCC no. 336.

Origen (third century)

In Contra Celsum, Origen develops the doctrine of the “angels of the nations” (each people has a protecting angel) and of “personal angels” (each of the faithful has his own).

Saint John Chrysostom

“Every Christian believer has an angel. Even the most fragile, the poorest, the most overlooked has his guardian angel” (Hom. in Mt 59).

Saint Jerome

“Great is the dignity of the human soul: from birth each one has its own angel appointed to protect it” (Comm. in Mt 18).

Ecclesiastical Magisterium

Roman Catechism (1566)

See the post on the Roman Catechism: “Each of the faithful has a Guardian Angel assigned by God from birth. The Angel protects the Christian against the snares of the Devil”.

Paul V (1608)

He extends the feast of the Guardian Angels to the universal Church, fixing it on October 2.

Clement X (1670)

He raises the feast of the Guardian Angels to a minor holy day of obligation.

Leo XIII (1899)

In the encyclical Annum sacrum, he recalls the role of the Guardian Angels in the spiritual life of the faithful.

Pius XII (October 5, 1958)

An address on the “Anno degli Angeli Custodi” underlines the concrete action of the Guardian Angel in four functions: protector against the Evil One, spiritual guide, counselor in difficulties, the one who leads to God at the hour of death.

John Paul II (Catechesis of July 30, 1986)

See the post on the Catecheses: “The presence of the Guardian Angel… is for every Christian the tangible guarantee of the love of God for each one of us”.

Benedict XVI (Angelus of September 27, 2009)

“Next Friday the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, frequently invoked in these days. These heavenly spirits whom God has set for the custody of every man… are messengers of the providential love of the Father. The Guardian Angels are always faithfully close to us, to guide us along the way of salvation. On the other hand, they are also ready to defend us from the snares and the dangers that await us along the way.”

Francis (Christus vivit n. 47, 2019)

In Christus Vivit, Francis refers to the Guardian Angel of young people: “Young people feel accompanied, even when they feel alone. Parents… Grandparents… and also the Guardian Angels, those invisible friends sent by God”.

Functions of the guardian angel

According to traditional theology, the Guardian Angel has four principal functions:

1. Custody: to protect against physical and spiritual dangers
2. Illumination: to suggest good thoughts and good counsels
3. Inspiration: to move toward the good and toward virtue
4. Presentation: to offer our prayers and good works to God, to lead the soul at the hour of death

The prayer “Angel of God”

The traditional prayer to the Guardian Angel, prayed by Catholics throughout the world:

Latin text

Angele Dei,
qui custos es mei,
me tibi commissum pietate superna,
hodie illumina, custodi, rege et guberna.
Amen.

English translation

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.

This prayer carries a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions (confession, Communion, prayer for the intentions of the Pope) when it is prayed on the feast of the Guardian Angels (October 2), according to the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (1968 and 2004).

The saints and their guardian angels

Numerous saints have recounted intense experiences with their Guardian Angels:

• Saint Padre Pio (1887-1968): he said that he conversed daily with his guardian angel, and recommended to his spiritual children that they “send the guardian angel” with messages
• Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938): she saw her guardian angel in moments of prayer
• Saint John Bosco (1815-1888): he had prophetic visions attributed to the guardian angel
• Saint Gemma Galgani (1878-1903): she conversed familiarly with the guardian angel, who served as messenger to God
• Saint John Paul II: he had a strong personal devotion to the Guardian Angels, and prayed the “Angele Dei” multiple times a day

Pastoral legacy

Devotion to the Guardian Angels has concrete pastoral expressions:

• Catechesis of children: the prayer “Angel of God” is taught early
• Blessing of homes: includes the invocation of the Guardian Angel of the family
• Protection on a journey: Saint Raphael + Guardian Angels
• Hour of death: spiritual accompaniment
• Ministry to the sick: prayer with the sick person

Further reading

JP2 Catecheses 1986 | Saint Michael the Archangel | Saint Gabriel | Saint Raphael | CCC on Angels and Demons | Lumen Gentium VII

See our complete guide to Catholic Angelology.