The truth about angels and their protective care is seen throughout the Bible and has long been promulgated by the Catholic Church. Yet sometimes, it takes a terrifying moment to truly understand the importance of guardian angels.
The fright that woke me
Whilst there have been various times in my life when I have invoked the assistance of my guardian angel, it was not until I painfully witnessed my one year old fall head first down an entire flight of stairs that I really began petitioning my guardian angel on a regular basis. Despite only being some 30 cm away from my daughter at the time of her fall, I was still unable to catch her in time. Instead I had to helplessly watch as she plummeted down the entire flight to the floor.
Though, by God’s grace, my daughter miraculously walked away without injury, this experience taught me an important lesson in humility. It really highlighted for me the need to further abandon myself to the loving care of God. While I have often believed myself to be in control of everything, the truth is I simply cannot be in all places at all times. I cannot protect my children from every danger. But God certainly can!
An angel stands by each believer
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.
From the time my youngest child began to walk, there has seldom been a day I have neglected to pray this simple Guardian Angel prayer. And for very good reason. While there are many things I can do as a mother to protect my children from the dangers in this world, I am very aware of my own weakness and incapacity to do it all. So it would be foolish for me to reject the assistance of the angels whom God has placed at my service (Heb 1:14).
As any Christian will know, protecting oneself and their family from the “evil schemes” and “flaming darts” of the devil is a daily battle. This is why St. Paul encourages believers, “to put on the whole armour of God, to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:11). This call to put on the whole armour of God is fundamentally an invitation to utilise everything which God, in His divine providence, has put at our disposal: one of which being the assistance of his angels.
The Catholic Church states:
“From infancy to death, human life is surrounded by their [angel’s] watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd, leading him to life” (CCC, para. 336).
It might surprise some to learn this long-standing belief in the Church’s tradition is deeply rooted in Sacred Scripture with close to three hundred references to angels found throughout the Old and New Testaments.
Angels in Scripture
In the Book of Daniel, many will remember that it was ‘an angel of the Lord’ who was sent to protect the prophet Daniel from a torturous death in the lion’s den (Dan 6:21). And so too ‘an angel of God’ rescued the three Israelite companions from the blazing furnace (Dan 3:49-50).
In Genesis we read of ‘two angels’ sent to warn and rescue Lot and his family from the upcoming destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:15).
Then there is the detailed account of the angel Raphael’s service to Tobit and his family. God sent Raphael to both heal Tobit and Sarah, and bring about the marriage of Sarah and Tobias (Tob 3:16-17).
“God sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law. I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glorious presence of God.”
Tobit 12:14-15
Despite being able to assist humanity without the help of any intermediary, it is clear to see from all of these passages that God delights in using his heavenly creatures as intermediaries to carry out His will. They seek nothing of their own interest but solely occupy themselves with the task of carrying out the will of God, all the while never losing the vision of God through their earthly mission (Matt 18:10).
The New Testament gives further witness to this. Both Peter’s escape from prison (Acts 12:6-11) and the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) are just two examples.
We find further witness in the life of Jesus with two accounts recorded of an angel sent to wait on Him – first, during his forty days in the wilderness (Mk 1:13) and second, on the night before His Passion (Lk 22:43).
“And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.”
Luke 22:43
The daily habit
Drawing inspiration from the life of the Saints and the strong witness of the Bible, I now make it a habit each day to offer up one or more prayers to my guardian angel as a way of placing my family more fully under the powerful protection of God.
Whether it is praying the Angelus, meditating upon a particular Scripture, reciting the Angel of God prayer, or simply talking to my guardian angel; seeking my guardian angel’s assistance on a daily basis brings me a new awareness and appreciation of the presence of God in my life.
Through this practice I have also come to experience a greater sense of peace in my life, particularly within my motherhood. I no longer live as though the safety of my children solely depends on me. Instead of chasing my children around the house to watch and guard their every move and childhood adventure, I now make it a point to regularly entrust them to God’s loving care by invoking the intercession of their guardian angel. Whether I am dropping my children off at school or watching my youngest child attempt the staircase, I stop and pray this simple but powerful prayer on their behalf:
Lord, send your angel to go before them,
to guide and guard their every step,
to safely bring them to the place you have prepared.
Encouraged by God’s Word in Exodus, I take great comfort in knowing He will send His angel before my family to safely bring us to the place He has prepared.
“Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says.”
Exodus 23:20-21
Guardian Angels, pray for us.
Holly is a trained secondary teacher and mother of four. She has a Master’s degree in Theology and is passionate about sharing her faith and encouraging women in their journey of motherhood. Holly is married to Philip and lives in Melbourne with their young children.
