Guardian Angels

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The Bible contains numerous examples of angels in particular missions. For example, the Angel Gabriel announced Christ’s incarnation by the Holy Spirit to the Virgin Mary, and angels witnessed and heralded Jesus’ Resurrection.

The Church affirms the existence of angels and their mission in collective and individual salvations. Pope John Paul II affirmed “the angels, as pure spirits, not only participate in the holiness of God himself, in the manner proper to them, but in the key moments they surround Christ and accompany him in the fulfillment of his salvific mission in regard to mankind” (General Audience, 30 July 1986; L’Osservatore Romano English Edition, 4 August, p. 1).

Angels, created by God according to the importance and necessity of each situation, “surround” and “accompany” the Church. Their missions completely embrace the Mystic Body of Christ. All persons have their own guardian angel to guard, protect and enlighten them.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims “from infancy to death human life is surrounded by their [angels’] watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God” (CCC, n. 336). Such protection benefits those who respond to the Holy Spirit’s direction.

In the Mass liturgy, the Church prays to the angels for their protection and intercession. According to Christian tradition,  every person has a guardian angel who accompanies them at every moment of life. In the Gospel, Jesus invites us to respect even the smallest and humble persons, in a reference to their angels who watch over them from heaven.

The Guardian Angel is linked to anyone who lives within God’s grace. The Fathers of the Church maintained that a guardian angel existed for each person, during the Council of Trent (1545 – 1563) it was stated that every person had their own angel, and Pope Paul V added the festival of the guardian angels to the Church calendar.

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