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 precious prayer was taught to my sisters and me at a very young age. We rattled it out every night before bed without thinking about what we were actually saying. I knew that I had a guardian angel, thanks to this prayer and to the famous picture of the angel helping the children over the bridge which was hung in the hall.
My parents would encourage me to pray to talk to my angel, so one day, I found myself in a bit of a pickle and tried it out. I was very young at the time. My dad had asked me to retrieve a tool out of an old garage. I tried twisting the knob, but it was to no avail. I lifted up on it as hard as I could, but still, nothing budged. With tears forming at the corners of my eyes, I prayed to my angel to give me the strength to open the overhead door. When I had finished my prayer, to my amazement, I easily twisted the knob and was able to push up the overhead door!
Angels are likely the vehicle of many miracles in our lives, whether we are aware of it or not. I wonder how many times they have kept me or one of my kids safe without me even knowing we were in danger.
When I was 9 months pregnant with my 4-year-old, I had just laid down in bed. I put my hand on my stomach and told my guardian angel to tell my baby’s angel that I was ready to meet him/her. I then rolled over and POP! My water broke and we were off to the hospital.
St. Thomas Aquinas believed that God uses angels for EVERY physical intervention in the universe. “All corporeal things are ruled by the angels.” – St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, I, 110, 1
The angels act as the hands and feet of God’s Providence. They have far superior knowledge of the natural universe and its laws than what we humans have. This is why it is so prudent to pray to your guardian angel every single day, asking them to be at your side, to be a light, to guard you, to rule your life, and to guide you on your way.
He has given His angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways. -Psalm 91
Jesus says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of My heavenly Father.” -Mt 18:10
The face of our angel is always turned toward God in humble adoration, therefore he is always contemplating God’s wisdom and love. Our angel can read the loving and wise will of the Father for us and receives the necessary graces to fulfill it, which he in turn mediates to us.
Buckle up, we only just scratched the surface of angels and will spend all of Advent exploring them further. But for now, let’s try to make a conscious effort to remember the presence of Our Guardian Angel. Let’s try to remember to ask for his protection and his help.
Daily Prayer to the Guardian Angel, with Opus Sanctorum Angelorum addition
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.
Take me by the hand: I promise
Docile obedience to your guidance,
So that I may attain eternal happiness. Amen.
Until next time, your sister in Christ,
Leah