Guardian Angel Protector Prayer
O Angel of Christ, my holy Guardian and Protector of my soul and body, forgive me for not listening to you and thus my sins of today.
Deliver me from all the wiles of the enemy, that I may not anger my God by any sin.
Pray for me, sinful and unworthy servant, that thou mayest present me worthy of the kindness and mercy of the All-holy Trinity and the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ, and of all the Saints. Amen.
PRAYER TO MY GUARDIAN ANGEL
O GUARDIAN ANGEL, most Faithful companion, appointed by God to be my guide and protector, and who art ever at my side, what thanks can I offer thee for thy faithfulness and love, and for all the benefits which thou hast conferred upon me? Thou watchest over me in sleep; thou consolest me when I am sad; thou liftest me up when I fall; thou avertest the dangers that threaten me; thou preparest me for the future; thou withdrawest me from evil and excitest me to good; thou exhortest me to penance when I yield to temptation; and reconcilest me to my offended God. Long since should I have been cast into hell, unless by thy prayers thou hadst averted from me the anger of God. Leave me not, then, I entreat thee; but still comfort me in adversity, restrain me in prosperity, defend me in danger, assist me in temptations, lest at any time I fall a victim to them. Offer to God my tears, my prayers and groanings, and all my religious exercises, and obtain for me the great gift of final perseverance, and the grace to die in the friendship of my Creator, and so to enter into life everlasting.
O HOLY ANGEL at my side, Go to Church for me, Kneel in my place, at Holy Mass, Where I desire to be. At Offertory, in my stead, Take all I am and own, And place it as a sacrifice Upon the Altar Throne. At Holy Consecration’s bell, Adore with Seraph’s love, My Jesus hidden in the Host, Come down from Heaven above. Then pray for those I dearly love, And those who cause me grief, That Jesus’ Blood may cleanse all hearts, And suffering souls relieve. And when the priest Communion takes, Oh, bring my Lord to me, That His sweet Heart may rest on mine, And I His temple be. Pray that this Sacrifice Divine, May mankind’s sins efface; Then bring me Jesus’ blessing home, The pledge of every grace. Amen
Prayer to Send your guardian angel to Mass
Here is a beautiful prayer, often printed on prayer cards, that dates to the 1920s and sends your guardian angel to Mass when you are unable to attend the Holy Sacrifice.
O HOLY ANGEL at my side,
Go to Church for me,
Kneel in my place, at Holy
Mass,
Where I desire to be.
At Offertory, in my stead,
Take all I am and own,
And place it as a sacrifice
Upon the Altar Throne.
At Holy Consecration’s bell,
Adore with Seraph’s love,
My Jesus hidden in the Host,
Come down from Heaven above.
Then pray for those I dearly love,
And those who cause me grief,
That Jesus’ Blood may cleanse
all hearts,
And suff’ring souls relieve.
And when the priest Communion takes,
Oh, bring my Lord to me,
That His sweet Heart may rest
on mine,
And I His temple be.
Pray that
this Sacrifice Divine,
May mankind’s sins efface;
Then bring me Jesus’ blessing
home,
The pledge of every grace. Amen
Consecration to the Guardian Angel
Holy Guardian Angel, from the beginning of my life, you were given
to me as protector and companion. Here, in the presence of my Lord and my God, of my heavenly Mother
Mary and of all the Angels and Saints I (…), poor sinner I want to consecrate
myself to you.
I
promise to always be faithful and obedient to God and to the holy Mother
Church.
I promise to always be devoted to Mary ,
my Lady, Queen and Mother, and to take her as a model of my life.
I promise to be devoted to you too, my patron saint, and to
propagate according to my strength the devotion to the holy angels, which is
granted to us in these days, as a garrison and aid in the spiritual struggle,
for the conquest of the Kingdom of God.
I pray you, Holy Angel , to grant me all the
strength of divine love, so that it will be inflamed, and all the strength of
faith, so that it will never again fall into error.
Let
your hand defend me from the enemy.
I
ask you for the grace of Mary’s humility, so that she may escape all dangers
and, guided by you, reach the entrance to the Father’s house in heaven. Amen.
Litany of the Holy Guardian Angel
For Private Recitation.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of Angels,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who art my guardian,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, whom I revere as my superior,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost give me charitable counsel,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost give me wise direction,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost take the place of a tutor,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost love me tenderly,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who art my consoler,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who art attached to me as a good brother,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost instruct me in the duties
and truth of salvation,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who art to me a charitable shepherd,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven who art witness of all my actions,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost help me in all my undertakings,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost continually watch over me,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost intercede for me,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost carry me in thy hand,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost direct me in all my ways,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost defend me with zeal,
pray for me.
Angel of heaven, who dost conduct me with wisdom,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost guard me from all danger,
pray for me.
Angel of Heaven, who dost dissipate the darkness and
enlighten the mind,
pray for me.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Lord.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
Pray for us, O Guardian Angel,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray.
Almighty and eternal God, Who by an effect of Thine ineffable bounty hast given to each of the faithful an angel to be the guardian of body and soul, grant that I may have for him whom Thou hast given me in Thy mercy so much respect and love, that, protected by the gifts of Thy graces and by his help, I may merit to go to Thee in Heaven, there to contemplate Thee with him and the other happy spirits in the brightness of Thy glory. Amen.
While we may know that God has appointed a Guardian Angel to watch over us, their particular mission is not always evident. The Angel of God prayer asks our angel to “ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide,” but what does that mean?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church best summarizes the role of our Guardian Angel by explaining, “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life’” (CCC 336).
This two-fold role of protector and shepherd is further elaborated in the traditional Litany to a Guardian Angel. It is an older prayer passed on through the generations that expands on the Church’s definition by giving our Guardian Angel more particular titles. The litany is a great aid in increasing a person’s relationship with his/her Guardian Angel and opens up the doors to a lifelong friendship with the spiritual being that accompanies us wherever we go.
LITANY TO A GUARDIAN ANGEL
(For private recitation)
Lord, have mercy on us, Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Holy Angel, my prince, pray for us.
Holy Angel, my monitor,
Holy Angel, my counselor,
Holy Angel, my defender,
Holy Angel, my steward,
Holy Angel, my friend,
Holy Angel, my negotiator,
Holy Angel, my intercessor,
Holy Angel, my patron,
Holy Angel, my director,
Holy Angel, my ruler,
Holy Angel, my protector,
Holy Angel, my comforter,
Holy Angel, my brother,
Holy Angel, my teacher,
Holy Angel, my shepherd,
Holy Angel, my witness,
Holy Angel, my helper,
Holy Angel, my watcher,
Holy Angel, my conductor,
Holy Angel, my preserver,
Holy Angel, my instructor,
Holy Angel, my enlightener,
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us!
Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
Pray for us, O holy Angel Guardian.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray—Almighty, everlasting God, who in the counsel of Your ineffable goodness have appointed to all the faithful, from their mother’s womb, a special Angel Guardian of their body and soul; grant, that I may so love and honor him whom You have so mercifully given me, that protected by the bounty of Your grace and by his assistance, I may merit to behold, with him and all the angelic host, the glory of Your countenance in the heavenly country. Who live and reign, world without end. Amen.
Nine Choirs of Angels
Sacred Scripture distinguishes nine such groupings: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels and Angels (Isa. 6:2; Gen. 3:24; Col. 1:16; Eph. 1:21; Rom. 8:38). There may be more groupings but these are the only ones that have been revealed to us. The Seraphim is believed to be the highest Choir, the most intimately united to God, while the Angelic Choir is the lowest.
Choirs of Angels by Dionysius
Ranked from closest to God
1st Sphere (Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones)
2nd Sphere (Dominions, Virtues, Powers)
3rd Sphere (Principalities, Archangels, Angels)
SERAPHIM – sometimes called “the burning ones” because they are closest to God and radiate Pure Light. These are the Angels who constantly sing God’s praise, and whose duty it is to regulate the heavens. (Lucifer is said to have been one of the Seraphim who had outshone all the others untill he became the head of the fallen angels.
CHERUBIM – sent to guard the gates of Eden. Originally they were depicted as the bearers of God’s Throne, as the charioteers, and as powerful beings with four wings and four faces. However, in modern times, Cheribum have evolved into chubby babies with wings.
THRONES – called the ‘many eyed ones’ have the duty of carrying out God’s decisions. They are often represented as firey wheels.
DOMINIONS – their job is to regulate the duties of the other Angels and ensure that God’s wishes are carried out.
VIRTUES – the Angels of Grace who bring God’s blessings to Earth, usually in the form of miracles. Known as the ‘brilliant’ or “shinning’” ones, they are associated with acts of heroism and bring courage when needed.
POWERS – their job is to prevent the ‘fallen angels’ from taking over the world and keeping the Universe in balance. They are also seen as the Angels of birth and death.
PRINCIPALITIES – the Guardian Angels of cities, nations and rulers, and guards against the invasion of evil angels.
ARCHANGELS – probably the best known of all Angels. They carry God’s most important messages to humans. They also command God’s ‘armies’ of Angels in the constant battle with the “sons of darkness.”
ANGELS – the Celestial Beings closest to humans. They act as intermediaries between the Almighty and humanity. Often called our “Guardian Angels.”
Twenty Things Angels Do For Us
Imagine you had a bodyguard who was always with you. He did all the usual bodyguard things like protecting you from danger, warding off assailants, and generally keeping you safe in all situations. But he also did more than this: he offered you moral guidance, helped you become a stronger person, and led you to your ultimate calling in life.
We don’t have to imagine it. We already have such a bodyguard. Christian tradition calls them guardian angels. Their existence is supported by Scripture and both Catholics and Protestants believe in them
But too often we neglect to tap this great spiritual resource. (I, for one, am certainly guilty of this!) In order to better enlist the aid of guardian angels, it might help to have a better appreciation of they can do for us. Here are 20 things:
1. Ward off demons
Sometimes we visualize moral decision-making as a debate between a bad angel whispering in one ear and a good angel speaking wisely in the other. There is a truth to this: according to St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the roles of the guardian angels is to fight off demons (Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 113, Articles 2-6).
2. Protect us from harm
Guardian angels generally protect us from both spiritual and physical harm, according to Aquinas (Question 113, Article 5, Reply 3). This belief is rooted in Scripture. For example, Psalm 91:11-12 declares, “For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”
3. Strengthen us against temptation
Guardian angels do not just ward off evil, they also strengthen us so we can do it ourselves. As St. Bernard says in a sermon, “As often, therefore, as a most serious temptation is perceived to weigh upon you and an excessive trial is threatening, call to your guard, your leader, your helper in your needs, in your tribulation; cry to him and say: ‘Lord, save us; we perish!’”
4. Embolden us
St. Bernard also says that with angels such as these at our side we should have no fear. We should have the courage to live out our faith boldly and confront whatever life might throw our way. As he puts it, “Why should we fear under such guardians? Those who keep us in all our ways can neither be overcome nor be deceived, much less deceive. They are faithful; they are prudent; they are powerful; why do we tremble?”
5. Intervene miraculously to save us from trouble
Guardian angels not only ‘guard,’ they also can save us when we are already in trouble. This is illustrated by the story of Peter in Acts 12, when an angel helps break the apostle out of prison. The story suggests that it is his own personal angel that has intervened (see verse 15). Of course, we cannot count on such miracles. But it’s an added comfort to know that they are possible.
6. Guard us from birth
Church Fathers once debated whether guardian angels were assigned at birth or at baptism. St. Jerome argued decisively for the former. His basis was Matthew 18:10, which is a crucially important Scriptural passage that supports the existence of guardian angels. In the verse 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.” The reason that we get guardian angels at birth is that their aid is associated with our nature as rational beings, rather than belonging to the order of grace, according to Aquinas (Question 113, Article 5, Answer).
7. Guard all of us—including unbelievers
This conclusion follows from the above. Aquinas also makes this clear in explaining that God never leaves any of us, including sinners. As the great dogmatic theologian Ludwig Ott explained, “According to the general teaching of the theologians, however, not only every baptized person, but every human being, including unbelievers, has his own special guardian angel from his birth.” Pope Benedict XVI also taught that guardian angels are “ministers of the divine care for every human being.” (Thanks to Jimmy Akin for highlighting these sources.)
8. Remind us of the dignity of persons
This follows from all that has been said before. It is particularly evident from Matthew 18:10 where Jesus instructs us not to ‘despise’ the ‘little ones’ because they have angels watching over them. (I’m particularly indebted to Protestant preacher John Piper for pointing this out.) As St. Jerome puts it, “The worth of souls is so great that from birth each one has an angel assigned to him for protection.” Piper emphasizes how the presence of guardian angels should lead us to a greater respect for our fellow Christians: “Therefore don’t despise this simple, unimpressive disciple of Jesus! Let his angelic entourage remind you whose son he is.”
9. Remind us of God’s care for all
Aquinas explains how the angels operate in accordance with God’s providential plan for all men (Question 113, Article 6, Answer). It follows that these angels serve as a reminder of His care for us.
10. Bring our needs to God
Akin says that guardian angels act as intercessors who bring our requests directly to God based on Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:10 about angels beholding the face of God.
11. Bring us closer to God
It follows from the above that guardian angels also aid in bringing us nearer to God. Even when God seems distant, just remember that the guardian angel assigned to you personally is at the same time beholding God directly, as the Catholic Encyclopedia notes.
12. Move us to the good
Guardian angels also move us to the good. As Aquinas writes, “It is moreover manifest that as regards things to be done human knowledge and affection can vary and fail from good in many ways; and so it was necessary that angels should be deputed for the guardianship of men, in order to regulate them and move them to good” This includes prompting us to perform good works, according to Aquinas. (See Question 113, Article 1, Answer and Article 4, Objection 3.)
13. Reinforce God’s commands
According to Aquinas, one of the roles of our angelic guardians is helping us use our reason to pursue virtue. In particular, he says the angels help us in developing prudence by serving as God’s “universal instructor,” passing on God’s precepts (Question 113, Article 1, Reply 2).
14. Illuminate the truth
Angels “propose the intelligible truth to men” through sensible things, according to Aquinas (Question 111, Article 1, Answer). Although he does not elaborate on this point, this it is a basic teaching of the Church that the material world points to invisible spiritual realities. As St. Paul says in Romans 1:20, “Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.”
15. Strengthen our minds
A second way that angels enlighten us, Aquinas says, is by reinforcing our intellects. As he puts it, “[T]he human intellect as the inferior, is strengthened by the action of the angelic intellect” (Question 111, Article 1).
16. Communicate through our imagination
In addition to working through our senses and intellects, our guardian angels also influence us through our imaginations, according to Aquinas, who gives the example of Joseph’s dreams (Question 111, Article 3, On the Contrary and Answer). But it might not be something as obvious as a dream; it could also be through more subtle means like a ‘phantasm,’ which could be defined as an image brought to the senses or the imagination (Question 111: Article 1, Answer; definition adapted from the Dictionary of Scholastic Philosophy by Bernard Wueller, SJ).
17. Influence our wills
Angels cannot directly move the will, but, according to Aquinas, they can indirectly influence it through our senses and intellect, as stated above (Question 111, Article 2 , Answer). This means that our guardian angels influence every part of our being for the better—our senses, intellect, and will.
18. Aid in our salvation
The ultimate goal of all that guardian angels do is to aid in our salvation, according to Aquinas. “Angels are sent to minister, and that efficaciously indeed, for those who shall receive the inheritance of salvation, if we consider the ultimate effect of their guardianship, which is the realizing of that inheritance,” Aquinas writes (Question 113, Article 5, Reply 1). Here he is drawing from Hebrews 1:14, which states, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”
19. Remind us of our ultimate goal
Inspired by Christ’s words in Matthew 18:10, St. Augustine suggests that guardian angels remind us that our ultimate goal is the beatific vision of God: “As, then, they see, so shall we also see; but not yet do we thus see. Wherefore the apostle uses the words cited a little ago, Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. This vision is reserved as the reward of our faith; and of it the Apostle John also says, When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2. By the face of God we are to understand His manifestation, and not a part of the body similar to that which in our bodies we call by that name” (City of God, Book 22, Chapter 29).
20. Never leave us
Guardian angels assume their duties at our birth and maintain them up to our death. For Aquinas, this is just an extension of the broader truth that we never completely leave God’s care, even in sin and doubt: “Now it is evident that neither man, nor anything at all, is entirely withdrawn from the providence of God: for in as far as a thing participates being, so far is it subject to the providence that extends over all being. God indeed is said to forsake man, according to the ordering of His providence, but only in so far as He allows man to suffer some defect of punishment or of fault. In like manner it must be said that the angel guardian never forsakes a man entirely…” (Question 113, Article 6, Answer).
True Story
One morning while getting ready for work I had the urge to pray the Guardian Angel prayer three times (unusual for me) which if I recite it, I would do so at night. That day while driving to work my tire went flat on my relatively new car. Although I know how to change a tire and had certainly done so in the past (daughter of a truck driver), I found that the tire required a key to remove the tire hub cap which was never supplied by the car dealer. Well, I was concerned due to the heat and where my tire decided to give up. I could not reach my husband by phone. Three men stopped to offer assistance and I was not some young pretty thing. The first man stopped because his wife had recently gotten stuck for hours on the side of the road and no one offered to assist. The second man was on the way to his chef job and exchanged some prayerful sentiments. The third man now knowing my husband was on the way, offered to wait with me until my husband arrived. I still pray for them when I am reminded. What a awesome God that created the hearts of these men who did not worry about offering their assistance and being possibly rebuffed in this politically correct world. I floated on air for days. May God be praised!
5+ Ways to a Deeper Relationship with your Guardian Angel
