THE OTHER DAY, I was leaving the store with a loaded cart and my four young kids. We reached the edge of the sidewalk, pausing to regroup before we crossed to our car, and the second I turned to check where my 3-year-old was, was the second my 2-year-old picked to hop off the curb by himself.
Not every story of guardian angels intervening involves a dramatic tap on the shoulder. Sometimes it’s just the moment when I turned around in time to see what my baby was trying to put into his mouth. Every day, in one little incident or another, I find another reason to be grateful to our guardian angels.
My personal devotion to the guardian angels has grown since the conception of my first child. I’ve become more and more aware of their presence and help. With four children around me almost every minute of my life, I’m literally surrounded by angels all day, and in those moments of panic, like when my son steps into the parking lot without me, or when someone cuts me off in traffic, I’m especially grateful.
I’ve recently learned that the belief in guardian angels is not a stated doctrine, but a very ancient tradition that even predates the Church itself. I can recommend a recent episode of the “Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World” podcast for a full history and evaluation. Long story short, it’s not known for certain that we have one singular angel assigned only to us from conception, but that is the popular understanding, and it fits what Jesus said in Matthew 18:10, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
Your angel is an immense asset to you, as a dear friend who wants what’s best for you both physically and spiritually, and who never tires in interceding for you to God. It’s only fitting that we honor their place in our lives, and frequently appeal to them in our daily needs, both large and small.
Pray to your angel daily, and those of your children, spouse, and family. Make a habit of crying out to him first when you find yourself in a frightening situation and thanking him first when a crisis is averted. Teach your children the prayer to their guardian angel and pray it frequently.
Your angel wants your holiness above all, so he is a great resource to turn to in the midst of spiritual struggles. Ask for his intercession when you’re facing temptations. Invoke his help against demonic attacks. I often ask my guardian angel to hold my distracting thoughts while I try to focus on prayer. In fact, most of my prayers to my guardian angel are short bursts from the heart of both requests and gratitude.
One important note, the Church actively discourages trying to find out the name of your guardian angel, or of giving him a name yourself. Angels have names, but it’s not our place to know them. The Vatican explicitly states in its “Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy” that “The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael, whose names are contained in Holy Scripture.”
We celebrate the feast of the guardian angels this week, on Oct. 2. This is the perfect opportunity to renew your relationship with your angel, with gratitude to God for this beautiful asset to your spiritual life. Your guardian angel is your best friend who wants you to be holy so you can spend eternity in heaven together. Entrust yourself to his love and care.