We all want to feel safe, at all times and every place. Today we celebrate Messengers of God, whose role is to keep us safe until we attain full salvation—the blessedness of beholding the face of God. The Catechism teaches that, “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. Already here on Earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God” (CCC, 336). When considered broadly, Angels of God are extension of God. They communicate the mind of God, the presence of God, the purposes of God, and the plan of God. God manifests Himself to humankind through His Angels. And there is an uncountable number of them with distinct roles in Heaven and on Earth.
In celebrating “Guardian Angels,” the Church bids us to rejoice and thank God for assigning us His messengers, whose primary roles are to guard and guide us through this life until we reach our ultimate destination, eternity, with God. The teaching about Guardian Angels is so beautiful and comforting that everyone would want to have a personal relationship with his/her guardian angel. Such a desire has led some people to try to create fictional characters whom they would want to have recourse to as personal heavenly friend/guardian angels. What the Church teaches about Angels is clear: “The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition” (CCC 328).
How to Relate with Your Guardian Angel
Angels are spiritual beings. The mode of relating to them has to be spiritual. Our Lord speaks of this type of relationship in John’s gospel: “God is spirit, those who worship Him must do so in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Our guardian angels receive honor when we worship God, though it is not out of place to honor them. They are happy with us if God is happy with us—their state of being is determined by God’s disposition. That is, their being and relationship with us are guarded by God. Hence, in worshipping God, we make our guardian angels happy as well. I always love the part of the preface of the Mass that describes how we on Earth join the Saints and various choirs of Angels in praising God. And then we sing or say one of the most beautiful words of praises to the Almighty God— “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Hosts…”
The second key to maintaining a powerful relationship with our guardian angels is having a childlike attitude. Our Lord asks that the “little ones” not be despised/looked down on, because their “angels are always beholding the face of the Father” (cf. Matt 18:10). Jesus is saying the Angels go back and forth between the Father and the “little ones.” Are you little enough before the heavenly Father? I will gladly be the Heavenly Father’s little one to have His messenger around me at all times. Nothing is more reassuring. No security guard could make you feel safer.
I thought it would get boring always praising God in Heaven like the choirs of angelic beings. Then I realized praise is the outcome of being full of joy which is the spontaneous reaction to deep gratitude. So being in the cognizant presence of God fills us with such overwhelming gratitude and thus overwhelming joy that we cannot help but erupt in praising God with our entire being.
That’s correct Blaise! In fact you captured so well in your beautiful words: “the outcome of being full of joy which is the spontaneous reaction to deep gratitude.” Thanks for sharing.
This was a beautiful message, very inspiring. and thought provoking.
Thanks Rita. May God bless you.