A Reflection for the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
Find today’s readings here.
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.
I’ll always remember the day my eldest son came home from kindergarten reciting the Angel of God prayer. Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here…
I’m a convert. I’d never heard it before. But I thought it was very sweet, so I repeated it to my Catholic friends, who laughed heartily. They, of course, had known that prayer since theywere tiny kids.
My friends’ laughter was not unkind, but it was still a humbling moment. I’d been a practicing Catholic for ten years. I had a theology degree from Notre Dame, and had taught doctors of the church in college classrooms. I’d written a dissertation on St. Bonaventure (who was, in fact, quite interested in angels). But I was totally unfamiliar with this little prayer, and in fact, come to think of it: what was a “guardian angel”? How could it not have come up before that I have a personal angel who follows me around?
In fact, this is an old idea, as I would have known if I’d studied the Church fathers and Summa Theologica more rigorously. St. Jerome, commenting on today’s Gospel passage, notes that it is a sign of the “high dignity of Souls” that each should be appointed an angel. St. Thomas Aquinas argues that everyone has a personal angel assigned to him because, “as guardians are appointed for men who have to pass by an unsafe road, so an angel guardian is assigned to each man as long as he is a wayfarer.” The very existence of a feast honoring the Guardian Angels is evidence of how deeply the idea is rooted in Catholic tradition.
Nevertheless, we mainly teach it to small children. This is actually quite easy to understand. Children are obviously vulnerable. They aren’t ashamed of it. They cry when they get hurt, and hug teddy bears when they’re sad. If they’re scared, they’ll simply run and beg to be picked up. They know they need protection and love. The idea that God would assign them a personal angel probably seems very natural to a young child.
Adults may react differently. To them guardian angels might seem weird, intrusive, or maybe a little hokey. We like to think we’re bigger, smarter, and more self-sufficient since those days when we cried over scraped knees.
Job has more perspective on this. “How can a man be justified before God?” he asks in today’s readings. “Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times.” In God’s eyes, the difference between my kindergartener and me may seem rather trivial. Or perhaps there isa big difference after all: he knows that he’s small and needy, and I like to believe otherwise.
Truthfully, I still do not understand guardian angels all that well. What do they actually do? Would it be healthy to pray or speak to my personal angel more often? Will I, as in C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, find at the moment of my death that I recognize my guardian angel as someone who has been with me through the vicissitudes of life? I really cannot say. The subject still feels strange to my adult mind.
I do understand, however, that I need God’s protection and support as much as any young child. I understand that it has been offered to me, in many different forms. I also understand that it is necessary to accept that love and grace, not reluctantly like a would-be independent adult, but gratefully, like a child.
Bless the Lord, all you angels, you ministers, who do his will.
