My Guardian Angel

Life’s lessons: children need tangible and concrete things to relate to as they grow to adulthood. Some of the stories our parents and grandparents told us about our guardian angels were simply to create some security and support to us when we needed them most. Some of the fairy tales that children hear may give them assurance about the goodness of people and may foster their belief and faith in God. We all liked fairy tales when we were growing up. We believed in Santa Claus. When things did not go well for us as children during the year, we believed that at Christmas Santa Claus would come with gifts at night through the chimney. And oh yes, Santa usually showed up. Our parents always struggled through to hide some gifts under the Christmas tree. That, sure, was our gift for Christmas. Ever watch the film ‘how the Grinch stole Christmas’?

I recall the story of my Guardian Angel in my Sunday school days. I believe in the Guardian Angel. I always do and always will. I love to say the prayer to my Guardian Angel. This is a beautiful prayer that anyone could say and receive support and blessings: “Angel of God, my guardian Dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day be at my side to light and to guard, to rule and guide. Amen” As a young child, I was afraid of the dark, and of the night. I would always call on my Guardian Angel to protect and guide me. It worked like magic. My Guardian Angel was always at work at my side and my fear would fade away.

Yes, I know there are many people out there who want to tell children that there is no Santa Claus; no Christmas; and yes, no Guardian Angel. If you do not believe in these realities today, do not forget that there was a time in your life when they meant so much to you. Do not deprive the children of these mysteries. After all there are many things in our world today that are more disturbing and confusing to children than Santa Claus, Christmas and Guardian Angel.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that, “the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Scared Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition. So who are angels? St. Augustine answered this question thus: “Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ‘angel’; from what they are, ‘spirit’, from what they do, ‘angel’. The angels are the servants and messengers of God. Mt. 18:10 tells us that, “they always behold the face of my father who is in heaven. The Catechism teaches us further that the angels belong to Christ. “They are his angels: “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him… They belong to him because they were created through and for him: “for in him all things are created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities – all things were created through him and for him”. So our guardian angels are the special messengers designated by God to take care of us individually. How lucky are we to have been given such special friends by God.

I like, in particular, the pictures of the guardian angels, especially the one that the angel guards and protects a young child as she plays around. I saw my guardian angel once. He appeared when I least expected a friend, and was there to guard and protect me through a very difficult journey at night when I was alone. He left in the morning and I have never seen him again since then. I have had other encounters with people who appeared mysteriously when I was down and almost out, but they helped when I was not sure where the help would come from. They are my guardian angels. So think hard and you will remember that your guardian angel is hard at work by your side. Trust in them, pray to them and believe and you will discover that they are not too far away from you. They are closer to you than you are to yourself. Teach you children and grandchildren about their guardian angels. We need one in life.