October 2nd, The
Feast of the Guardian Angels
As
we celebrate the feast of the guardian angels, we might become aware of the
fact that we really know very little about our heavenly helpers. I am sure that
most of us have many questions about our angel and how he works in the world –
but where shall we ever find answers? At this point in our journey, rather than
becoming discouraged or running off to many other sources, it would be best to
place ourselves at the feet of the Angelic Doctor and hear what he has to tell
us. The following question and answer study of the guardian angels is based on
the Summa Theologica I, qq.50-64 (angels
in themselves) and qq. 106-114 (angels in relation to creatures). ST I, q.113, is particularly enlightening,
since it is a question devoted wholly to the guardianship of angels over human
beings.
Do I have a guardian angel? Yes, every human being has a guardian
angel.
When did I receive my angel
guardian? At the moment
of conception. Your angel was given to you even before the graces of baptism!
This is because angels are given to human beings on account of our reason, not
on account of baptismal grace.
Was my angel someone else’s
guardian before mine? Probably
not. Every human being receives one angel, and the angel guardians receive one human being to watch over.
Will my angel guardian be
with me in the next life?
If you go to heaven, your angel will be with you in glory as an eternal
companion and friend. If you go to hell, your angel will leave you and you will
receive instead a demon who will torment you forever.
Did my guardian angel know
me before I was born?
Yes. Not only by a natural angelic knowledge, but also by a special knowledge
given by God – your angel has known you from the moment of his entrance into
heaven after his creation.
Is my guardian angel an
archangel? Almost
certainly not. It seems that guardian angels are all chosen from the lowest
choir of angels, which is called “Angels”. The Archangels are above this choir
and seem not to be employed as angel guardians. It is possible that a guardian
angel would receive help and guidance from archangels, or even seraphim.
Is my guardian with me
always? Yes, your angel
always watches over you because God always guides you with his providence. An
angel is locally present when he acts as a complete and immediate cause on a
body; thus, at times your angel might even be locally present to you. In any
case, your angel is always spiritually present to your soul; unless you are
condemned to hell after death.
Do my sins make my angel
sad? Not really. Your
angel enjoys the perfect vision of God and so cannot be sad; for all who see
God are perfectly happy. Just as God
wills to permit you to sin, so too your angel permits your fall – this does not
make him sad, for takes joy in God’s plan. Still, it is likely that your angel
experiences a general displeasure at your sins.
Does my guardian angel
fight with demons in my behalf? Of
course! Consider the book of Tobit; Raphael saved Tobias from the demons
tormenting Sarah.
Can my guardian angel work
with other guardian angels to accomplish something great? Yes, indeed. Padre Pio regularly sent his
guardian angel to work with other’s angels. The angels rejoice to work together
for our greater good.
Does my guardian angel
contend with other guardian angels? Yes,
in a certain sense. The various guardian angels work on the most immediate
level of guiding the human race. Thus, though all the angel guardians are
wholly devoted to God’s plan; it is possible that there would be temporary or
partial contrary movements in the way this plan is actually carried out. St.
Thomas offers this as an interpretation of the division between Gabriel and the
angel of Persia in the book of Daniel. As the Angelic Doctor says, “Angels are
said to resist one another; not that their wills are in opposition, since they
are all of one mind as to the fulfillment of the Divine decree; but that the
things about which they seek knowledge are in opposition.” (ST I, q.113, a.8)
Can my angel guardian affect
the physical world around me?
Yes. St. Gemma Galgani would regularly ask her guardian angel to mail letters
for her – many letters were sent back and forth to her spiritual director while
he was in Rome.
Can I name my guardian
angel? keep in mind that it belongs to a superior to name an inferior. Thus, it is unfitting that a human being should name an angel. The Vatican has stated we must not name our angel guardians. (According to the Directory on Popular Piety, by the Dicastery for Divine Worship.)
Does my angel have a name? Most certainly, God has named all his
angels – or perhaps the higher angels have named the lower ones.
How do I find out my
guardian angel’s name? .We will not know in this life. I should think that in heaven, we would all know guardian angels’
names.
Is it possible to get too
devoted to your angel? So
long as you keep in mind that your angel is an expression of God’s love and
providence (and not a being to be considered in isolation), there is no danger
in having a very strong devotion to your guardian angel.
Did Christ have a guardian
angel? No. Christ is the Lord of all the angels and was not under any one of them.
Will the anti-Christ have
an angel guardian? If he
is a human being, he will have an angel guardian. Even though he will be a
great enemy of God, the Lord will still love him – the expression of this love
is the gift of a guardian angel.
How many angels are there
who could be potential guardians? There
are incomparably more angels than human beings. Thus, even though angel
guardians are only chosen from the lowest choir of angles, it is likely that
that choir has far more angels in it than the number of humans who have been,
are, or will be. The only limit to the number of angel guardians is the number
of humans, not the number of angels.
Do
have a question about your guardian angel that isn’t listed? Ask it in a
comment!
All you holy angel
guardians, pray for us!
