From the desk of the Tar Heel disciple:
September 26, 2025
Angel of God, my guardian dear
to whom God's love commits me here.
Ever this day/night be at my side
to light, to guard, to rule and guide. Amen
For many of us, perhaps, this was the first prayer that we learned as children. And happily, it is a prayer that many of us still use as adults. The feast of the Guardian Angels, celebrated by the Catholic Church on October 2, is an opportunity for us to renew our knowledge of and devotion to the angels, especially our Guardian Angel. For many centuries, all the angels were remembered together in a single observance, on September 29th, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. Even today, in the Roman Missal of 2002, wherein that archangel is commemorated together with Gabriel and Rafael, their names are not mentioned in the texts of the liturgy of the day but rather all the angels are remembered and venerated together.
Particular devotion to the guardian angels grew through the years, and a separate feast was established in the 17th century, on October 2, being the first open day after the feast of the Archangel Michael. The Biblical witness to the angelic protection of peoples and individuals is highlighted in the readings set for the Mass of the day, as when the Lord promised the people of Israel: “Thus says the Lord: ‘See, I am sending an Angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.... My Angel will go before you…’” (Exodus 23:20-23); and when the Lord Jesus said, “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.” (Matthew 18:10).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, with references to Scripture and St. Basil the Great, indicates the role of the Guardian Angels in our lives: “From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.202 "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life."203 Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” (paragraph 336).
Have you prayed to your Guardian Angel today? Have you sought his guidance?
Books and for children and adults on the veneration of the angels, and other devotional material on the guardian angels:
https://inhisname.com/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=guardian+angels
