THE GUARDIAN ANGEL

The office of “guardian angel” is attributed above all to celestial spirits belonging to the lower order of the third celestial hierarchy. This angelic order is the one closest to men. The custody of angels is an expansion of God’s providence. Guardian angels accompany men from birth to death. These celestial spirits present the prayers of their assistants to the Lord (Tobit 12:12; Revelation 8:3-4). The custody of angels is one of the truths of the Christian faith. In the Bible we read about the journey of the young Tobias, accompanied by Raphael, the angel of the Lord: “For a good angel will go with him, his journey will be successful, and he will return in good health.” (Tobit 5:22) Even the prophet Elijah was assisted by an angel who prepared him a cake every day, so that he would give him the necessary support during his journey towards Horeb, the mountain of the Lord (1 Kings 19:5-8). During one of his teachings, Christ said, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10) In the letter to the Hebrews the angels are indicated as “sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). In the Psalms we read that the people of God are under the custody of the angels (Psalms 90:11). Also in Job we read about the custody of angels: “If there be a angel with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” (Job 33:23-24) Saint Jerome, quoted by Saint Thomas Aquinas, affirmed: “The dignity of souls is so great that each of them has, from birth, an angel appointed to its custody.” (Sum Theological I, q 113, a 2)