“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to guard thee in all thy ways.” – Psalm 90:11
The truth that every human soul has a Guardian Angel, entrusted with protecting us from both spiritual and physical harm, is revealed throughout the Old Testament and affirmed in the New.
We see this in Scripture: an angel strengthened the Lord Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and an angel delivered St. Peter from prison, as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles.
Jesus Himself makes the role of guardian angels unmistakably clear when He says, “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 who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).
In this passage, Jesus teaches that every person, even young children, has a guardian angel. These angels remain in Heaven, constantly beholding the face of God, while fulfilling their mission on earth: to guide and protect us on our journey toward the Father’s house. As St. Paul reminds us, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14).
However, angels guide us toward Heaven only if we willingly follow. St. Thomas Aquinas explains that angels cannot directly act upon our will or intellect, though they can influence our senses and imagination, encouraging us to choose rightly. In Heaven, our guardian angels, no longer needing to lead us to salvation, will continue to enlighten and inspire us.
Prayer to guardian angels is encouraged, and cultivating awareness of their presence fosters a close friendship with them.
One traditional prayer, dating back at least to the 12th century, is:
Angel of God,
my Guardian dear,
to whom His love
commits me here,
ever this day
be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide.
Amen.
As St. Bernard of Clairvaux reminds us: “Let us affectionately love the angels as counselors and defenders, appointed by the Father to watch over us. They are faithful, prudent, and powerful. Let us follow them closely, remain near them, and dwell securely under the protection of the God of heaven.”