On October 2nd, Catholics around the world celebrated the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. Rev. Fr. Don Anton Saman Hettiarachchi from St. Anthony’s Bible Academy answers five FAQs on the Holy Guardian Angels.
- Who are Guardian Angels?
Nations have their guardian angels. For example, Michael is called in Daniel 10,13.21 “one of the chief princes” and in 12,1 “the great prince, the guardian of your people.” Hence this archangel is the guardian, champion or protector of Israel, God’s people. Individuals have guardian angels as well.
- What is the biblical background of our belief in Guardian Angels?
- Tobiah was helped by Raphael, as recounted in Tobit.
Tobit sends his son, Tobiah to far-off Media to bring back the large sum of money he had formerly deposited there. Raphael in disguise makes the trip to Media with Tobiah (5,4-8).
When Tobiah is attacked by a large fish as he bathes, Raphael orders him to seize it and to remove its gall, heart and liver because they make useful medicine. Later, at Raphael’s urging, Tobiah marries Sarah and uses the fish’s heart and liver to drive from the bridal chamber Asmodeus, who had already killed her seven husbands at wedding night. Returning to Nineveh with his wife and his father’s money, Tobiah rubs the fish’s gall into his father’s eyes and cures them.
- Jesus exhorted in Matthew 18,10 “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.”
The high worth of “the little ones” is indicated by their being represented before God by these heavenly beings, “their angels in heaven.”
- What is the task of Guardian Angels?
The task of Guardian Angels is to assist those to whom they have been commended. They intercede for, guide to holiness, and protect from harm those entrusted to them.
- How have different people experienced their Guardian Angels?
Here is a testimony of Fr. Basil Cole, a Dominican professor and the author of ‘The Hidden Enemies of the Priesthood: The Contributions of St. Thomas Aquinas’, as found in B. COLE, “Angels. Heavenly Creatures”, Our Sunday Visitor, 23/09 (2007) 9.
“Many years ago, when I was giving a parish renewal in California, I recalled an article I had read by Cardinal John Wright on the angels. He wrote that the early Dominican preachers would silently pray to the guardian angel of everyone in the Church or town square where they were preaching, to open not only the people’s hearts and minds, but also enable the preacher to effectively give the word of God to them. Before beginning to preach, I put this tip into practice. During my homily, the outline I had created was no longer needed, and I was able to preach more from the heart. As a result, I received in the confessional afterward a large number of penitents who kept claiming that I was responsible for them being there. But I knew differently. It was the work of the angels.”
- How have the Saints experienced their Guardian Angels?
We read in the lives of many saints that their holy Guardian Angels were visibly present at their last hour, comforting them in their final struggle, announcing to them the hour of their death and giving them the assurance that they would be heirs of God’s Kingdom. Not a few of the saints at their death were seen being carried by angels into heaven. Frequently they procure for their protégés the grace of a happy death by calling a priest to administer the last Sacraments.
Read this testimony now. In the acts of Blessed John Avila of Spain, we find the following incident, the saint himself vouching for the truth of it – as published in TAN, St. Michael and the Angels. Compiled from approved Sources (Rockford, Illinois 1983) 39.
“In the year 1575, the Rev. Father Centenares, a member of Blessed John’s Community, was awakened one stormy night and requested to take Holy Viaticum to a dying person. At first the priest hesitated and thought to wait until morning, as he did not know the way and the night was very dark. But love of God triumphed over fear and he started out, taking with him two consecrated Hosts. But scarcely had he left the church when two youths of heavenly appearance placed themselves at his right hand and left side. They held burning candles, which were not extinguished by the falling rain and accompanied the priest to the sick person and back again to the church. When he had placed the sacred Host in the tabernacle they vanished as suddenly as they had appeared. While the good priest was wondering in astonishment at this occurrence, he received a message from Blessed John which contained the words: ‘Do not be astonished at what has happened to you this night. It is quite certain that the two youths whom you saw were angels sent by God to reward your zeal.”
