When I was in 4th grade, Sister Lydia told us to be sure to make room on the seat of our desks for our Guardian Angels. She was reinforcing the Catholic belief that everyone has a Guardian Angel. Referring to these Angels, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.”
We find these angelic protectors throughout the Old Testament. In Psalm 91 we read: “For God commands His angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go” (verse 11). And Jesus Himself referred to them when He told the apostles: “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).
But if our Guardian Angels “always look upon the face” of God, how can they also be here and now protecting and inspiring us? The answer is simple. We, living and physical bodies, can only be in one place at a time, but Angels, who are pure spirits without physical bodies, can be in more than one place at any given time. That is why Padre Pio could send his Guardian Angel to help people and could receive news and prayers from the Angels of his spiritual children.
St. Pio wrote the following to one of his spiritual daughters:
Have great devotion, Anita, to this beneficent angel. How consoling it is to know that we have a spirit who, from the womb to the tomb, never leaves us even for an instant, not even when we dare to sin. And this heavenly spirit guides and protects us like a friend, a brother. But it is very consoling to know that this angel prays unceasingly for us….
Oh! For goodness’ sake, don’t forget this invisible companion, ever present, ever disposed to listen to us and even more ready to console us. Oh, blessed companionship! If only we could understand it! Keep him always before your mind’s eye. Remember this angel’s presence often, thank him, pray to him, always keep up a good relationship.
We don’t need to make room for our Guardian Angels on our seats, but we keep them in mind. One way to do that is with a prayer that I learned as a child and which I pray every morning when I wake up, along with a Morning Offering. It goes like this:
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.