Guardian Angels

Came across Mac's most recent post over at Mulier Fortis: Angels & Demons. Had to comment a little on something that Mac brings up: We need, MUST, pray to our Guardian Angels MORE!

We know that we have Angels entrusted to our protection because God says it is so:

Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. -Matthew 18:10

In the Catena Aurea we learn that the Church Fathers understood this verse to mean exactly what it says, that we all have a Guardian Angel, given by God to us, to protect and guide us to union with the same Christ, our Lord.

JEROME; High dignity of souls, that each from its birth has an Angel set in charge over it!


CHRYS; Here He is speaking not of any Angels, but of the higher sort; for when He says, Behold the face of my Father, He shows that their presence before God is free and open, and their honor great.


GREG; But Dionysus says, that it is from the ranks of the lesser Angels that these are sent to perform this ministry, either visibly or invisibly, for that those higher ranks have not the employment of an outward ministry.


ID; And therefore the Angels always behold the face of the Father, and yet they come to us; for by a spiritual presence they come forth to us, and yet by internal contemplation keep themselves there whence they come forth; for they come not so forth from the divine vision, as to hinder the joys of inward contemplation.


HILARY; The Angels offer daily to God the prayers of those that are to be saved by Christ; it is therefore perilous to despise him whose desires and requests are conveyed to the eternal and invisible God, by the service and ministry of Angels.


AUG; Or; They are 'called our Angels who are indeed the Angels of God; they are Gods because they have not forsaken Him; they are ours because they have begun to have us for their fellow-citizens. As they now behold God, so shall we also behold, Him face to face, of which vision John speaks, We shall see him as he is. For by the face of God is to be understood the manifestation of Himself, not a member or feature of the body, such as we call by that name.

•Source 

They are so very important to us, and are entrusted with our care and protection. They are more than simply a "good voice" in times of temptation:

The ministry of these Guardian Angels consists: 1st, in warding off dangers to body and soul, 2nd, in preventing Satan's suggesting evil thoughts, and in removing occasions of sin and helping us to overcome temptation; 3rd, in enlightening and instruction us and fostering in us holy thoughts and pious desires; 4th, in offering to God our prayers and in praying for us; 5th in correcting us if we sin; 6th, in helping us in the agony of death, in strengthening and comforting us; 7th, in conducting our souls to heaven, or to purgatory to console us there. It is thus our Guardian Angles watch over us, keep us, lead us. They see in their charges, souls of priceless value sine they were redeemed by the Blood of a God. 

•Source; p. 33

The existence and help of the Angels is more than mere superstion, or some children's tale. Angels are real. We must seek their companionship, and allow for their protection and guidance.  Although God entrusts them to us, that does not mean they have unfettered access to our hearts and minds.

Although they cannot penetrate the inner sanctuary of human hearts which God has reserved for Himself, they do all they can to help us. However, it is in our power by an act of our free will to expose our intimate thoughts to our angelic companion. And it is to our advantage for such confidence in his enlightened guidance is of great benefit to our soul. After God and our Blessed Mother, he is surely our best friend, and if we really love him, we will have no secrets to hide from him. "We do not sensibly perceive him. We hear no whispered warning in our ear. Our hands cannot touch him nor our eyes look up to him. Yet invisibly he is with us. From the first moment of life he guards us and he will not have completed his task until as we trust, we shall gaze with him in glory on the Vision of God."

So pray to your Guardian Angel. Pray to ALL the Angels, Archangels and choirs of of Angels. As for their protection, guidance, prayers, and support.

CREDO quod sis angelus sanctus, a Deo omnipotente ad custodiam mei deputatus. Propterea peto, et per illum qui te ad hoc ordinavit, humiliter imploro, ut me miseram fragilem atque indignam semper et ubique in hac vita custodias, protegas a malis omnibus atque defendas, et cum Deus hinc animam meam migrare iusserit, nullam in eam potestatem daemonibus habere permittas, sed tu eam leniter a corpore suscipias, et in sinu Habrae suaviter usque perducas iubente ac iuvante creatore ac salvatore Deo nostro, qui est benedictus in saecula saeculorum. Amen.