The following question and answer study of the guardian angels is based on the Summa Theologica I, qq.50-64 (angels in themselves) and qq. 106-114 (angels in relation to creatures). ST I, q.113, is particularly enlightening, since it is a question devoted wholly to the guardianship of angels over human beings.
Listen online [here]!
Do I have a guardian
angel? Yes,
every human being has a guardian angel.
When did I receive my
angel guardian? At
the moment of conception. Your angel was given to you even before the graces of
baptism! This is because angels are given to human beings on account of our
reason, not on account of baptismal grace. [note: St Thomas says at birth]
Was my angel someone
else’s guardian before mine? Probably not. Every human being receives one angel. It is,
however, theoretically possible (though not at all likely) that an angel could
be re-assigned if their first human was condemned to hell.
Will my angel guardian be
with me in the next life? If you go to heaven, your angel will be with you in glory
as an eternal companion and friend. If you go to hell, your angel will leave
you and you will receive instead a demon who will torment you forever.
Did my guardian angel
know me before I was born? Yes. Not only by a natural angelic knowledge, but also by
a special knowledge given by God – your angel has known you from the moment of
his entrance into heaven after his creation.
Is my guardian angel an
archangel? Almost
certainly not. It seems that guardian angels are all chosen from the lowest
choir of angels, which is called “Angels”. The Archangels are above this choir
and seem not to be employed as angel guardians. It is possible that a guardian
angel would receive help and guidance from archangels, or even seraphim.
Is my guardian with me
always? Yes,
your angel always watches over you because God always guides you with his
providence. An angel is locally present when he acts as a complete and
immediate cause on a body; thus, at times your angel might even be locally
present to you. In any case, your angel is always spiritually present to your
soul; unless you are condemned to hell after death.
Do my sins make my angel
sad? Not
really. Your angel enjoys the perfect vision of God and so cannot be sad; for
all who see God are perfectly happy. Just as God wills to permit you to
sin, so too your angel permits your fall – this does not make him sad, for
takes joy in God’s plan. Still, it is likely that your angel experiences a
general displeasure at your sins.
Does my guardian angel
fight with demons in my behalf? Of course! Consider the book of Tobit; Raphael saved Tobias from
the demons tormenting Sarah.
Can my guardian angel
work with other guardian angels to accomplish something great? Yes, indeed. Padre Pio regularly
sent his guardian angel to work with other’s angels. The angels rejoice to work
together for our greater good.
Does my guardian angel
contend with other guardian angels? Yes, in a certain sense. The various guardian
angels work on the most immediate level of guiding the human race. Thus, though
all the angel guardians are wholly devoted to God’s plan; it is possible that
there would be temporary or partial contrary movements in the way this plan is
actually carried out. St. Thomas offers this as an interpretation of the
division between Gabriel and the angel of Persia in the book of Daniel. As the
Angelic Doctor says, “Angels are said to resist one another; not that their
wills are in opposition, since they are all of one mind as to the fulfillment of
the Divine decree; but that the things about which they seek knowledge are in
opposition.” (ST I, q.113, a.8)
Can my angel guardian
affect the physical world around me? Yes. St. Gemma Galgani would regularly ask her guardian
angel to mail letters for her – many letters were sent back and forth to her
spiritual director while he was in Rome.
Can I name my guardian
angel? We must keep in mind that it belongs to a superior to name an
inferior. Thus, it seems unfitting that a human being should name an angel.
From the Vatican: “The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be
discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are
contained in Holy Scripture.” (Decree on Popular Piety, 217)
Does my angel have a
name? Most certainly,
God has named all his angels – or perhaps the higher angels have named the
lower ones.
How do I find out my
guardian angel’s name? I should think that in heaven, we would all know guardian
angels’ names.
Is it possible to get too
devoted to your angel? So long as you keep in mind that your angel is an expression of
God’s love and providence (and not a being to be considered in isolation),
there is no danger in having a very strong devotion to your guardian angel.
Did Christ have a
guardian angel? Jesus did not have a “guardian” angel, since he already enjoyed
the beatific vision. Further, as a divine Person, he is not subject to an
angel.
Will the anti-Christ have
an angel guardian? Because he is a human being, he will have an angel guardian.
Even though he will be a great enemy of God, the Lord will still love him – the
expression of this love is the gift of a guardian angel.
How many angels are there
who could be potential guardians? There are incomparably more angels than human
beings. Thus, even though angel guardians are only chosen from the lowest choir
of angles, it is likely that that choir has far more angels in it than the
number of humans who have been, are, or will be. The only limit to the number
of angel guardians is the number of humans, not the number of angels.
