55. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” St Basil the Great

“Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.”  St Basil the Great

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 55

Ave Maria series

55.  Can we interact with angels?

Yes.  We can call on angels for help and ask them to intercede with God.  [334-336, 351-352]

Guardian Angel 1900. .....In Matthew 18:10, Jesus says, “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.”.....55

This is the traditional Catholic prayer to one's guardian angel.

Angel of God, my guardian dear

to whom God's love commits me here.

Ever this day/night be at my side

to light, to guard, to rule and guide. Amen

Every person receives from God a guardian angel.  It is good and sensible to pray to one’s guardian angel for oneself and for others.  Angels can also make themselves noticeable in the life of a Christian, for example, as bearers of a message or as helpful guides.  Our faith has nothing to do with the false angels of New Age spirituality and other forms of esotericism.

 “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.”  St Basil the Great (ca. 330-379, Father of the Church)

334-336, 351-352

351 The angels surround Christ their Lord. They serve him especially in the accomplishment of his saving mission to men. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition …..

The angels in the life of the Church

……334 In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels.( Compare Acts of the Apostles 5:18-20; Acts 8:26-29; Acts 10:3-8; Acts 12:6-11; Acts 27:23-25.)²⁰¹ –CCC

335 In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the funeral liturgy's In Paradisum deducant te angeli. . .["May the angels lead you into Paradise. . ."]). Moreover, in the "Cherubic Hymn" of the Byzantine Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels). –CCC

336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.( Compare Matthew 18:10;  Luke 16: 22; Psalm 34:8; Ps 91:10-13; Job 33:23-24; Zechariah 1:12; Tobit 12:12.)²⁰² "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life."( St. Basil, Adv. Eunomium III, I: Patrologia Graeca 29,656B.)²⁰³ Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God. –CCC

IN BRIEF

352  The Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every human being. --CCC