Guardian Angels
Background information on Guardian Angels
Guardian angels are assigned to every human soul in order to protect, influence, and guide that individual throughout their life. In the 4th century St. Jerome stated “how great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it.” That is the purpose of guardian angels, they are put on Earth by God in order to protect and intercede in times of emotional or physical danger. The Bible states: “For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”(Pslam 91:11) The role of a guardian angel is to guide humans into pure thoughts, words, and deeds. God has charged his angels with safeguarding his children, in hopes that they will be directed towards righteousness. In fact, many religions have some type of guardian angel figure assigned to each human soul. References to guardian angels can be found across various cultures and languages. In the ancient Sanskrit texts of the Vedas, the word for angel is angira; in Hebrew, malakh, meaning "messenger," or bene elohim, for God's children; in Arabic, malakah; and in India, these entities are called garudas. There is documentation that in the 300 BC, ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia recognized a hierarchy of celestial beings that ruled over various parts of the Earth and interceded into the lives of human beings. There was also a belief in low vibrational levels of entities that may be negative in their actions toward humans, thus the scenario is set up so that there is even more need for a guardian angel’s protection. Guardian angels were described differently across cultures. For example the Mesopotamians portrayed their guardians (lamassus) as disturbing creatures that looked like lions or bulls with human heads and large wings, and they were often placed in front of temples to protect from evil entities. Although this description is an extreme difference from the soft, comforting, and mainstream image we associate with angels, the emotional concept of protection is the same despite the physical differences. |
Examples of Medieval Prayers to Guardian Angels:
“It seemed to me that I saw Him depute some good guardian to defend me from the attacks of the evil demons… I desired greatly to know the name of my guardian, so that I could, when possible, honor his memory with some act of devotion. One night I fell asleep with this thought and behold someone stood by me saying my prayer was heard...” “Cleanse my soul from sin that I have done, And virtuously guide me to God-ward. Shield me from the fiend evermore, And from the pains of hell so hard. O thou comely angel, so good and dear, That ever art abiding with me, Though I may not thee see or hear, Yet devoutly with trust I pray to thee.” “O glorious angel, to whom our blessed Lord in his most merciful grace hath entrusted me for protection, to thee, I, sinful creature, cry and call with a sincere mind, beseeching thee ever to be a special comfort to me in all my need. Permit me never to be overcome by temptation or sinful deeds, but help me, that by grace I may ever proceed in virtuous living.” These Medieval Prayer examples enhance the idea of guardian angels as protectors, and “middle men” for relaying messages to God. it. |