Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. In the optional first reading for the feast day from Exodus, we see God telling the people that he is sending an angel before them to lead and guide them. He says that He has given this angel His authority; they must listen to him. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 18, we get the notion of Guardian Angels, when Jesus says that each little child has an angel that looks upon the face of the heavenly Father.
Thank God for Guardian Angels! I don’t know about you, but my guardian angel has had his hands full more than once. I can think of a few occasions where I would not be alive today were it not for the intercession of my Guardian Angel. And, as a parent, I have an even greater appreciation of Guardian Angels. In fact, every morning we would say two Guardian Angel prayers with our kids. Even though they may be "kids' prayers," I think they're appropriate for kids of all ages.
Prayer in the morning:
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side to light, to guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Prayer at bedtime:
Guardian Angel, guard me from harm, protect me in sleep without cause for alarm. Keep me safe through darkness of night, and wake me gently with God's morning light. Amen.
Father, thank you for giving us a Guardian Angel to watch over us and protect us. May we always be mindful and thankful for them. Amen.
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Consecration to Your Guardian Angel (from “Prayers4reparation’s Blog”):
Holy Guardian Angel, you were given to me at the beginning of my life as a protector and companion. Poor sinner that I am, I, (name) want to consecrate myself to you today in the presence of my Lord and God, Mary, my Celestial Mother, and all the angels and saints.
I want to unite myself to you today and never more be separated from you.
United intimately with you, I promise to be faithful and obedient to my Lord and God and the holy Church.
I promise to always proclaim Mary as my Queen and Mother and to make her life be a model for mine.
I promise to proclaim my faith in you, my holy protector, and zealously promote the devotion to the holy angels as being, in a special way, protection and help during this time of spiritual struggle for the Kingdom of God.
I ask you, holy Angel of the Lord, all the strength of divine love so that I may be inflamed by it; I ask that my union with you may be for me a protecting shield against the enemy’s assaults.
Finally, I ask you, my holy Guardian Angel, for the most holy Virgin’s grace of humility to preserve me from all dangers so that guided by you I may reach the Heavenly Homeland.
Amen.