O Holy Angel,
God by His goodness and His tender care, has charged you to be my Guardian.
Assist me in my needs,
comfort me in my afflictions,
support me when I am discouraged
and obtain for me the favour of:
(Mention your request…)
But may God’s will be done.
O Holy Angel,
I return my profound thanks and I earnestly beseech Thee,
O most amiable protector continue thy charitable care and defend me against the malignant attacks of my enemies. Keep me free from the occasions of sin. Obtain for me the grace to listen attentively to thy holy inspirations and help me to faithfully put them into practice. In particular, I implore thee to obtain for me the favour which I ask for in this novena.
(Mention your request)
O Holy Angel, protect me in all my temptations and trials, but more especially protect me at the hour of my death, and do not leave me until you have taken me into the presence of my Creator in the mansions of everlasting happiness. Amen.
… My Guardian Angel, Pray for Me
St Gertrude the great prayer to Guardian Angel.
O most holy angel of God, appointed by God to be my guardian, I give you thanks for all the benefits which you have ever bestowed on me in body and in soul. I praise and glorify you that you condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemies. Blessed be the hour in which you were assigned me for my guardian, my defender and my patron. In acknowledgement and return for all your loving ministries to me, I offer you the infinitely precious and noble heart of Jesus, and firmly purpose to obey you henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my God. Amen.
LITANY OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL
Holy Guardian Angel,
Angel, my counselor, inspire me;
Angel, my defender, protect me;
Angel, my faithful friend, intercede for me;
Angel, my consoler, fortify me;
Angel, my brother, defend me;
Angel, my teacher, instruct me;
Angel, witness of all my actions, purify me;
Angel, my helper, support me;
Angel, my intercessor, speak for me;
Angel, my guide, direct me;
Angel, my light, enlighten me;
Angel, whom God has assigned to lead me, govern me.
Lord, have mercy on me.
Christ, have mercy on me.
Lord, have mercy on me.
Christ, hear me. Christ, graciously hear me.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on me.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on me.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on me.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on me.
Holy Mary, pray for me.
Holy Mother of God, pray for me.
Queen of the angels, pray for me.
Archangel Michael, pray for me.
Archangel Gabriel, pray for me.
Archangel Raphael, pray for me.
All holy angels and archangels, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who unceasingly behold the face of the Heavenly Father,
pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who never part from us, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who are devoted to us in Heavenly friendship, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, our faithful admonishers, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who preserve us from many evils of body and soul, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, our mighty defenders against the attacks of the evil enemy,
pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, our support in the time of temptations, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who help us when we stumble and fall, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who comfort us in troubles and sufferings, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who uphold our prayers and carry them before the throne of God,
pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who despite our faults never leave us, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who rejoice over our improvement and advancements in perfection,
pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who watch over us and pray for us even when we rest, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who do not abandon us in our agony of death, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who console the souls in purgatory, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, who lead the righteous into Heaven, pray for me.
Holy Guardian Angels, with whom one day we hope to eternally praise and behold God,
pray for me.
Noble princes of Heaven, pray for me.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare me, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear me, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on me, O Lord.
Christ, hear me. Christ, graciously hear me.
Lord, have mercy on me.
Christ, have mercy on me.
Lord, have mercy on me.
Recite the Our Father here.
Bless the Lord, all his angels, you mighty ones who do his will.
He has sent his angels before us to guard us on all our ways.
My God, in the presence of the angels, I bless you.
I adore you and praise your holy name.
Lord, hear my prayer.
And let my cry come unto you.
Amen.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISE:
Read about the teachings of the church on the Angels and 6 Reasons Why Mary is the Queen of Angels.
*The Virgin Mary is the ultimate angel, protecting us up in Heaven.*
We pray to Our Lady Queen of the Angels and to the Guardian Angels to bless and protect us and our country Nigeria.
Angel of God
My guardian dear
To Whom His love
Commits me here
Ever this day
Be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide. Amen
According to Saint Jerome, the concept of guardian angels is in the “mind of the Church”. He stated: “how great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it”.
The first Christian theologian to outline a specific scheme for guardian angels was Honorius of Autun in the 12th century. He said that every soul was assigned a guardian angel the moment it was put into a body. Scholastic theologians augmented and ordered the taxonomy of angelic guardians. Thomas Aquinas agreed with Honorius and believed that it was the lowest order of angels who served as guardians, and his view was most successful in popular thought, but Duns Scotus said that any angel is bound by duty and obedience to the Divine Authority to accept the mission to which that angel is assigned. In the 15th century, the Feast of the Guardian Angels was added to the official calendar of Catholic holidays.
In his March 31, 1997 Regina Caeli address, Pope John Paul II referred to the concept of guardian angel and concluded the address with the statement: “Let us invoke the Queen of angels and saints, that she may grant us, supported by our guardian angels, to be authentic witnesses to the Lord’s paschal mystery”.
In his 2014 homily for the Feast of Holy Guardian Angels, October 2, Pope Francis told those gathered for daily Mass to be like children who pay attention to their “traveling companion.” “No one journeys alone and no one should think that they are alone,” the Pope said. During the Morning Meditation in the chapel of Santa Marta, the Pope noted that oftentimes, we have the feeling that “I should do this, this is not right, be careful.” This, he said, “is the voice of” our guardian angel. “According to Church tradition we all have an angel with us, who guards us…” The Pope instructed each, “Do not rebel, follow his advice!” The Pope urged that this “doctrine on the angels” not be considered “a little imaginative”. It is rather one of “truth”. It is “what Jesus, what God said: ‘I send an angel before you, to guard you, to accompany you on the way, so you will not make a mistake'”.
Pope Francis concluded with a series of questions so that each one can examine his/her own conscience: “How is my relationship with my guardian angel? Do I listen to him? Do I bid him good day in the morning? Do I tell him: ‘guard me while I sleep?’ Do I speak with him? Do I ask his advice? …Each one of us can do so in order to evaluate “the relationship with this angel that the Lord has sent to guard me and to accompany me on the path, and who always beholds the face of the Father who is in heaven.”
According to Aquinas, “On this road man is threatened by many dangers both from within and without, and therefore as guardians are appointed for men who have to pass by an unsafe road, so an angel is assigned to each man as long as he is a wayfarer.” By means of an angel, God is said to introduce images and suggestions leading a person to do what is right.
Saints and their Angels
Father Giovangiuseppe Califano recounted how, one day, a newly appointed bishop confessed to Pope John XXIII “that he could not sleep at night due to an anxiety which was caused by the responsibility of his office.” “The pope told him, ‘You know, I also thought the same when I was elected pope. But one day, I dreamed about my guardian angel, and it told me not to take everything so seriously.’” Pope John attributed the idea of calling Second Vatican Council to an inspiration from his guardian angel.
Saint Gemma Galgani, a Roman Catholic mystic, stated that she had interacted with and spoken with her guardian angel. Saint Pio of Pietrelcina was known to instruct his parishioners to send him their guardian angel to communicate a trouble or issue to him when they could not travel to get to him or another urgency existed.
The truth of this, that Mary is the Queen of Angels, is of tremendous importance to us. Every one of Her titles means something to us, is of practical importance to us. The great thought is this—that since She is set above the Angels, since She is the nearest being to God, and since She is also our Mother, our advocate, our mercy, our life, our sweetness, our hope, there can be no limit to the confidence we place in Her intercession.
Mary Queen of Angels
The tremendous thought is that Mary is the Queen of Angels; that She, who by nature is inferior to them, is in dignity superior to them, due to the fact that She has the supreme dignity—that of Mother of God. Her close association with Jesus in the Incarnation made Her an associate of the Angels. It was God’s way of manifesting His Will to Her. The great messenger of the Annunciation was St. Gabriel. He saluted Her, as the one inferior salutes the one superior. Even St. Gabriel was awed at the beauty of Mary’s soul and the dignity which no angel could even hope for. St. Gabriel, “the strength of God,” had appeared to the Prophet Daniel, he had appeared to Zachary; they were holy men and pleasing to God, but She was “full of grace,” and he knew that while in that little house of Nazareth he was in the very vestibule of Heaven, the very first one to salute the Queen of Angels.
We still have that feeling of St. Gabriel’s awe every time we repeat his Ave, a feeling like to that of the boy St. Aloysius or little St. Catherine of Siena, climbing the stairs and saying an Ave at every step, or St. Louis of France adding to his other prayers fifty Aves and genuflecting at every one. Say Ave Maria, and you still hear the flutter of St. Gabriel’s wings and smell the flowers from the fields of Paradise. But St. Gabriel was not the only angelic visitor to Mary. There were hosts of Angels to wait upon Her, ready to do Her slightest bidding, hovering about Her, in admiration of Her, and in adoration of Her Child. It is not a bit of merely poetic sentiment that makes the artists surround Her with Angels. Where else would they be but with the King of Angels and the Queen of Angels?
Angel means “one going” or “one sent,” hence a messenger. The Angels are God’s instruments to tell His Will to men, but their essential function is to serve at the throne of God. Daniel (c. 7) gives a magnificent picture of them: “I beheld till thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days sat: His garment was white as snow and the hair of His head like clean wool; His throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like burning fire: a swift stream of fire issued forth before Him; thousands of thousands ministered to Him and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before Him; the judgment sat and the books were opened.” St. Thomas divides the Angels into three hierarchies of three orders each: first, the Seraphim, the Cherubim and the Thrones; second, the Dominations, the Virtues and the Powers; third, the Principalities, the Archangels and the Angels. We cannot go into a detailed study of the Angels—it is enough to say that they were created before man, and that they are a superior creation to man: “Thou hast made him (man) a little less than the angels” (Ps. 8, 6).
Mary Will Support You During Difficult Times.
Just like angels, Mary is very present and attentive to those experiencing challenges. Your guardian angels never leave you, and Mary’s energy is also extremely constant and faithful, especially when you are down or struggling. Angels offer their support whether you ask for it or not, and Mary will often pick folks who are walking a difficult path and walk beside them—regardless of whether she has been formally called upon.
Even when angels cannot intervene and dramatically change a situation in our lives, they always stay close so we are never alone. Mary provides the same sort of comfort to those in crisis, just as she stood at the feet of her son while he was on the cross. Mary’s presence acts as a witness to our suffering, and she never leaves our side until the storm passes and the sun is shining again.
Mary Possesses the Same Wisdom as the Angels.
Over the course of a lifetime, human beings have a range of experiences, and if you think about Mary’s earthly life you have to admit she’s truly seen it all. She’s been a daughter, sister, wife and mother. She lived through great turbulence in the world and also many miracles. In addition, Mary had some out-of-the-box experiences, like bearing the child of Spirit from an immaculate conception. This child rose to great fame, yet suffered just as greatly. Mary’s vast knowledge of both earthly life and the Divine make her the ideal confidant and counselor.
If you’re looking for good advice about how to handle an aspect of your earthly journey, or want insight into Spirit’s plan for your life, ask angels for guidance. But you can also ask Mary. She might plant an “aha” idea into your mind, or help you see a solution where before there was only confusion.
Mary Acts as an Advocate
Both the angels and Mary have a close relationship with Spirit. Pray to Mary and the angels when you need someone to advocate for you with the Divine, because Mary and the angels have an inside track. Have you ever met someone in your industry who is “connected”? They know the right people and understand how to work the system. It’s the same with Mary and the angels, who have connections in very high places.
Angels are tenderhearted, and Mary is likewise very compassionate. That means Mary will work earnestly to plead your case with Spirit and alert the appropriate angels, archangels, spirit guides and ascended masters to your plight. In this way Mary can bring more grace and mercy into your life. She might even call on her son, Jesus, to help you!
Mary’s Energy is Angelic.
Besides sending amazing people and opportunities into your life, and giving you ideas and gut instincts about which action steps to take, angels love to send you celestial energy. This angelic energy is very calming, joyful and loving, and can help shift or soften your own energy.
Mary’s energy is also quite powerful and, like the angels’ energy, is very maternal. Mary’s signature energy is best described as grounded and even. It is the type of energy one needs to persevere. It is a caretaker’s energy, a nurturer’s energy; the energy of someone who has weathered many storms. It is an energy that says “stay the course.” If you call on Mary, or if she decides on her own to come to your aid, don’t be surprised if you experience an increase of feelings like calmness and courage.
Mary is Sensitive.
People usually think of all the ways angels are different from humans, but in many important aspects angels and humans are extremely similar. Angels have hearts and souls just like we do, and they feel emotions—theirs and ours—deeply. Mary is also highly sensitive, and naturally attuned to the suffering of others. She really does see—and feel—our pain.
It is Mary’s sensitivity which, like that of the angels, inspires her to help so many. Mary’s sensitivity allows her to easily perceive who is carrying a heavy burden, and because she can feel the emotions of others so acutely Mary knows exactly what you are going through, which gives her amazing insight into how she can help. If you are also very empathetic and sensitive to the emotions of others, ask Mary to help you set healthy boundaries and learn when it’s appropriate to tune in to, and out of, other people’s emotions.
Mary Offers Unconditional Love
You can never alienate an angel. They won’t turn their wings on you no matter what you do, no matter what the circumstances. The same is true of Mary. If you’re feeling abandoned or like someone you care for is judging you or being very conditional with their affection, turn to Mary for some guaranteed TLC. You can even pray to Mary and ask if she can soften the hearts of the people in your life, or point you in the direction of someone in your life who is good at offering unconditional love.
If you’re having trouble forgiving someone, or forgiving yourself, go to Mary for assistance. She might help you see things from the other person’s perspective, or help you see the person you want to forgive from a higher, soul perspective. Mary could also be called the Queen of Hearts, because she can work on your heart and help you forgive yourself.
Mary Queen of Angels; pray for us.
Hopefully reading about Mary’s angelic nature will encourage you to call on her for assistance, just like you call upon your angels! Like all ascended masters, Mary is always looking for opportunities to be of service to humanity. Ask for Mary’s intervention simply by addressing her in your thoughts, prayers or journal. If you are dealing with a challenge that will not resolve itself easily or immediately, Mary may already be walking with you, urging you to have faith and stay the course.