Chapter XXXV. Question 113

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THE GUARDIAN ANGELS

First ARTICLE

THE GUARDIANSHIP OF THE ANGELS

HAT men are under the guardianship of the angels is of faith:

“For He hath given His angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways.” * Christ Himself commanded that children should not be scandalized because “their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father.” ?

The testimony of tradition is confirmed by the institution-of the feast of the Guardian Angels. The theological reason for the guardianship of the angels is that God usually governs the lower beings through the higher. Besides this, man is a pilgrim and there are many dangers along the way, both interior and exterior. Just as protection is given a man on a dangerous road, so God gives every man a guardian during this life. When a man arrives at the end of his journey he will not have a guardian angel but an angel who will rule with him. It is certain that each of the faithful has his own guardian angel.” It is also commonly held that sinners and infidels have guardian angels so that these sinners may do less harm. It is also very probable that an angel is specially deputed to assist every priest celebrating Mass.

THE DUTIES OF GUARDIAN ANGELS

The guardian angels illuminate the intellect not by infusing species but by adapting truths to our understanding, by representing truths by likenesses of sensible things, by suggesting good thoughts, and they excite the will to good by admonition and persuasion. They supply occasions for good and remove occasions for evil; they offer our prayers and sacrifices to God; they ward off exterior evils, they help us in worldly affairs, they do battle with evil spirits, they inflict remedial penalties, they help us particularly in the hour of death, and lead our souls to heaven or purgatory. We in turn owe them reverence, loyalty, and confidence.