Skip to the text

Novena to the Guardian Angels

Day 1

10 min
Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to the Guardian Angels

Opening prayer:

Holy Guardian Angel, given to me by God's tender love to be my companion and guide, I greet you with gratitude. Watch over me through this novena, keep me close to God, and never let me stray from His side. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 1: My companion — the angel given to me

God in His goodness gives to each soul a guardian angel, a pure spirit appointed to accompany me from birth to death. This is no doctrine for children only; the Catechism teaches that from infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care (CCC 336). I am never truly alone, for a friend from heaven walks at my side, never sleeping, never tiring, never leaving the soul entrusted to him.

O faithful Guardian Angel, given to me by God's tender love to be my companion, awaken in me a living sense of your presence. Let me never forget that I am not alone, but ever accompanied by a friend from heaven. My Guardian Angel, my companion, walk with me! Amen.

Today's intention:

For a living awareness of my Guardian Angel walking beside me each day.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer — the Angel of God:

Guardian Angel Prayer

Angel of God, my guardian dear,

to whom God's love commits me here,

ever this day be at my side,

to light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen.

Angele Dei, qui custos es mei,

me, tibi commissum pietate superna,

illumina, custodi, rege et guberna.

Amen.

My faithful Guardian Angel, carry the prayers of this novena before the throne of God and obtain for me the grace I now implore. Watch over me until that day when I may praise God with you forever in heaven. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

About this prayer

A nine-day novena to the Holy Guardian Angels, the heavenly companions God gives to each soul to guard, guide, and bring us safely home.

History

The Church teaches that 'from infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care' (CCC 336), and Our Lord warned that the angels of the little ones 'always behold the face of My Father' (Matthew 18:10). From the Psalms — 'He has given His angels charge over you' — flows the cherished prayer 'Angel of God, my guardian dear.' The feast of the Guardian Angels is kept on October 2.

How to pray it

Pray once each day for nine consecutive days. Begin with the Sign of the Cross and the opening prayer, prayerfully read the meditation and offer the day's intention, then conclude with an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, and the closing prayer.

Found in