This week can be called “Angel” week because the Church honors the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael on September 29, and the Holy Guardian Angels on October 2. In early October, we also celebrate the feasts of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 and the Holy Rosary on October 7.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that each person has a guardian angel from birth until death, always watching over us. I am reminded of the well-known African American spiritual: “All Day, all night, Angels watchin’ over me O, Lord…” The Bible also mentions angels many times, showing them as God’s servants and messengers. They are present at Christ’s birth, at His Resurrection, and at many moments in between.
St. Augustine says, “Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ‘angel’: from what they are, ‘spirit’, from what they do, ‘angel.'”
How often have you heard someone say, “thank your guardian angel” or “you are just an angel”? Reflecting on these phrases, I realize that there have been moments in my own life when I faced unexpected challenges and received timely assistance or comfort. These experiences make me wonder whether my guardian angel was present, guiding or protecting me, even when I did not know it. Many of us do not think about our guardian angels every day. Still, we do have a relationship with them, whether we acknowledge it or not. In a way, we can also be like angels when we help others and make a difference in their lives, becoming instruments of kindness and support. Angels, as spiritual beings, not only watch over us but also inspire us to live out God’s will, encouraging us to live holy lives and reminding us what it means to be a Christian.
“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, rule and guide. Amen.”
