Feast of the Guardian Angels

Today (October 2nd) is the feast of the Guardian Angels.

The painting above is known as Heilige Schutzengel by Lindberg. Heilige Schutzengel is German for Holy Guardian Angel, it is known in English as the Guardian Angel, Angel and Bridge, Angel at the Bridge & etc. It is an extremely popular image with many, many variations back at least to Victorian times


GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER
for Feast day of October 2nd)

Dear Angel at my side,
my good and loyal friend,
you have been with me since the moment I was born.
You are my own personal guardian,
given me by God as my guide and protector,
and you will stay with me till I die.
He who created you and me
gave me to you as your particular charge.
You assisted in great joy at my baptism,
when I became part of the Mystical Body of Christ,
and was made a member of the household of God
and an heir of heaven.
You saw the dangers that beset my path,
and, if I sinned,
it was in spite of you.
You envied me when Christ came to me in Holy Communion.
Even though you probably were there
among the angels that adored Him
the night that He was born,
you have not been able to receive Him as I can.
O, help me to appreciate these gifts!
Help me to realize, as you do,
with every fiber of my being,
that to serve Christ is to be a King!
Help me steadfastly to avoid evil
and do good and always guard my soul from sin.
Protect me as well from physical evils
as I go about my daily work.
You will be with me all my life,
and at the hour of my death.
Help me to face death bravely, patiently,
with great love of God,
knowing that it is only through death
that I can come to Him in heaven!
Then, come with me to my Judge,
and when the hour of my salvation comes,
take me home to my Father, God.

Amen