Feast of the Guardian Angels - October 2 - Reflection

      We in the Catholic Church believe in angels. We see angels as spiritual being who were created by God.  Our English word “angel” comes from the Greek word “angelos”, which means “messenger”.  God sends out his angels to carry special messages for him.  
      Today, we celebrate the feast of the Guardian Angels.  It is our belief that each of us has a guardian angel from birth who is there to help us in all things. It is also the belief that homes, cities and states also have guardian angels. A votive Mass to the guardian angels has been recognized since the 9th century.  In 1670, Pope Clement X placed October 2 as the mass of the Guardian Angels in our Church's liturgical calendar.  
       We see the role of the guardian angel as to guide us to good thoughts, in good works, and in good words, to keep us from succumbing to evil.  We talk about how our American society is becoming more secular, but I was looking at an article from Time Magazine from 2008 that quoted statistics from a study on religious belief in American conducted by Baylor University, which stated that 55% of those surveyed agreed with the statement that “I was protected from harm by a guardian angel.”  Very interesting. 

         I love the prayer to the Guardian Angels.  It is a favorite prayer of many Catholic children, and many Catholic adults remember this prayer from their childhood: 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 and rule and guide. Amen. 

         In the prayers that we say, we communicate with God and we develop and grow in our faith.  May the angels and the saints hear our prayers and pray for us as members of the kingdom of God.