John Kartje, a theologian and the rector of Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, told The Pillar that the book of Tobit is the “granddaddy example” of all Scriptural references to guardian angels. “.the whole Book of Tobit is in some ways about this elaborate plan that Raphael is hatching.”įr. “Raphael seems particularly invested in the life of this one particular family,” Porter noted.
In a more extended case, Porter added, the angel Raphael in the whole book of Tobit could be seen as acting in the capacity of a guardian angel. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” The Psalmist proclaims in Psalm 91: “For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. In the Old Testament, there are numerous examples of angels of the Lord that are sent to guard and protect humanity. While the idea of personal guardian angels is not explicitly defined by the Church or in Scripture, there are passages in Scripture that may suggest their existence. There are good reasons to think (they exist), but it's not something that the Church has thought that she needs to make a definitive statement on.” Guardian angels in Scripture “You have other things that could be deduced from Scripture and certainly are licit positions to hold, but aren't doctrinally defined. “Those are the basics about angels, generally,” Porter said.
“Humans sort of enter into this war that's been raging between the demons and the holy angels.” “We hear about this in Revelation 12 in particular, and this is mentioned a couple of times in Church documents,” he said. The angels have the power of an intellect and a will, and when they use their will to defect from God, they are fallen angels, and they fall precisely from the goodness in which they were created.”Īnother important teaching about angels is that they are engaged in a great cosmic war - the heavenly angels versus the fallen angels, also known as demons. “The big ones are that they're created - they're not gods, they're not something standing alongside God, they are creatures. As for angels, there are one a handful of things that the Church can say it definitively knows about them. The number of doctrinal matters that the Church has defined as definitively true are relatively few, he said. Porter said that while the idea of personal guardian angels is a broadly held belief in the Church, it is not a doctrine of the Church - that is, it is not a belief neccesary for salvation, or binding upon Catholics. Philip Porter, PhD, is a theologian at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, and wrote his dissertation on the fall of the angels. The Pillar brought our questions about all things guardian angels to several Catholic theologians and experts to find out more. So where did this idea come from? And how does it all work? Still, the Church celebrates a feast for the guardian angels on Oct. ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.’ Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” Amen.” Credit: Victorian Traditions / Shutterstock.īut while Scripture frequently mentions angels assisting mankind, it does not specifically state that each person is guarded by a particular angel.Įven in the Catechism, guardian angels receive just a short paragraph of explanation: “From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their (guardian angels’) watchful care and intercession. Ever this day be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule, to guide. One of the first prayers many cradle Catholics are taught is directed to their guardian angels: “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here.
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