WHY EVERY ANGLICAN CATHOLIC SHOULD KNOW THEIR GUARDIAN ANGEL
A man was walking home late one evening after work.
As he crossed a busy road, a speeding car suddenly swerved into his lane. Miraculously, it missed him by inches.
Still shaken, he said to his Catholic friend:
“I honestly don’t know how I survived that.”
His friend smiled and replied:
“Perhaps your Guardian Angel was doing exactly what God sent him to do.”
Many Catholics have heard of Guardian Angels. Some even pray to them every day. But many others know very little about them.
Do Guardian Angels really exist?
And why should every Anglican Catholic know about them?
The Church gives us a beautiful answer.
FIRST — EVERY PERSON HAS A GUARDIAN ANGEL
The Church teaches that, by God’s loving providence, human beings are entrusted to the care and ministry of His angels.
Jesus Himself spoke of the angels of His “little ones”:
“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”
— St. Matthew 18:10
This is one of the clearest teachings of Jesus concerning Guardian Angels.
The Scriptures also tell us:
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
— Psalm 91:11
Our Guardian Angel is therefore understood as one of God’s gifts of providential care — a heavenly companion who serves God and assists us on our journey towards Him.
SECOND — GUARDIAN ANGELS PROTECT US
Guardian Angels protect us according to God’s will.
Sometimes their protection may be physical. At other times, God may use their ministry in protecting us from spiritual dangers, temptations, and circumstances that could draw us away from Him.
The Scriptures describe the angels as:
“ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.”
— Hebrews 1:14
Their ministry is therefore not independent of God. They are God’s servants, carrying out His will.
We may not always see or understand their protection, but we can trust in God’s providence.
THIRD — THEY HELP US TOWARDS WHAT IS GOOD
Have you ever experienced a gentle prompting to avoid something wrong, forgive someone, turn away from temptation, or spend more time in prayer?
We must be careful to distinguish the work of the Holy Ghost from the ministry of angels.
The Holy Ghost is the source of divine grace and works within us. Yet God may also use His angels as heavenly ministers in guiding and protecting His people.
The Psalmist says:
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
— Psalm 91:11
Our response should always be to follow what is consistent with the teaching of Jesus and Holy Scripture.
FOURTH — THEY CONSTANTLY CARE FOR US
Our Guardian Angels do not cease to be God’s servants simply because we cannot see them.
Scripture presents the angels as ministering spirits who serve those who are to inherit salvation:
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
— Hebrews 1:14
The heavenly ministry of angels is therefore part of God’s loving providence.
We may ask God for His protection and, in accordance with Christian tradition, ask our Guardian Angel to assist us in remaining faithful to God.
Our ultimate hope, however, is not in the angel but in God Himself.
FIFTH — JESUS HIMSELF SPOKE ABOUT GUARDIAN ANGELS
Jesus said:
“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”
— St. Matthew 18:10
These are the words of Jesus Himself.
They remind us that angels are not imaginary figures created merely for religious decoration or children’s stories.
Angels are part of God’s created order and serve according to His will.
St. Paul likewise speaks of angels as:
“ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.”
— Hebrews 1:14
And when St. Peter was miraculously released from prison, those gathered in prayer initially thought that the person at the door might be his angel:
“Then said they, It is his angel.”
— Acts 12:15
This passage does not by itself establish every detail of the doctrine of Guardian Angels, but it does show that belief in a personal angelic association was present among the earliest Christians.
FINALLY — WHY SHOULD EVERY ANGLICAN CATHOLIC KNOW THEIR GUARDIAN ANGEL?
Because Scripture teaches us that God has created angels and uses them as ministering spirits in His divine providence.
Jesus Himself spoke of “their angels” who behold the face of His Father in Heaven.
Guardian Angels protect us according to God’s will, assist us in our earthly journey, and serve God in ministering to those who are heirs of salvation.
We do not worship angels.
We worship God alone.
But we can thank God for the ministry He has entrusted to His angels and, according to Christian tradition, ask our Guardian Angel to assist us in remaining faithful to God.
As the Psalmist reminds us:
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
— Psalm 91:11
IN SIMPLE WORDS
Why should every Anglican Catholic know their Guardian Angel?
Because God has given His angels a ministry of care and service towards His people.
Our Guardian Angel is understood as a heavenly companion during this earthly sojourn — serving God, protecting us according to His will, and helping us remain directed towards Him.
We may not see our Guardian Angel.
We may not even be conscious of his presence.
But that does not mean we are alone.
God’s providence surrounds us.
And, as Jesus Himself taught:
“their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”
— St. Matthew 18:10
YOU ARE NEVER TRULY ALONE.
Cecil K. Dewars
A lifelong Anglican, Baptised and Confirmed in the High Church tradition and continuing in the Anglican Catholic Faith.
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
• St. Matthew 18:10 — “their angels” behold the face of the Father
• Psalm 91:11–12 — God gives His angels charge over His people
• Hebrews 1:14 — angels as “ministering spirits”
• Acts 12:15 — the early Christians’ reference to Peter’s “angel”
• Revelation 8:3–4 — angels associated with the offering of the prayers of the saints