Guardian angel
- For other uses, see Guardian angel (disambiguation)
A guardian angel is a spirit who protects and guides a particular person. The concept of tutelary angels and their hierarchy was extensively developed in Christianity in the 5th century by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. The theology of angels, and tutelary spirits, has undergone many refinements since the 400's, and contemporary orthodox belief in both the eastern and western churches is that guardian angels protect the body and present prayers to God, protecting whichever person God assigns them to. The Roman Catholic Church calendar of saints includes a memorial for guardian angels on October 2.
History
The belief that God sends a spirit to watch every individual was common in Ancient Greek philosophy, and Plato alludes to it in Phaedo, 108. Similarly, the belief appears in the Old Testament, although it is not specifically articulated or delineated. In the Book of Daniel, specifically Daniel 10:13, angels seem to be assigned to certain countries. In this case the “prince of the Persian kingdom” was referring to one of the fallen angels also known to many as a demon. While, “Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me...” is one of the specific angels mentioned in the Bible who God uses to help His people. Michael is actually an archangel. Enoch 100:5, part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's inspired scripture, says that the just have protecting angels. In Acts 12:12-15 there is another allusion to the belief that a specific angel is assigned to protect us in that verse in the response of the people staying at the home of "Mary the mother of John, also called Mark...". After Peter had been escorted out of prison by an angel, he went to Mary's home and the servant girl, Rhoda, recognized his voice and so she ran back to tell the group that Peter was there. The group replied, "It must be his angel."(v.15). In Matthew 18:10, Jesus says that children are protected by guardian angels:
- "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (New International Version)
Interpretations
Whether guardian angels attend each and every person is not consistently believed or upheld in patristic Christian thought.[1] Saint Ambrose, for example, believed that saints lose their guardian angels so that they might have a greater struggle and persevere. Saints Jerome and Basil of Caesarea argued that sin drove the angels away.
The first Christian theologian to outline a specific scheme for guardian angels was Honorius of Autun. He said that every soul was assigned a guardian angel the moment it was put into a body, although such a thought requires the pre-existence of the soul/essence. Scholastic theologians augmented and ordered the taxonomy of angelic guardians. Thomas Aquinas agreed with Honorius and specified that it was the lowest order of angels who served as guardians, and his view was most successful in popular thought, but Duns Scotus said that any angel might accept the mission.
Guardian angels appear in literary works throughout the medieval and Renaissance periods. Also later, the Anglican English physician and philosopher Sir Thomas Browne (1605-82), stated his belief in Religio Medici (part 1, paragraph 33):
- Therefore for Spirits I am so farre from denying their existence, that I could easily believe, that not only whole Countries, but particular persons have their Tutelary, and Guardian Angels: It is not a new opinion of the Church of Rome, but an old one of Pythagoras and Plato; there is no heresay in it, and if not manifestly defined in Scripiture, yet is it an opinion of a good and wholesome use in the course and actions of a man's life, and would serve as an Hypothesis to salve many doubts, whereof common philosophy affordeth no solution.
Guardian Angel prayer
This is the traditional Catholic prayer to one's guardian angel.[2]
- Angel of God, my guardian dear
- to whom God's love commits me here.
- Ever this day/night be at my side
- to light and guard, to rule and guide.
- Amen.
In Popular Culture
- In the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life (directed by Frank Capra) features the character Clarence (portrayed by Henry Travers) as a guardian angel.
- Wim Wenders's Wings of Desire and Faraway, So Close! deal with an elaborate scheme of recording angels.
- The syndicated comic strip Rose Is Rose, written by Pat Brady, regularly features a guardian angel, who watches over (and resembles) the character Pasquale.
- The American drama television series Touched by an Angel (1994-2003) features several characters as guardian angels.
- The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus sings a song called Your Guardian Angel on their full-length debut, Don't You Fake It.
Notes
- ^ Guardian Angel - Catholic Encyclopedia article
- ^ Beliefnet Christian Children's Prayers 07-20-2006