Someone to Watch Over Me

My angel of God, my guardian dear to whom God's love commits me here ever this night/day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.





This is how I learned the prayer as a child. Today is the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Even now on nights when I struggle to find peace or am too restless, I think of that prayer my mother taught me when I was a little girl and sometimes it helps. Though, restless nights as an adult are probably stem from more real-life fears than the irrational fears of childhood. Still, it is comforting to know that there is a guardian angel who will guard, rule, guide and protect us through the long, distressing nights or our the stressful days of our lives.

Today we celebrate God's messengers who protect us human beings. We see them throughout the Bible. Angels delivered messages from God, protected people from dangers and rescued them. The New Testament Acts of the Apostles tells in chapter 12 how St. Peter was led out of prison by an angel. The belief that we each have a guardian angel has been common to Christians for many centuries. The picture of a guardian angel that we often see is an angel protecting a little child as he or she walks over a small bridge. In 1608, Pope Paul V added today's feast to the calendar of saints and celebrations. It is very encouraging to know and believe that we each have an angel guarding and protecting us. Our guardian angel is a gift from our loving God. We can say this brief prayer as often as we would like to throughout the day: Angel of God,my guardian dear, to whom God's love entrusts me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. "And so the angels are here; they are at your side; they are with you, present on your behalf. They are here to protect you and to serve you. But even if it is God who has given them this charge, we must nonetheless be grateful to them for the great love with which they obey and come to help us in our great need." -St. Bernard -- From Saint of the Day.

Today's short reading from today's morning Office.

	Exodus 23:20 - 21 ©
I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says.

If only they could protect us from pesky little mice roaming our houses.