Scripture speaks often of angels sent to guard and guide: the angel who leads Israel in the Exodus, Raphael who accompanies Tobiah, the angel who frees Peter from prison, and above all the Lord's own warning not to despise the little ones, for their angels in heaven always look upon the face of his Father. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states the Church's belief plainly: from infancy to death human life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession of angels, and each of the faithful has beside him an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. A distinct celebration of the guardian angels appeared in Spain and elsewhere in the sixteenth century, was approved for local use by Pope Paul V in 1608, and was extended to the whole Church on October 2 by Pope Clement X in 1670. The date places it immediately after the Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael on September 29, so that the two celebrations together cover the Church's honoring of the angelic world. It is an obligatory memorial, celebrated in white. The brief prayer beginning "Angel of God, my guardian dear" is among the first that Catholic children learn, and the memorial is a natural day for parents and catechists to teach it. The Church is careful, here as always, to keep the distinction that governs all such devotion: angels are creatures and are venerated, never adored; worship belongs to God alone, who created them and sends them. The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy commends devotion to the angels while cautioning against curiosity about their names or private communications, which has no basis in Scripture or in the Church's tradition.

Memorial

memorial

Ordinary time

October 2

memorial