The Holy Guardian Angels

The Holy Guardian Angels

Primarily assigned from the lowest of the nine angelic choirs

Every soul that enters the world is given a guardian angel, assigned to guide and protect them through life and assist them on the path to salvation. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, at the end of a man’s life he will either be accompanied by an individual angel in heaven or be punished by an individual demon in hell. There are nine categories of angels, known as the nine choirs, and St. Thomas states that it is the lowest of the nine choirs, called simply “angels”, that are assigned as individual guardians to mankind. St. Thomas adds, however, that other choirs are assigned to similar tasks but on a greater scale, and gives as an example the opinion that all earthly creatures are watched over by the angelic choir of Virtues. Guardian angels are also assigned to various nations and offices. St. Michael the Archangel was the guardian angel of the Israelites in the Old Testament, and now guards the Church. Michael is also the guardian angel of the office of the Papacy. Today’s feast was present on many local calendars, before it was extended to the whole church and fixed to this first available day after Michaelmas, the September 29th feast of St. Michael and all the angels.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for October 2nd

THE feast of the holy Guardian Angels.

At Nicomedia, St. Eleutherius, soldier and martyr, with numberless others. They were falsely accused of having set fire to the palace of Diocletian and, by order of this most cruel emperor, were barbarously massacred in groups. Some were put to the sword, some consumed by fire, while others were precipitated into the sea. But the principal one, Eleutherius, having endured long tortures, and being found stronger after each one, terminated his victorious martyrdom by fire, as well-tried gold.

In the vicinity of Arras, the martyrdom of blessed Leodegarius, bishop of Autun. After being subjected to various insults and torments for the truth, he was put to death by Ebroin, chief minister of Theodoric.

Also, the holy martyr Gerinus, brother of the blessed Leodegarius, who was overwhelmed with stones in the same city.

At Antioch, the holy martyrs Primus, Cyril, and Secundarius.

At Constantinople, St. Theophilus, a monk, who was most cruelly scourged by Leo the Isaurian, for the defence of holy images, was driven into exile, and went gloriously to heaven.

At Hereford, in England, St. Thomas, bishop and confessor.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.