Like many people who grew up in the Catholic faith, I memorized the prayer to my guardian angel was I was a young girl. I remember being intrigued by the fact that I had my own angel to watch over me.
As I got older, somehow I began to forget about this faithful friend, until I went to Fatima, where we visited a shrine to the Angels. It is there that I received this beautiful prayer which caused me to become aware of his presence again:
Thank You Lord for giving me a heavenly companion to be by my side
One who leads me to Your will
Manifests to me Your Love
And directs me to Your Glory
I promise to love my holy companion as a brother
And to heed him when he speaks to me in the voice of conscience
For he will surely lead me to heaven.
Lord, take my hand and place it in the hand of my Guardian angel
and make the sign of redemption over it
Your blessing for my salvation.
As I developed a devotion to Padre Pio, it became even more prominent when I read of the relationship he had with his heavenly companion who was a childhood friend, and who he was able to see and speak to daily.
Writing to one of his spiritual children, Padre Pio said, “O Raffaelina, how consoling it is to know that we are always under the protection of a heavenly spirit, who never abandons us, not even (most admirable fact!) in the very act by which we displease God! How sweet this great truth is for the believing soul! What can the devout soul fear that is diligent in loving Jesus, and that always has such a distinguished fighter present by its side? Oh, was he not perchance among those many who, together with St. Michael the Angel there in the empyreal heights defended the honor of God against Satan and all the other rebellious spirits, finally reducing them to perdition and casting them into hell (Cf. Dan. 10,13; 12, 1; Apoc. 12,7)?
Well then, know that he is still powerful against Satan and his satellites. His charity has not grown less, nor will it ever fail to protect us. Form the beautiful habit of thinking about him always. How close to us stands one of the celestial spirits, who from the cradle to the grave never leaves us for an instant. He guides us; he protects us like a friend, like a brother. This ought to be, moreover, a constant consolation for us, especially in our saddest hours. “
Although I pray this prayer daily, I must admit, I do not give him the acknowledgment I should and still forget about him many times, I do carry a fondness for him in my heart. I often sought his protection during my healing which, in fact, is a spiritual battle, trusting that he would protect me from any attacks I was under. I do know he is with me always.
Invoke your angel who guides and protects you. As Padre Pio says, “In the hours in which you seem to be alone and abandoned, do not complain about not having a soul-mate to whom you can open (your heart) and to whom you can confide your sorrows: - for the love of God, do not forget this invisible companion who is always present to listen to you and always ready to console you.”
(reprint)
