Prayer · Protection
Guardian Angel Prayer
Invoke your guardian angel's protection
The Guardian Angel prayer begins “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here” and asks the angel to light, guard, rule and guide. It is medieval, four lines long, and traditionally said on waking and at bedtime. The full text and a longer version for adults are below.
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
EXTENDED GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER:
O Holy Angel, whom God, by the effect of His goodness and His tender regard for my welfare, has charged with the care of me, you who have assisted me from the first moment of my life, and who will continue to assist me until my last breath:
Enlighten my mind, that I may know and understand the will of God for me. Guard my soul from the snares and temptations of the evil one. Direct my steps along the path of righteousness and away from every occasion of sin.
In moments of darkness, be my light.
In moments of fear, be my shield.
In moments of temptation, be my strength.
In moments of doubt, be my guide.
Holy Guardian Angel, stand between me and the forces of evil. Defend me from every spiritual attack. Alert me to danger that I cannot see. Protect me while I sleep.
I thank God for placing you at my side. I trust in your protection and guidance. Together, with the help of God's grace, may we arrive safely at our heavenly home. Amen.
Go deeper
What the Church actually teaches about guardian angels
1 min readThis is not folklore.
This is not folklore. The Catechism states it plainly: from its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life (CCC 336). The existence of angels is called a truth of faith (CCC 328).
What is not defined is most of what people ask next. Whether every human being has one or only the baptised, whether an angel is ever reassigned, what they are called: the Church has not settled any of it, and anyone answering those questions with confidence is going beyond what is taught.
Where the prayer comes from
1 min readThe Angel of God is medieval and its authorship is uncertain, though it has been attributed to Reginald of Canterbury in the eleventh century.
The Angel of God is medieval and its authorship is uncertain, though it has been attributed to Reginald of Canterbury in the eleventh century. It survives in that form because it is short enough for a child to learn and true enough for an adult to keep saying, which is a rare combination.
Four verbs carry it: light, guard, rule, guide. They are not synonyms. To light is to show what is there; to guard is to keep something off; to rule is to order what is disordered; to guide is to move you along. Read slowly, that is a fairly complete account of what help looks like.
When to pray it
1 min readTraditionally on waking and before sleep, and with children at bedtime, which is how most Catholics first learn it.
Traditionally on waking and before sleep, and with children at bedtime, which is how most Catholics first learn it. The other prayers children learn first, and prayers for parents to pray over them, are gathered in Catholic prayers for children. It is also the prayer people reach for before driving, before surgery, and when sending someone out the door. There is a memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels in the calendar on October 2.
Questions
What is the Guardian Angel prayer?
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. It is medieval, of uncertain authorship, and is usually the first prayer a Catholic child learns after the Our Father.
Does everyone have a guardian angel?
The Catechism says that beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd (CCC 336), and the existence of angels is a truth of faith (CCC 328). Whether every human being has one or only the baptised has never been defined, and anyone answering that with certainty is going past what the Church teaches.
When should I pray to my guardian angel?
Traditionally on waking and before sleep, and with children at bedtime. In practice people reach for it before driving, before surgery, and when someone they love goes out the door.
Can I name my guardian angel?
The Church discourages it. The Directory on Popular Piety asks that guardian angels not be given names, on the grounds that the only angels Scripture names are Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, and that inventing one risks turning a servant of God into a personal familiar.
When is the feast of the Guardian Angels?
October 2, a memorial in the universal calendar. It falls three days after Michaelmas, the feast of the Archangels on September 29, and the two are often confused.
Pray next
Prayer to Restrain EvilAsking God to turn back every assault
The Armor of God PrayerPut on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Prayer for Breaking CursesFreedom in Christ from generational and spoken curses
Rosary of LiberationPowerful deliverance rosary
Shield of the Most HighA declaration of God's sovereign protection
Under His WingsFinding refuge in God's tender protection
Read next
Prayers for Sleep ProtectionDiscover powerful prayers for protection while sleeping. These bedtime prayers guard against nightmares, sleep paralysis, and spiritual attack. Free prayers + audio.
Demonic Oppression: The Distinctions the Church Actually MakesWhat demonic oppression is, how it differs from temptation and possession, why the Church rules out medical causes first, and what a lay Catholic may pray.
Guided narration · How it’s made
Upcoming · Sep 29
Sts. Michael, Gabriel and RaphaelSee the full liturgical calendar — every feast this year, and an embed for your parish site.