October 2, 2023, Feast of the Guardian Angels, Holy Rosary (Joyful Mysteries)

• October 2, 2023, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET
• The Audio Podcast of this Rosary is Available Here Now!

Friends of the Rosary:

Today, October 2nd, is the Feast of the Guardian Angels, a celebration in the Christian tradition that honors the belief in guardian angels.

Every human soul has a Guardian Angel who watches over and protects us from both spiritual and physical evil. They guide us to Heaven only if we desire it since they cannot act directly upon our will or intellect, as  St. Thomas Aquinas wrote.

The Old and the New Testaments show this truth.

The Lord Jesus was strengthened by an angel in the Garden of Gethsemane and an angel delivered St. Peter from prison in the Acts of the Apostles.

Christ Jesus makes the existence and function of guardian angels explicit when He says, in today’s reading (Matthew 18:10): “See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” 

In saying this Jesus points out that all people, even little children, have a guardian angel, and that the angels are always in Heaven, always looking at the face of God throughout their mission on earth, which is to guide and protect us throughout our pilgrimage to the house of our Father.

In Heaven our guardian angels, though no longer needing to guide us to salvation, will continually enlighten us.

The prayer to the guardian angels is encouraged. It has been present in the Church since at least the beginning of the 12th century:

Angel of God,
my Guardian dear,
to whom His love
commits me here,
ever this day
be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide.
Amen.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux wrote: “Let us affectionately love His angels as counselors and defenders appointed by the Father and placed over us. They are faithful; they are prudent; they are powerful; Let us only follow them, let us remain close to them, and in the protection of the God of heaven let us abide.”

This day is an opportunity for believers to reflect on and express gratitude for the guidance and protection we receive from their guardian angels.

We view our guardian angels as a source of comfort, guidance, and protection, recognizing and appreciating the role these celestial beings play in our lives.

Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!
Guardian Angels, Pray for Us!

To Jesus through Mary!

+ Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York