In today’s first reading from Exodus, the Lord says:

“Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”

What a promise. Israel is wandering through the desert, unsure, often rebellious, and God gives them not just a law, not just manna, but a heavenly protector.

That promise is still true for us. The Church teaches — and it is no pious opinion but doctrine — that each of us has been given a guardian angel. At our baptism, God assigned one of His mighty spirits to walk with us, guard us, guide us, and protect us until we reach the place prepared for us: heaven.

We must be clear. Angels are not fairy-tale figures. They are not vague symbols of goodness. They are real spiritual persons, created by God, higher than us in nature, pure spirits who behold the face of God and yet stoop to watch over us.

St Basil the Great said: “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.”

And Our Lord Himself confirms it in the Gospel: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for their angels always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)

That means two things: every person has infinite dignity, for every soul is assigned an angel; and every one of us is never alone, never abandoned, never forgotten.

Notice the context of Jesus’ words. The disciples are arguing about greatness. “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” And Jesus places a child before them.

Then He warns: never despise the little ones, because their angels always behold the Father’s face.

The greatness of heaven is not measured in power, but in humility. The weak, the forgotten, the overlooked — they are great in God’s eyes, because heaven itself watches over them.

This is why the Church defends the unborn, the disabled, the frail elderly: because each has an angel in heaven who beholds the face of God. To despise the little one is to insult his angel — and his God.

The Catechism (CCC 336) is clear: “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.”

What do they do?

• They guard us from dangers of body and soul.
• They guide us in choices, whispering promptings of good, pricking our conscience when we stray.
• They carry our prayers to God, joining them to the eternal worship of heaven.
• They fight for us against the powers of darkness, though unseen.

St Thomas Aquinas teaches that angels do not force the will — but they enlighten, encourage, and protect. They are allies in the great battle for our souls.

The saints knew this well.

• St Padre Pio used to send his guardian angel to carry messages and prayers to others.
• St John Bosco told the boys of his oratory: “Make friends with your guardian angel. Talk to him often. He will guide you.”
• St Francis de Sales said: “Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit. Without being seen, they are present with you.”

We ignore our angels at our peril. We attend to them for our salvation.

In Exodus the Lord warns Israel: “Give heed to him and hearken to his voice; do not rebel against him, for my name is in him.”

There is a mystery here. The angel carries the authority of God. To despise the angel’s guidance is to despise God Himself.

When we ignore the whisper of conscience, the prompt to pray, the sudden remembrance of duty — we may well be ignoring our angel.

Our guardian angel is not a decoration. He is an ambassador of heaven.

Nowhere are the angels closer to us than at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

At every Mass, heaven and earth unite. The angels surround the altar. The Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer proclaims: “And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory.”

When you kneel at Mass, your angel kneels with you. When you sing Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, your angel sings beside you.

How foolish, then, to slouch in boredom or drift in distraction! For if our eyes were opened, we would see the hosts of heaven gathered around the altar.

So what must we do?

• Acknowledge your angel. Begin the day with the simple prayer: “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here…”
• Listen to your angel. Pay attention to those nudges toward good and away from evil.
• Imitate your angel. They live only to serve and to worship. So must we.
• Respect others. The most forgotten person still has an angel before the throne of God.

The world today forgets the angels. We imagine we are alone, self-sufficient, unprotected. That forgetfulness is dangerous.

St Bernard once preached: “Whenever you feel temptation, anger, or loneliness, remember: your angel is there. Do not dare to sin in his presence.”

If we remembered the angel at our side, how many sins would we avoid? How much courage would we gain?

Today’s feast is not about sentimental pictures of cherubs. It is about the reality that heaven touches earth in every life.

God has given you a guardian angel.
He guards you.
He guides you.
He fights for you.
He waits to bring you home.

So do not ignore him.
Pray with him.
Listen to him.
Follow him.

For one day, if we persevere, our guardian angel will stand at our deathbed and lead us to the throne of God.