I recently read the book Pod krilima anđeoskim (published by Stella Maris). It tells of a religious sister from Brazil who, from the age of four, became aware of the presence of her guardian angel. At the time she did not even know what a guardian angel was; she called him "my new friend". Only later, at the school run by the sisters, did she hear that we all have a guardian angel. In her simplicity she thought that everyone communicated with their angel just as she did. It reminded me of the saints who were also given this grace, such as Padre Pio or Gemma Galgani (we have her biography published by Sion), who thought that others too spoke with their guardian angel as she did, but that it was kept quiet as something intimate. These souls were very humble and simple, and suffered a great deal for the salvation of others. They were victim souls, and so they received that special comfort which our Lord himself received in Gethsemane, so that they should not lose heart: "And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him" (Lk 22:43).

Inspirations from My Guardian Angel

 

The content of this book touched me personally, because it reminded me of the good inspirations I had had since childhood. Unfortunately I was not as obedient to these inspirations as this sister was, and so over time they grew quieter; today I know that this was my guardian angel.

As a child, I often had a strong inner prompting to give to the poor some of the money I had carefully saved (now, as a confessor, I know that many children have this same inner prompting), together with a strong sense that I ought to do it in secret, so that people would not praise me for it (although at the time I did not know that this is what the Gospel says).

I also remember once finding a magazine with nudity in it by the roadside. I kept it, intending to leaf through it at home, with that sweet feeling of having got hold of something "forbidden" (it is interesting how children know when a "tree is forbidden"). Suddenly I felt a strong inner prompting to throw it in the bin, which I did. I remember the inner struggle, and then the peace that came over me once I had obeyed the prompting. There are many more such inspirations that came back to me as I read this book. This book stirred up in me a regret that so many times I did not listen to those inspirations that lead to Life, but instead to those other ones that are sweet at first, but in the end lead to meaninglessness, dissatisfaction and loneliness. I also felt gratitude towards my guardian angel, and of course towards God, for not giving up on me despite all my sins and inconsistencies. I am amazed that my angel has not fled from me; even today, every so often, he still shows me that he is there...

 

Asking Your Guardian Angel to Wake You

 

• It is well known that you can ask your guardian angel to wake you. Especially if we want to get up in the night for prayer. I have experienced such an angelic waking many times, and many people have told me that they too have often had this experience. Haven't you tried it yet? Try it. Sometimes this waking comes unasked, and not quite so gently, but it can save a life...
• In my first year of priesthood I was a chaplain in Velika Gorica, alongside the now deceased holy priest Frkin. Once I was left alone in the parish and went to rest in my room (which was separate from the presbytery). I dozed off. Suddenly, as though someone had struck me in the ribs (cf. Acts 12:7), came a strong waking and a powerful inner prompting: "You must go downstairs." I went down to the parish office and thought: "Now what?" Just then someone rang the doorbell - a person who was in a desperate situation and intended to take their own life; the priest was their last hope, even though they had not been to church until then. Had I not gone down, they would have found no one.
• I recently fell asleep at the wheel. I woke up right in front of a tree and managed to get back onto the road. Five minutes after the event, at midnight, a sister in faith (the mother of a priest) rang me. She told me she had sensed that I was in danger and had immediately begun praying to my angel to save me?!
• I know a priest from the Diocese of Požega who, whenever he has a problem with someone, prays to that person's guardian angel, and things get resolved. Once, for instance, a parishioner's son stole money intended for the poor; the priest prayed to the young man's guardian angel that he would return the money. And he did return it. This same priest went through an experience of clinical death; he says that he saw "the other shore" at that time.
• My mother, who often prays to her guardian angel, has had incredible experiences, of which I will mention just one... She had in her hand the wrong house key, which my father had given her by mistake. Convinced it was the right key, she was nervously trying to open the door, as she was in a hurry to go somewhere. But it just wouldn't work... Then she cried out: "Guardian angel, open it for me!" And she unlocked the door and went in. Afterwards we tried the "trick" of unlocking the door with that wrong key. But we were never able to repeat it.

 

"Let Me Begin Again..."

 

While I was once driving Marin Restrepo (a convert and the author of the well-known book From Darkness into Light), I asked him a thousand questions, because I had heard, and had become convinced, that he has the gift of knowledge and answers even very difficult questions of life "straight off, like a shot from a cannon". Among other things, I asked him about guardian angels. He told me: When a person is in a state of grace, the guardian angel goes ahead of him, clearing the way so that God's will can be carried out in his life. When a person lives in mortal sin, the angel's hands are tied and he is present only as a witness, while the Evil One goes ahead, "arranging things" so that God's will is not accomplished in that person's life; the Evil One leads him, and through him, others, to ruin.

Interesting. I know from experience that this is so. So many times things have fallen unplanned, perfectly into place, that I have grown used to it and no longer even notice the incredible coincidences. I have experience of living in grace, but unfortunately also in sin. I know that, just as there are God's charisms (gifts), so too there are diabolical ''charisms'' that make it easier for a person to fall into sin and that connect him with those who will lead him to ruin. "We do not contend against flesh and blood, but against... evil spirits" (Eph 6:12).

So the desire came to me to begin again. To be once more that small, simple, humble child who listens to God. What a fool I was to believe that disobedience to God was appealing, and obedience "nerdy"... All the chaos of this world comes from our disobedience to God. And God speaks clearly and loudly, and also whispers to us through our guardian angel. All the evil in this world and in our lives exists because man listens to the Evil One, the tempter. We are blind. We do not see the serious consequences of disobedience that are all around us and within us.

I greet you as St Louis de Montfort used to close his letters: Greetings to you and to your guardian angels!

 

What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say about guardian angels?

No. 330: "As purely spiritual creatures, angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures."

No. 336: "From infancy to 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."