The Holy Guardian Angels 		October 2
The notion of beings who have a purely spiritual existence is common to many religious systems. Angels belong to this category in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. In the Old Testament, angels are somewhat ill-defined beings, whose primary task is to act as messengers and envoys of God. Among their tasks are the protection and support of those who are faithful to God (e.g. in the escort of the Israelites from Egypt - Exodus 23:20; cf. Psalm 91:11). In the period between the Old and New Testaments, the categories and functions of angels became much more precisely defined, and many elements of this development can be seen in the New Testament writings.
The idea that each person has a guardian angel is a very ancient, popular one in both pagan and Jewish tradition. It is reflected in Jesus’ reference to the angels who protect the children (Matthew 18:10) and in the reference to the assumption that Rhoda saw Peter’s angel rather than Peter himself (Acts 12:15). This conception was given more formal definition in the Middle Ages by various theologians, including Thomas Aquinas. Pseudo-Dionysius, the sixth century mystical theologian, laid the foundation for the speculative classification of angels into hierarchies.
The guardian angels were originally commemorated with St Michael. They were first given a day of their own in Portugal in the sixteenth century, and the idea was extended to the whole of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Clement X in 1670.
For Liturgical Use
The idea that each person has a guardian angel is a very ancient, popular one in both pagan and Jewish tradition. It can be seen in Jesus’ reference to the angels who watch over children and also in Peter’s escape from prison in Acts 12. The idea was given much more formal definition in the Middle Ages, and a special day was given to the guardian angels in 1670.
Sentence
Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, all you heavenly hosts.
				Song of the Three Young Men 37 (adapted)
Collects
Lord God of heaven and earth,
you surround us with your tender care
and guard us in every danger;
open our hearts to your call,
that we may walk in the right path
and be led in the way of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Creator of the vast expanding universe,
we your insignificant creatures
praise you and give you thanks
for the individual loving care, 
for the guardian angel each one of us receives;
for even the hairs on our head are counted.
Psalms	33:8-21	34:1-9
Readings
Daniel 3:19-21, 24-26, 28	A guardian angel
Acts 12:11-17		Peter’s guardian angel
Matthew 18:1-10		Angels in the Father’s presence
Post Communion Sentence
Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.	2 Kings 6:16