Guardian Angels II: The Early Fathers

• Jean Danielou, S.J. The Angels and their Mission According to the Fathers of the Church
• Mother Alexandra The Holy Angels.
• CCEL Church Fathers

Last week, we looked at some of the scriptural evidence for guardian angels. Scripture is the greatest part of an ongoing revelation to the Church known as Tradition. Today, we will look at what (early) Tradition says about Guardian Angels.
1^st – 2^nd CenturyTexts (samples)

• St. Barnabas: 18,1. But let us now pass to another sort of knowledge and doctrine. There are two ways of doctrine and authority, the one of light, and the other of darkness. But there is a great difference between these two ways. For over one are stationed the light-bringing angels of God, but over the other the angels of Satan. And He indeed (i.e., God) is Lord for ever and ever, but he (i.e., Satan) is prince of the present time of iniquity.
• Shepherd of Hermas: Bk 1, Vs. 5. After I had been praying at home, and had sat down on my couch, there entered a man of glorious aspect, dressed like a shepherd, with a white goat’s skin, a wallet on his shoulders, and a rod in his hand, and saluted me. I returned his salutation. And straightway he sat down beside me, and said to me, “I have been sent by a most venerable angel to dwell with you the remaining days of your life.” And I thought that he had come to tempt me, and I said to him, “Who are you? For I know him to whom I have been entrusted.” He said to me, “Do you not know me?” “No,” said I. “I,” said he, “am that shepherd to whom you have been entrusted.” And while he yet spake, his figure was changed; and then I knew that it was he to whom I had been entrusted.
• St. Clement of Alexandria: Stromata 6, 17. The thoughts of virtuous men are produced through the inspiration of God; the soul being disposed in the way it is, and the divine will being conveyed to human souls, particular divine ministers contributing to such services. For regiments of angels are distributed over the nations and cities. And, perchance, some are assigned to individuals.

3^rd – 4^th Century Texts (samples)

• Origen: Princ. 2,10,7. All of the faithful in Christ, no matter how small, are helped by an angel.
• St. Basil the Great: Ps. 33:6. An angel is put in charge of every believer, provided we do not drive him out by sin. He guards the soul like an army.
• St. Gregory of Nyssa (Ps. 137). Elisha [in 2 Kings 6:17] has taught us clearly that our human weakness is protected by the assistance of angels and that in all our perils, provided faith remains with us, we are defended by the aid of the spiritual Powers.”
• St. Hilary of Poitiers: Ps. 137. All the faithful are aided by the services of these divine ministers according to what has been written: “The angel of the Lord surrounds those who fear Him” (Psalm 33:8)… These spirits have been sent to aid the human race. For our weakness is such that, if the guardian angels had not been given to us, we could not resist the many and powerful attacks of the evil spirits.
• Eusebius of Caesarea: Dem Ev. 4, 6. Fearing lest sinful mankind should be without government and without guidance, like herds of cattle, God gave them protectors and superintendents, the holy angels, in the form of captains and shephers. He First-Born Son is set above all of these.

But what does all this mean? Some questions and answers.

• Are angels assigned to everyone at birth, or just to Christians at baptism? No clear answer as Scripture (and observation) indicates both. A traditional synthetic approach has them assigned at birth, but then given additional duties and abilities after baptism. This is because the angel is better able to serve and work with the person after Baptism (this increased role actually begins during the catechumenate).
• What do they do? The angels protect and brings peace. From the Life of St. Anthony; “The vision of the angels works softly and peaceably, awakening joy and exultation.” They also encourage us towards repentance (as in Phanuel in 1 Enoch; and the Shepherd of Hermas), and through that, ideally, towards healing. Mostly, they join us in prayer and worship (look at the prayers from Vespers and Divine Liturgy). Following Origen, St. John Chrysostom said that some give special service to those who are charged with spreading the Gospel and working towards the salvations of the world.
• What about bad angels? We may have those assigned to us, too (e.g. Hermas, Origen, St. Athanasius, St. Gregory of Nyssa); [Out of love, God gave a guardian; out of malice, Satan did the same], now it depends on man, who finds himself between two angels, each one seeking to lead him in a different way, to make the one triumph over the other.
• Why do we pray to a Guardian Angel? To join him in praise and worship of God. To ask for his forgiveness. To reinforce our mutual commitment to holiness and our salvation. To ask him to help us be good and to ask for his protection.
• Do we have to believe in them?  Pray to them? What happens if we don’t? While only Christ is necessary for salvation, a real relationship with Him implies a relationship with all those who love and serve Him, and participation in all the ways that He established for your benefit.  We are saved as part of the Body of Christ.  Living in that body implies living with all of its members.