The Holy Family's Guardian Angels

Luke 1:26 “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. He had a message for a girl promised in marriage to a man named Joseph who was a descendant of King David. The girl’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”.”

Before God created man, He created the heavens and all things visible and “invisible”. The angels were in existence long before man walked the earth. Throughout the Bible the angels are seen as messengers and protectors. They adore, glorify and praise the Creator. These angels play a vital role in the journey of mankind. As Catholics, we believe people are given a guardian angel from the moment of conception. An angel to help protect and guide us on our journey back home to our Lord.

When the Word became flesh and Jesus was conceived in the womb of His mother, Mary, I can only believe that He would have had a very special Guardian Angel. For that matter, I believe His mother and father Joseph would also have had very special Angels to guard and protect them due to their special calling in life.

We know that Mary was approached by the Archangel Gabriel with the message that she was chosen to carry the Messiah. I would love to believe that Mary’s special Guardian Angel was the Angel Gabriel. One of only four Archangels, Gabriel was close to our Lord and would have stayed close by the Word made flesh.

Joseph also received messages from angels. Although he felt himself to be unworthy to become Mary's husband and father to the Messiah, Joseph was reassured by an angel that he was chosen to take Mary as his wife and name the child Jesus. Joseph was also warned by his angel to flee into Egypt in order to save Jesus from Herod's slaughter of the innocents. From the moment the Word became flesh, Joseph seemed to have a very special relationship with his angel.

I believe that Jesus had a very special relationship with His Guardian Archangel as well. The Archangel, Michael, is known to be the leader of God’s angels. St. Michael is normally depicted in armor, fighting off Satan and his demons. Never has there been such a temptation of man by the devil as when Jesus and His followers were tempted. God would never have sent His Son to this earth to be lower than the angels for a time, without the proper protector. This protector could have been St. Michael.

I believe Jesus, in His divinity, could see the angels. He must have had a close relationship with His mother’s angel, perhaps Gabriel, His father's angel, and His own, perhaps Michael. As revealed in the painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, these angels not only watched over mother and Son, they prepared them for what was to come. How fascinating to think of this Holy Family surrounded by angels who were constantly guiding, protecting and worshipping our Lord in their midst.

The nativity story is full of angels. From the announcement to Mary, to the announcement to the shepherds; mankind relies on these heavenly beings to steer us in the right direction and lead us to our Savior. They appeared to ordinary shepherds in the fields.

Luke 2:13 “Suddenly a great army of heaven’s angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom He is pleased!”.”

This Christmas we thank God for the gift of His Son. We also should thank Him for the gift of our angel and all angels who watch over us and protect us.