Their angels are constantly in God’s presence
Just two days after we celebrated the feast of the Archangels we celebrate that of the Guardian Angels. The readings from the proper refers to these angels. In the first reading we hear that Israel was assigned an angel to guide them through the exodus, and that if they obeyed him God would grant them success and victory against their adversaries. In the gospel we learn that children should never be despised, for insignificant as they may appear to adults, they are not insignificant to God: for their angels are constantly in God's presence.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 336 speaks thus of guardian angels: "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. Already here on earth, the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united by God.”
How do angels actually interact with us? Only few have a direct interaction with angels as in the case of Mary at the Annunciation or the shepherds when angels announced the good news of the birth of the Savior. In our day-to-day life, angels are more likely to interact with us in less obtrusive ways. They can manifest their voice through the words of a friend or any other person that show us the wrong we have done and recalls us to the right way, or through a combination of circumstances that challenge our chosen course of action, or simply through the voice of our conscience. They never override our free will. Yet we are blessed if we have the wisdom not to resist their gentle invitation to turn away from evil and towards good.
In the first place, we thank God for our guardian angels. On earth, only the rich can afford a personal bodyguard. Even then, a bodyguard is very limited. He too gets tired, falls asleep and can be killed. A bodyguard cannot foresee all the danger. Without our asking, or payment, God has given to each of us a bodyguard, who is there even before we are aware of it, who never tires, sleeps or make a mistake.
Secondly, we should pray for the wisdom to treasure this great gift. There are seven things we should do towards our guardian angels. We should revere them. These are beings that are holy, and that stand in the presence of God. We should thank them for their protection and intercession. Thirdly, we should apologize to them, as we do in the Confiteor, for all the time we resist their exhortations. Have confidence and trust in them. Love them as heavenly friends. Turn to them in every difficult, danger and temptation. And lastly, we should harken to what they say to us.
