Roman Catholics will commemorate Sunday, Oct. 2, the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels (Santos Angeles Custodios), who are believed to be the intermediaries between God and man.
Special commemorative masses will be held today in Catholic churches in many parts of the country in honor of “God’s messengers” such as at the Holy Guardian Angels Parish in La Trinidad, Benguet, and in Tuao, Cagayan.
Readings in today’s Eucharistic celebrations will focus on Jesus’ confirmation of the existence of Guardian Angels: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the existence of guardian angels is “an accepted belief of the Catholic faith and truth of faith. Every person has a guardian angel, who watches over him and helps him attain his salvation. Angelical guardianship begins at the moment of birth and continues throughout our whole life and ceases only at the moment of death.” In Catholic schools, children are taught early to say a prayer to their guardian angels every day.
Pope Paul V placed the feast in the General Roman Calendar in 1607.
Regarded as “ministering spirits by St. Paul,” the Holy Bible mentioned the word “angel” more than 300 times.