Traditional litany for private devotion

Litany of the Holy Guardian Angel

For 2 October and for every day — the angel God gives to each one

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Queen of angels, pray for us.
Holy Angel, my guardian, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my prince, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my monitor, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my counsellor, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my defender, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my patron, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my guide, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my teacher, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my shepherd, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my faithful friend, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my consoler, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my brother, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my help in every need, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my aid in temptation, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my support in affliction, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my light in darkness, pray for me.
Holy Angel, my comfort at the hour of death, pray for me.
Holy Angel, who teachest me to pray, pray for me.
Holy Angel, who presentest my prayers to God, pray for me.
Holy Angel, who bringest me back when I stray, pray for me.
Holy Angel, who keepest me from sin, pray for me.
Holy Angel, who never forsakest me, pray for me.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

℣ God hath given his angels charge over thee.
℟ To keep thee in all thy ways.

Let us pray

Almighty and eternal God, who in thine ineffable goodness hast given each of the faithful, from the womb, an angel to guard him: grant that I may always love and faithfully follow the one thou hast given me as guardian, so that, defended by him, I may come to the glory thou hast prepared for thy children. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SourceTraditional litany for private devotion · For 2 October and for every day — the angel God gives to each one

The history of this prayer

The feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, 2 October, was extended to the whole Church by Paul V in 1608, and litanies to the Guardian Angel appear in prayer books from then on. This is the most widespread form: a sequence of titles — guardian, prince, counsellor, defender, guide, shepherd, friend — which describes what the Catechism teaches: "from infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession" (no. 336).

The versicle is Psalm 91:11, which the liturgy applies to the angels; the closing prayer echoes the collect of the feast.

It is prayed on 2 October, in morning and night prayer alongside the Angele Dei, and when travelling. Our own rendering of the traditional text.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Litany of the Guardian Angel prayed?

On the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels (2 October), in morning and night prayers and before a journey.

Does everyone have a guardian angel?

Yes. The Catechism teaches that from infancy to death each person’s life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession of the angels (no. 336), and Jesus speaks of the angels of the little ones who see the face of the Father (Matthew 18:10).

What is the short prayer to the Guardian Angel?

The Angele Dei: "Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen." It is on the traditional prayers page.

More prayers: Litanies

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