While we give thanks to God for having granted to each of us a holy angel for our guardian, we ought ever to bear in mind the respect, devotion, and loving confidence we owe to this blessed spirit; and with these feelings we should often think of him, and implore his constant aid with the following well-known invocation:
Angele Dei, qui custos es mei, me tibi commissum pietate superna, illumina, custodi, rege, et guberna. Amen.
O angel of God, whom God hath appointed to be my guardian, enlighten and protect, direct and govern me.
Or else.
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom His love commits me here,
Ever this day be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Pope Pius VI., in order to kindle the fervour of the faithful
to have frequent recourse to their holy Angel Guardian, granted, motu proprio,
by a Brief of October 2, 1795 -
i. An indulgence of 100 days every time the above-named short prayer is said
devoutly and with a contrite heart.
ii. A plenary indulgence to those who have been accustomed to say it morning and
evening throughout the year, on the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, October
2; provided that on that day, after Confession and Communion, they visit a
church or public oratory and pray for the Sovereign Pontiff.
iii. A plenary indulgence, in articulo mortis, was added by the same
Pope, in another Brief of September 2, 1796, to all who had been accustomed
during life frequently to say the said prayer. In this Brief also, motu
proprio, he confirmed the Indulgences already granted.
His successor, Pius VII., afterwards, by a decree of the S. Congr. of
Indulgences, of May 15, 1821, besides confirming afresh the above-named
Indulgences, granted -
iv. A plenary indulgence to all the faithful who say at least once a day, for a
month together, the said prayer, Angele Dei, &c., on any one day
when, after Confession and Communion, they visit a church and pray as above.