Guardian Angel Prayer (Angel of God): Words, Latin and What the Church Teaches

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The Guardian Angel prayer, also called Angel of God, asks for the protection and guidance of the angel entrusted to us by God. Its four short lines make it a familiar prayer for children, and adults can pray it too.

The Angel of God prayer

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.

At night, change “this day” to “this night.” Below you will find the Latin original, a longer prayer for adults, what the Church teaches about guardian angels and the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels on October 2.

The traditional English rhyme appears in older prayer books, including F. X. Lasance’s Prayer-Book for Religious, which reads “His love” in the second line. The wording “God’s love” is also printed in the Vatican’s Compendium, Appendix A.

The Guardian Angel prayer in Latin

Angele Dei, qui custos es mei,
me, tibi commissum pietate superna,
illumina, custodi, rege et guberna. Amen.

The Latin asks God’s angel to enlighten, protect, direct and guide the person entrusted to that angel by God’s goodness. Some versions add hodie, meaning “today,” before illumina. The text above follows the Latin in the Compendium.

A Guardian Angel prayer for adults

The following is an original prayer written for this guide:

Holy angel, whom God has given me as guardian and friend,
thank you for your care and intercession.
Stay beside me today. Warn me when I am tempted, strengthen me when I am weak,
and help me to listen to God’s voice in all I do.
Watch over those I love, and lead us all at last into the presence of God. Amen.

A Guardian Angel prayer for children at bedtime

Here is another original prayer you can say with a child:

Dear Guardian Angel, thank you for watching over me today.
Please keep me safe tonight, and keep my family safe too.
Help me to be good and kind tomorrow. Amen.

What the Church teaches about guardian angels

  • Human life receives angelic care. Matthew 18:10 connects the little ones with angels who behold the Father. The Catechism describes the care and intercession of angels throughout human life, and cites St. Basil’s teaching that an angel accompanies each believer as guardian and guide (CCC 336).
  • Angels are real spiritual creatures, persons with intelligence and will, created by God to serve Him and to help us (CCC 328–330).
  • Scripture shows angels guarding God’s people. Psalm 91:11 speaks of God’s angels protecting the faithful, and an angel leads Peter out of prison in Acts 12:7–11. Psalm 91 is numbered Psalm 90 in the Douay-Rheims Bible.
  • Our guardian angel does not replace our freedom. The angel guides and protects, but we remain free to accept or refuse God’s grace.

These teachings encourage trust in God and a life of prayer. They do not mean that a person who suffers an accident has been abandoned by an angel. The Church’s Directory on Popular Piety, 217 cautions against explaining every setback as the devil’s work and every success as an angel’s intervention.

The Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels

The Roman Catholic calendar keeps the memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels on October 2, following the September 29 feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. These observances are discussed in the Directory on Popular Piety, 213–216. October 2 is a good occasion to thank God for the ministry of angels and teach children the prayer.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote the Angel of God prayer?

The prayer is traditional. The Vatican’s Compendium prints it among common Catholic prayers without naming an author. This guide does not assign it to a particular person.

Do non-Catholics have guardian angels?

Angelic care is not presented as a privilege reserved to Catholics. The Catechism’s account speaks broadly of human life being accompanied by angels; its quotation from St. Basil refers specifically to each believer (CCC 336). It gives no membership test or method for identifying an angel.

Can I name my guardian angel?

The Church discourages giving names to angels other than those found in Scripture (Michael, Gabriel and Raphael), as stated in the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (no. 217).

When should I pray the Guardian Angel prayer?

In the morning and at night, before travel, and in moments of danger or temptation.

More prayers

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