Angel of God

"Angel of God" (Latin: Ángele Dei) is a Roman Catholic traditional prayer for the intercession of the guardian angel, often taught to young children as the first prayer learned. It serves as a reminder of God's love, and by enjoining the guardian angel to support the child in a loving way, the prayer echoes God's abiding love.

Guardian angel, by Pietro da Cortona, 1656

The original Latin prayer consists of two rhyming couplets. The customary English form of the prayer is metrical as well as rhyming. In many languages the customary form of the prayer is a direct prose translation of the Latin, while in others (for instance Polish) a poetic translation predominates.

Latin text

Ángele Dei,

qui custos es mei,
me tibi commissum pietáte supérna,
hodie (or hac nocte) illúmina, custódi, rege et gubérna.

Amen.

English translation

Angel of God,

my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me here,
ever this day (or ever this night), be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen.

Sources

  • Fox, Robert J. (2004). Prayer Book for Young Catholics. p. 102. ISBN 1-59276-098-8.

Notes

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