O HOLY ANGEL, whom God, by the effect of His goodness and His tender regard for my welfare, has charged with the care of my conduct, and who assists me in all my wants and comforts me in all my afflictions, who supports me when I am discouraged and continually obtains for me new favors, I return thee profound thanks, and I earnestly beseech thee, O most amiable protector, to continue thy charitable care and defense of me against the malignant attacks of all my enemies. Keep me away from all occasions of sin. Obtain for me the grace of listening attentively to thy holy inspirations and of faithfully putting them into practice. In particular, I implore thee to obtain for me the favor which I ask for by this novena. [Here mention your petition.] Protect me in all the temptations and trials of this life, but more especially at the hour of my death, and do not leave me until thou hast conducted me into the presence of my Creator in the mansions of everlasting happiness. Amen.
PRAYER OF SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT
O MOST holy Angel of God, appointed by God to be my guardian, I give thee thanks for all the benefits which thou hast ever bestowed on me in body and soul. I praise and glorify thee that thou condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemy. Blessed be the hour in which thou were assigned me for my guardian, my defender and my patron. In acknowledgment and return for all thy loving ministries to me, I offer thee the infinitely precious and noble Heart of Jesus, and firmly purpose to obey thee henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my God. Amen.
ASPIRATIONS TO THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS
O PURE AND HAPPY Spirits whom the Almighty selected to become the Angels and Guardians of men. I most humbly prostrate myself before thee to thank thee for the charity and zeal with which thou dost execute this commission. Alas, how many pass a long life without ever thanking their invisible friends, to whom they owe a thousand times their preservation!
O charitable Guardians of those Souls for whom Christ died, O flaming Spirits, who cannot avoid loving those whom Jesus eternally loved, permit me to address thee on behalf of all those committed to thy care, to implore for each of them a grateful sense of thine many favors and also the grace to profit by thine charitable assistance.
O Angels of those happy infants who are as yet "without spot before God," I earnestly beseech thee to preserve their innocence.
O Angels of youth, conduct them, exposed to so many dangers, safely to the bosom of God, as Tobias was conducted back to his father.
O Angels of those who employ themselves in the instruction of youth, animate them with thy zeal and love, teach them to emulate thy purity and continual view of God, that they may worthily and successfully co-operate with the invisible Guardians of their young charges.
O Angels of the clergy, of those "who have the eternal Gospel to preach to them that sit upon the earth," present their words, their actions and their intentions to God, and purify them in that fire of love that consumes thee.
O Angels of the missionaries who have left their native land and all who were dear to them in order to preach the Gospel in foreign fields, protect them from the dangers which threaten them, console in their hours of discouragement and solitude, and lead them to those souls who are in danger of dying without Baptism.
O Angels of infidels and pagans, whom the True Faith has never enlightened, intercede for them, that they may open their hearts to the rays of grace, respond to the message delivered by God's missioners and acknowledge and adore the one true God.
O Angels of all who travel by air, land or water, be their guides and companions, protect them from all dangers of collision, fire, and explosion and lead them safely to their destination.
O Guardian Angels of sinners, charitable guides of those unhappy mortals whose perseverance in sin would embitter even thine unutterable joys, where thou not established in the peace of God! Oh join me, I ardently beseech thee, in imploring their conversion!
And thou, O Guardian Angels of the sick, I entreat thee especially to help, console and implore the spirits of joy for all those who are deprived of health, which is among God's most precious gifts to man. Intercede for them, that they may not succumb to despondency or lose by impatience the merits they can gain in carrying with resignation and joy the cross which Christ has laid upon them as a special token of His love.
O Angels of those are at this moment in the agonies of death, strengthen, encourage and defend them against the attacks of their infernal enemy.
O faithful Guides, holy spirits, adorers of the Divinity, Guardian Angels of all creatures, protect us all; teach us to love, to pray, to wage combat on earth, so that one day we may reach Heaven and there be happy for all eternity! Amen.
O Angels of those who are lingering in Purgatory, intercede for them that God may permit thee to bring them some balm; console them that they may know that we are praying for them and that we ask thee to join in our entreaties.
(Here mention your prayers to the Holy Guardian Angels then conclude with the following prayer)
ANGEL OF GOD
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.
(Here say 9 Glory Be in Honor of the Guardian Angels)
LITANY OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear us. Jesus, 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 me. Angel of Heaven, who art my guardian, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, whom I revere as my superior, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost give me charitable counsel, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost give me wise direction, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost take the place of a tutor, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost love me tenderly, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who art my consoler, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who art attached to me as a good brother, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost instruct me in the duties and truth of salvation, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who art to me a charitable shepherd, pray for me. Angel of Heaven who art witness of all my actions, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost help me in all my undertakings, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost continually watch over me, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost intercede for me, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost carry me in thy hand, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost direct me in all my ways, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost defend me with zeal, pray for me. Angel of heaven, who dost conduct me with wisdom, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost guard me from all danger, pray for me. Angel of Heaven, who dost dissipate the darkness and enlighten the mind, pray for me. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord. Jesus, hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us.
Pray for us, O Guardian Angel, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray.
Almighty and eternal God, Who by an effect of Thine ineffable bounty hast given to each of the faithful an angel to be the guardian of body and soul, grant that I may have for him whom Thou hast given me in Thy mercy so much respect and love, that, protected by the gifts of Thy graces and by his help, I may merit to go to Thee in Heaven, there to contemplate Thee with him and the other happy spirits in the brightness of Thy glory. Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYER:
O HOLY Guardian Angel, my dear friend and solicitous guide on the dangerous way of life, to thee be heartfelt thanks for the numberless benefits which have been granted me through thy love and goodness and for the powerful help by which thou hast preserved me from so many dangers and temptations. I beg of thee, let me further experience thy love and thy care. Avert from me all danger, increase in me horror for sin and love for all that is good. Be a counselor and consoler to me in all the affairs of my life, and when my life draws to a close, conduct my soul through the valley of death into the kingdom of eternal peace, so that in eternity we may together praise God and rejoice in His glory. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
O Angel of God, make me worthy of thy tender love, thy celestial companionship and thy never-failing protection!