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.
CATHOLIC MEDIEVAL; CURRENT ENGLISH FORM 17TH CENTURY AD
Prayer to the Guardian Angel
Also known as Angel of God ยท Guardian Angel Prayer
About this prayer
The Prayer to the Guardian Angel is a brief Catholic prayer addressed to the personal angel assigned by God to watch over an individual from birth. The belief in personal guardian angels is drawn from Matthew 18:10, where Jesus says that the angels of children 'always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven,' and from Psalm 91:11, which speaks of God commanding angels to guard the faithful. The feast of the Guardian Angels is celebrated on October 2 in the Catholic calendar. The short prayer given here is the standard form taught to children in Catholic religious education and said as a morning and evening devotion. Its Latin original begins 'Angele Dei.'
When it's said
The Prayer to the Guardian Angel is traditionally said each morning as part of daily prayers and at bedtime. It is one of the first prayers taught to Catholic children. It is also said on the feast of the Guardian Angels (October 2) and as a petition for protection before travel or any potentially dangerous activity.
Notes on the text
The prayer is written in rhyming verse, which is unusual among Catholic devotional prayers and reflects its origin as a memory aid for children. The phrase 'to light and guard, to rule and guide' gives four functions: illumination, protection, direction, and governance of the soul.
Source
Traditional Catholic prayer, Latin origin, medieval period. Current English form from F.X. Lasance, The Blessed Sacrament Book, 1913. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.