What happens with Guardian Angels? (this is concerning Catholic teaching)?

Question

Catholic teaching says we all have Guardian Angels. But what I wans to know is what happens to an Angel after their charge dies? Does the Angel just go back to Heaven and retire, or is the Angel reassigned to some newly-concieved baby to protect through his/her life?

Answer 1

Whether there is one angel per person, one angel for several person or several angels for one person is open to question.

The Catholic Church does not have a defined doctrine on Guardian Angels, (especially not as specific as you have asked) but as St. Jerome states, the belief that every soul has a Guardian Angel is the “mind of the Church”.

The Bible has several passages that support Guardian Angels such as Matthew 18:10 "See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." Or Hebrews 1:14 “Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits sent to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?"

Answer 2

There is nothing in Scripture nor the tradition of the Church that tells us specifically whether or not a guardian angel gets one soul to protect and guide or goes to another as the previous goes home to God.

When I was in my First Holy Communion class, the nun told us a sweet and probably untrue story. She said that from forever God knew what we would name our guardian angels and so when He created the guardian angels and named them, each got the name that someday their human would give them. So we could name our angel whatever we wanted and it would already have been their name. That was my first experience with the concept of eternity. It's certainly NOT biblical nor is it traditional, but it drove home some very important lessons nonetheless.
1) God's love and care is forever.
2) Eternity is utterly outside of time and may not be considered by the same criteria with which we consider time.
3) And for those of faith, a guardian angel is a true friend in "high places".

Answer 3

There is no teaching in the Church that specifically states what a Gardian Angel does after the one they were watching passes from this life to the next.

It's well enough to know that every person who walks the earth has a Gardian Angel watching over them.

It may very well be possible the Gardian Angel is "assigned" to watch over a newborn when the person they were watching passes away. It may even be possible for one Gardian Angel to watch over several people at once, I suppose.

Given the Bible's lesson's concerning Jacob's Ladder, it's doubtful Angels "retire". Jacob drempt that he saw what could only be described as a ladder going up all the way to Heaven. He saw a steady stream of Angels going up and down the ladder; Angels coming down were carrying out missions assigned to them by God. Angels going up had completed their assignment and were headed back for the next assignment.

It seems reasonable to assume that, if Gardian Angels watch only one person at a time, chances are they move from one person to the next until the end of time.

Personally, I think it best to be content knowing that we all have a Gardian Angel assigned to protect and watch over us.

Answer 4

That angel is your angel and if you die he will be with you unless you go to Hell then he goes back to the feet of God where he continually sees his face. Your spot in Heaven will never be replaced --- there will be a missing blank place where you should be. God is mighty enough to have angels for everyone, don't worry.

Answer 5

We do not know a lot about guardian angels.

Some Bible verses that reference "guardian" angels are:

See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. (Matthew 18:10)

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. (Luke 16:22)

The angel of the LORD, who encamps with them, delivers all who fear God. (Psalms 34:7)

No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.
For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.
With their hands, they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone. (Psalms 91:10-12)

If then there be for him an angel, one out of a thousand, a mediator, To show him what is right for him and bring the man back to justice, He will take pity on him and say, "Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found him a ransom." (Job 33:23-24)

Then the angel of the Lord spoke out and said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will you be without mercy for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that have felt your anger these seventy years?" (Zechariah1:12)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 336, states: From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.

Prayer to your Guardian Angel:

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,
Rule and guide.
Amen.

For more information, see Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 328 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt1art1p5.htm#328
And the Catholic Encyclopedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07049c.htm
And Catholic Online: http://www.catholic.org/saints/angel.php

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

I don't think there is any definitive teaching in this...only, as scripture states, that we each have an angel appointed to watch over us.

Answer 7

They help many people not just one. They can move at the speed of thought and can be in more than one place at a time.