Spiritual Companionship: Don Bosco’s Devotion to Guardian Angel

 Don Bosco's Devotion to Guardian Angel

Inspite of having varied means of social networking the youth of today experience loneliness. For instance, a city adolescent once expressed to a psychiatrist that he had more than 300 friends on Facebook and yet felt being alone in life. It would be the same for many youngsters of this era. Thus man longs to have a companion to share his love. This is right, for “it is not good for man to be alone” (Gen 2:18). Don Bosco, who knew the signs of times, was aware of this fact. And so he encouraged the young of Turin to be guided by a companion that everyone possesses, a spiritual companion called the guardian angel. He would exhort his boys to have devotion to their guardian angels by reminding them: “Remember that you have an angel as a companion, guardian and friend.” In addition, the feast of the guardian angel was one of the solemn occasions to be celebrated with great devotion and in a grand manner.

This cry to promote devotion to the guardian angel did not fall on deaf ears rather the oratory youth had a profound devotion for these celestial beings. Don Bosco promoted this devotion in the oratory not with his attractive words or deft tricks but by miracles. An apprentice bricklayer who was regular at the oratory was working in a building. As he walked to and fro on the scaffolding, all of a sudden, a support was broken and the scaffolding collapsed. He along with two of his colleagues plunged from the fourth floor to the ground and while falling the boy was reminded of Don Bosco’s advice to invoke the help of the guardian angel in danger and he did so in a loud voice. Among the three, one died on the spot while another died on the way to the hospital. When the people rushed to the oratory boy believing him to be dead too, he got up and wiped his face a small scratch. The news of this miraculous escape spread among the other boys and it imbued in them a greater devotion to their heavenly guardians.

Following this incident in 1844 Don Bosco published a booklet, ‘The Devotee of the Guardian Angel’ which he began during his seminary days at the Convitto Ecclessiastico. In this little work he highly exalts the spiritual companionship of this heavenly custodian and included some counsels of the need for this devotion among the young. “When tempted turn immediately to your guardian angel and ask him with your heart: ‘My Guardian Angel help me now. Do not let me offend God’”, was one among the counsels.  He also explained how God’s goodness shines through Guardian Angels in their love and daily favours for us.

The Catholic Church has always upheld this devotion for centuries as the presence of the angles is evident in the Scripture from the book of Genesis to that of Revelation. Our Divine Saviour Himself acknowledges the presence of the angel, “In heaven their (little children’s) angels continually see the face of my Father in Heaven” (Mt.18:10).  The Fathers of the Church have given more insight about these celestial beings. St. Anselm, for example, affirms, “Every human soul is committed to an angel when it is united with the body.” The feast of Guardian Angel was instituted in 1670. The Church also recognizes the privilege of some holy people who had the grace of seeing their Guardian Angel with the mortal eyes. Blessed Joan of Cross had this privilege from her childhood. The guidance of the heavenly angel helped her find her religious vocation and later protected her from various dangers when she was the superior of the order. St. Frances of Rome too saw her Guardian Angel arms clasped on his breast with the eyes looking toward heaven. Whenever she failed in the slightest way, the angel would cover his face.

Don Bosco narrated these incidents to the boys and various episodes from the Bible connected with the Guardian Angel like Tobias and Archangel Raphael. He would say, "Take courage and pray; your guardian angel will also pray for you, and your prayers will be answered.”  He was convinced of this devotion from his childhood and expressed it on various occasions. When he started the third oratory at Vanchiglia he placed it under the patronage of the Guardian Angel. Another instance was in August 1844, when during a confession he advised praying to the Guardian Angel at the time of trouble and this miraculously saved the wife of the Portuguese ambassador on her way home just after the confession to Don Bosco. "Pray to your guardian angel. Invoke his aid if you should find yourself in any serious danger of body or soul, and I assure you that he will help and protect you," would be his constant sentence during the confession.

The devotion to the Guardian Angel is indispensible for the young to grow spiritually and morally. It is this celestial companion who has intimate and complete knowledge about the person under his care. And so the youth who seek to find their identity can implore the aid of their own Guardian Angel to know themselves earnestly. This spiritual companionship gives counsel in confusion, guidance in danger and so on.  Although the angel cannot touch the will of man he only prompts one to choose the will of God. Hence, this devotion must be nurtured from childhood. Moreover, the devotion helps all Christians to walk in the Divine presence and to reach their ultimate destiny.

The Salesian tradition has faithfully held this devotion in high esteem following Don Bosco. The feast of the Guardian Angels is celebrated as the feast of the Assistants and praying to the Guardian Angel before a journey and/or going to rest, are some gestures of honouring the heavenly companion. As we are meditating upon the spirituality of Don Bosco during the third year in preparation for the Bicentenary of his birth, we could do well to reflect on and inculcate this devotion.

Three special days that Don Bosco suggests to pray to the Guardian Angel are every Tuesday (as the church suggests), the first day of the month (to seek protection through out the month) and on one’s birthday (the day on which the angel took charge).