# Prayer to the Guardian Angel

> A short prayer to begin or end the day, addressed to the angel whom God, in his love, has entrusted with accompanying your life.

- Source: Light of Saints, “Prayer to the Guardian Angel”, https://lightofsaints.com/en/prayers/prayer-to-the-guardian-angel
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Published: 2026-11-06

## Meaning

This prayer addresses the guardian angel whom God sends to each person and asks the angel to be at our side, to light, guard and guide us throughout the day. It echoes the promise of Psalm 91:11: "For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go."

## Prayer

_Traditional prayer of the Church._

### Angel of God

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.

## Intentions & hopes

Catholics pray it to ask for companionship and protection in daily activities, while traveling, or when feeling afraid and alone. It is also a simple way to give thanks for God's care and to open one's heart to his guidance.

## When & how to pray

- Pray it in the morning before starting the day's activities, or at night before going to sleep.
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross, then say the prayer calmly, kneeling, sitting or standing.
- Parents can pray it with their children at bedtime; the prayer is short and easy for children to learn by heart.
- The Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels on October 2 is a fitting day to pray it in a special way.

## Origins

The Latin prayer Angele Dei has long been linked with Saint Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033–1109), because it appears in medieval collections of his works.

However, the prayer was added to the collection of Anselm's works only after his death. It is best understood as an adaptation of a prayer in verse to the guardian angel found in the Life of Saint Malchus by Reginald of Canterbury (d. c. 1109).

It is not certain whether Reginald himself composed Angele Dei. Whoever composed it clearly knew the Life of Saint Malchus, whose opening address to the angel resembles this prayer.

_Edition note: Text: The rights holder named on the source. Checked word for word against the source on 2026-11-05._

## Sources

- [Angel of God - Prayers - Vatican News](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/prayers/angel-of-god.html) — Text taken from www.vaticannews.va
- [Liturgical Year : Prayers : Angel of God (Angele Dei)](https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=871) — Latin text from www.catholicculture.org
- [History Behind Angel of God Prayer (Who composed the “Angel of God” Prayer?)](https://aleteia.org/2017/10/02/who-composed-the-angel-of-god-prayer/) — Published by Aleteia
- [Angele Dei](https://www-preces--latinae-org.translate.goog/thesaurus/Basics/AngeleDei.html?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=es&_x_tr_hl=es&_x_tr_pto=tc) — Published by Preces Latinae