Scripture records many instances of angels’ coming to the assistance of God’s people. The Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions their protecting Lot and Hagar in the Old Testament, as well as an angel’s preventing Abraham from sacrificing his son, Isaac (see No. 332).
The Church’s belief in guardian angels is based on Jesus’ teaching. St. Matthew records Our Savior’s saying, “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” (Mt 18:10). From the Church’s earliest days, her theologians have interpreted these words to mean each of us has a particular angel to protect us. St. Jerome wrote, “How great is the value of the soul that every single person has from birth received an angel for his protection.”
Angels are mentioned so often in the Scripture their existence is an article of faith, one we must embrace. Beyond acknowledging angels’ existence, however, we are asked to assent to very little, other than acknowledging the spiritual nature of the angels God created. Arguments for the existence of guardian angels are compelling, but we are not obliged to surrender to them nor to believe in guardian angels.