Small children crossing a dangerous bridge while a larger-than-life being with wings hovers protectively over them. This image, seen on a well-known holy card, is the first one to occur to me and perhaps to many, when I think ”guardian angel.”

Perhaps some of us liken guardian angels to the chubby cherubs in art or the ones aiming arrows at the heart of a desired target associated with St. Valentine’s Day. Or even to the bumbling angel in training trying to earn his wings in the film, It’s a Beautiful Life.

Jesus portrays the actual awesomeness of guardian angels in Matthews gospel: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones (children), for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” The thought of a heavenly being assigned just to me, while gazing at God, puts me in my place: a beloved child of God, protected and guided always. Never alone.

Pope Francis referred to our guardian angels as our traveling companions. So often we think of them as belonging to the realm of children, but surely they are right beside us always. Never alone.

Accustomed to attending the daily 5 o’clock Mass at St. John’s Parish here on the Creighton Campus, I discovered I was going to be at least five minutes late. I asked my guardian angel to speak to the celebrant’s guardian angel to delay the start of Mass five minutes so that I could arrive on time and not miss anything. When things worked out perfectly and the celebrant, who was never late even by a minute, was exactly five minutes late, I thanked my guardian angel and resolved to be grateful more often.

I shared the story with the celebrant after Mass and he said that was the best thing that had happened to him all day. The celebrant was Father Pat Malone.

May your relationship with your guardian angel be the best thing that happens to you today!