Can guardian angels take a message to heaven?

We know that we all have guardian angels to help us avoid spiritual dangers and achieve salvation. We see angels helping people on various occasions in Scripture, but there are certain instances in which we see angels providing a protective function over a period of time.

In Tobit, Raphael is assigned to an extended mission to help Tobit’s son (and his family in general). In Daniel, Michael is described as “the great prince who has charge of your [Daniel’s] people” (Dan. 12:1). He is thus depicted as the guardian angel of Israel. In the Gospels, Jesus indicates that there are guardian angels for individuals, including little children. He says:  “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10).

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

“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” (no. 336).

And as for our loved ones, we can have confident assurance that they are with the Lord if they were people of faith (including baptized children). Even regarding those who might not fall within that category, we surely have reason to hope that God’s mercy would extend to them, and we know that they benefit from our prayers.

Through the communion of saints, we have a certain connection with all the angels and saints, including guardian angels and those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. This reality is best realized in this life during Mass, when our worship gets taken up to the heavenly liturgy where we are mystically united with Christ and with all the holy angels and saints.

All of that said, passing messages from one heavenly person to another (e.g., asking St. Peter to give a message to St. John) seems a little odd and unnecessary. If you reasonably believe your loved one is in heaven, you may treat him or her as a small-s saint and directly seek his or her intercession in this life, and look forward to a grand “family reunion” of sorts in the next.

Courtesy of Leon Suprenant