Annotation CCCXIII

”Making peace through the blood of his cross, [both] the [things] which are on earth, and the [things] which are in the heavens.” — Colossians 1:20

Whether to individual men individual angels are deputed.

Chrysostom, [in] the third homily on the Colossians, seems to indicate that individual angels are not deputed to individual men for [their] guardianship, but only to the faithful who believe in Christ. For thus he speaks: “AT FIRST, according to the number of the nations, were the angels; but now not according to the number of the nations, but according to the number of the faithful. Whence is it plain? Hear Christ saying, ‘Their angels always see the face of my Father, who is in the heavens.’ For indeed every one of the believers has an angel. For also from the beginning each of the famous and approved men had an angel — as Jacob says: ‘The angel, who feeds me, and who delivered me from my youth.’” But Jerome, expounding that passage, “Their angels, etc.,” cited from Chrysostom, judges that individual men have individual angels as guardians, saying: “GREAT is the dignity of souls, that each one has, from the rising of nativity [birth], an angel delegated for its guardianship.” And the consent of all theologians follows this opinion.