The Holy Guardian Angels, Memorial

Archangel Raphael & Young Tobias (Tobias' Dog) C16-C17 (1948) Archangel Gabriel C45-C46 (1962) The belief in Guardian Angels began in antiquity and is continued in Judaism and Christianity into the modern era as well. For example, in Exodus 23:20 God told Moses, “Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared [the Promised Land of the Covenant].” In the Book of Tobit, Tobias is guided by the disguised Archangel Raphael on a journey to Media to collect money owed his father, during which he also marries the beautiful Sarah, and both return to Nineveh, where Tobias’ father is cured of blindness. Raphael reveals his identity in Chapter 12 which ends, “So they confessed the great and wonderful works of God and acknowledged that the angel of the Lord had appeared to them (Tb.12:22).” Chapter 13 is a long hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God. In Matthew, Jesus also refers to the guardian angels: “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. (MT 18:10).” In Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter is freed from prison by an angel: “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting (Acts 12:11).” The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels is commemorated on 29 September (Michaelmas). The Feast of Guardian Angels was promoted in Austria, Spain, and Portugal in the 16th century and became universal by Pope Clement X in 1607. While no specific Vatican City stamp commemorates the Memorial of the Guardian Angels, angels are included on many issues, especially air mail stamps, featuring St Gabriel, patron saint of messengers, postal workers, radio broadcasters, telecommunication workers, and stamp collectors. References: • Dawn Marie Beutner, Saints • David Farmer, Oxford Dictionary of Saints Article Link: • Greg Pirozzi, “1948 Raphael and Tobias Issue: Scarce Imperforate Errors” : Vatican Notes, Vol. 67, No. 381, p. 54 (2019) • Morris Raskin, “The Story Behind The Stamp” : Vatican Notes, Vol. 34, No. 3 p. 10-11 (1985)