AQUINAS ON GUARDIANSHIP OF ANGELS AS AN EXECUTION OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE

Abstract

This paper focuses on the perspective of Saint Thomas Aquinas on the guardianship of angels over human persons. It appears conflicting if we are endowed with free will and yet guardian angels are assigned to us. How are we free if they simply move us to do their bidding? Humans can choose what is good for themselves, and they know how to since they are naturally aware of natural law. Furthermore, all that God created He governs by his providence, which includes mortals, of what use are the guardianship of the angels, if God who is omnipotent and infinitely more potent than the angels is already guarding us, the guardianship of inferior creatures in the person of the angels seems superfluous. Aquinas maintained that we are guarded by the angels without our will being violated. For this paper, the analytical and critical methods of inquiry were patronized.