What does our guardian angel do after our death?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, alluding to angels, teaches number 336 that "from its beginning until the hour of death human life is surrounded by their protection and their intercession".

From this it is understood that man enjoys the protection of his guardian angel even at the time of his death. The companionship offered by angels does not only concern this earthly life, because their action is prolonged in the other life.

To understand the relationship that unites angels to men at the time of their transition into the other life, it is necessary to understand that angels have been "sent to serve those who must inherit salvation" (Heb 1:14). St. Basil the Great teaches that no one will be able to deny that "Every member of the faithful has an angel as their protector and shepherd, to lead him to life" (cf. CCC, 336).

This means that the guardian angels have as their main mission the salvation of man, that man enters the life of union with God, and in this mission is found the assistance that they give to souls when they present themselves before God.

The Fathers of the Church remember this special mission by saying that the guardian angels assist the soul at the moment of death and defend it from the last attacks of the demons.

St. Louis Gonzaga (1568-1591) teaches that when the soul leaves the body it is accompanied and consoled by its guardian angel to present itself confidently before the Tribunal of God. The angel, according to the saint, presents the merits of Christ so that the soul is based on them at the time of his particular judgment, and once the sentence has been pronounced by the Divine Judge, if the soul is sent to Purgatory, he often receives the visit of his guardian angel, who comforts her and he consoles her by bringing her the prayers that are recited for her and ensuring her future release.

In this way it is understood that the help and mission of the guardian angels does not end with the death of those who have been their protégé. This mission continues until it brings the soul into union with God.

However, we must take into account the fact that after death a particular judgment awaits us in which the soul before God can choose between opening up to God's love or definitively rejecting his love and forgiveness, thus renouncing joyful communion forever with him (see John Paul II, general audience of 4 August 1999).

If the soul decides to enter into communion with God, it joins its angel to praise the Triune God for all eternity.

It may happen, however, that the soul finds itself "in a condition of openness to God, but in an imperfect way", and then "the path to full bliss requires a purification, which the faith of the Church illustrates through the doctrine of ' Purgatory '”(John Paul II, general audience of 4 August 1999).

In this event, the angel, being holy and pure and living in the presence of God, does not need and cannot even participate in this purification of the soul of his protege. What he does is intercede for his protégé before the throne of God and seek help from men on earth to bring prayers to his protégé.

The souls who decide to definitively reject God's love and forgiveness, thus renouncing forever joyful communion with him, also renounce to enjoy friendship with their guardian angel. In this terrible event, the angel praises divine justice and holiness.

In all three possible scenarios (Heaven, Purgatory or Hell), the angel will always enjoy the judgment of God, because he unites himself in a perfect and total way to the divine will.

In these days, we remember that we can unite with the angels of our dear departed so that they may bring our prayers and supplications before God and divine mercy be manifested.