Canonized 1504 Feast June 10 | Major shrine Sanctuary of Fátima Patronage Portugal | |
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Venerated in Portugal, Catholic Church Attributes Archangel carrying the Portuguese Shield | ||
The Guardian Angel of Portugal (Portuguese: Anjo da Guarda de Portugal) is the emanation of Saint Michael the Archangel as the guardian angel of Portugal. He represents the spiritual essence of Portugal in the form of an archangel that protects the Portuguese Nation.
He is also referred simply as the Angel of Portugal (Anjo de Portugal), the Saint Guardian Angel of Portugal (Santo Anjo da Guarda de Portugal), the Custodian Angel (Anjo Custódio) or the Angel of Peace (Anjo da Paz).
In 1504, by request of King Manuel I of Portugal, Pope Julius II created the feast of the Custodian Angel of the Kingdom (Anjo Custódio do Reino), whose cult would already be ancient in Portugal. The request have been made to Pope Leon X and he authorized the realization of the feast in the third Sunday of July.
The first appearance of Saint Michael as the Guardian Angel of Portugal would have happened in the Battle of Ourique in 1139, given the victory to the Portuguese forces of Afonso Henriques over the Muslims, allowing him to proclaim himself as the first King of Portugal.
The devotion to the Guardian Angel of Portugal almost disappeared after the 17th century, but was restored in 1952, being inserted in the Portuguese Liturgical Calendar, by Pius XII, to commemorate the Day of Portugal at June 10.
Our Lady of Fátima, 1917
In her Memoirs, the Portuguese Carmelite nun Sister Lúcia tells that, between April and October, 1917, during the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima, an angel appeared three times to the three children, inviting them to the praying and penitence, affirming himself as the Angel of Portugal (or Angel of Peace). This angel would have taught, to the children, two prayers, that become known as the "Prayers of the Angel" and that are still very used specially in the Eucharist celebrations.