An angel protects the child. They guide children throughout their lives. They help children pray to God, and present the child's soul at death.
The belief in angels who watch over humans originates from the concept that God sends an angel to watch over every person. With Jesus's words come Matthew 18:10, this is best supported by his quote: "Don't feel contempt for one of these little ones. I assure you that their guardian angels are always before my Father in Heaven".
Saint Bernard was one of the most influential spokesman for angelic devotion.
In 1615, Pope Paul V added the Feast of the Guardian Angels to the Roman calendar.