guardian angel

In religious contexts, a guardian angel is a benevolent being, typically an angel, believed to have special care over a particular individual. These angels are seen as extensions of divine will, assisting humans in their spiritual lives, guiding them toward salvation, and sometimes intervening in human affairs by rewarding the faithful or protecting the weak. The concept of guardian angels is prominent in popular piety within Roman Catholicism.12

Beyond religious belief, the term "guardian angel" is also used metaphorically to describe a person who provides help or protection to others. For example, the Guardian Angels are a nonprofit volunteer organization founded in New York City in 1979 to deter crime by patrolling streets and subways.13