"Guardian" Angels: Raging Sociopaths?

A kindly nun, who for unfathomable reasons reads this blog but has not disowned me as a niece (yet), informed me that yesterday was the Feast of the Guardian Angels, and perhaps doing something with an angelic theme would be nice.  I agreed that this would be a good post topic, and proceeded to look up some pictures with guardian angels. 

As I looked, I noticed a disturbing theme.

All of them seem to be trying to murder their charges.

Bernard Plockhorst: The Guardian Angel (Source)

The angel silently approaches behind the two children, who are playing by a cliff edge, because that is the best place to play.  Her arms are outstretched, clearly ready to shove them off the edge.  To be fair, the one on the right looks like he's about to dive off the cliff after that butterfly, making the deed of the angel look even more like an accident.

In case you suppose this is a one-off disgruntled angel, going off the deep end due to angel-stress, think again.

Fridolin Leiber: The Guardian Angel (Source)

Once again there are two children by a cliff edge, one picking flowers and one going to his doom for a butterfly.  Once again the angel is about to push Dick and Jane into their first cliff-diving experience.  I guess times were tough so heaven could only afford to assign one angel per two children.  Shortages were particularly rampant in regions where 90% of the landmass was cliff-edges.



They don't only scheme cliff "accidents," either.

Unknown: The Guardian Angel (Source)

Here the plot is clearly to push the two children into the raging rapids.  That little girl trying to protect her brother doesn't stand a chance.


Now I know what you're thinking.  The angel is there because the wee darlings are in a dangerous situation, ready to pluck them away from the jaws of misfortune.  Well then, Mister or Miss Smarty-Reader, why isn't the angel in front of the children, to gently nudge them away from the edge?  As it is, the best they can do is yank the kids back by the hair, causing them severe trauma and possibly a near-death experience.

Pietro da Cortona: The Guardian Angel (Source)

Speaking of which, this painting seems to skip the whole "guardian" bit altogether.  I can only assume this child has passed on, perhaps from playing by a cliff edge while the angel was on coffee break, so now it is trying to guide the rather confused boy to the afterlife.  It certainly makes the surrounding area out to be a pretty bleak place.  Also, what on earth is going on in the background there?

It looks like another angel is being attacked from behind by some sort of black demonic creature.  Maybe this scene is actually depicting the end times, where the land is dark and full of evil, overrun by demons, and so this angel is helping its young charge leave behind this cesspool for a better place.  Helping!

In conclusion, happy belated Feast of the Guardian Angels!  Also, my apologies to Sister Sue for perhaps taking her idea in an unintended direction.