Do angels suffer?

[KyleOfOrigen]

Hi. I’m new here. I have been studying stigmata recently (and praying for spiritual stigmata, 2 Corinthians 4:10) and something has come up that has bothered me and I am now confused.

Everything I have read from Padre Pio is that angels can’t/don’t suffer (aside from fallen angels in Hell) - and that they are jealous of us for one thing: they can’t offer up suffering to God.

When I was reading about the first time St. Francis of Assisi received his stigmata- he had a vision of an angel crucified to a cross. I thought I might have been reading it wrong so I googled other catholic accounts and they all mention the angel (seraphim) crucified to a cross- and then his hands started bleeding. I was hoping at least one version said it could have been a metaphor for Jesus but they didn’t. This seems like blasphemy to me.

What am I reading wrong/ missing in these accounts of St. Francis’ stigmata?

 

[ClearWater]

Hi. I’m new here. I have been studying stigmata recently (and praying for spiritual stigmata, 2 Corinthians 4:10) and something has come up that has bothered me and I am now confused.

Everything I have read from Padre Pio is that angels can’t/don’t suffer (aside from fallen angels in Hell) - and that they are jealous of us for one thing: they can’t offer up suffering to God.

When I was reading about the first time St. Francis of Assisi received his stigmata- he had a vision of an angel crucified to a cross. I thought I might have been reading it wrong so I googled other catholic accounts and they all mention the angel (seraphim) crucified to a cross- and then his hands started bleeding. I was hoping at least one version said it could have been a metaphor for Jesus but they didn’t. This seems like blasphemy to me.

What am I reading wrong/ missing in these accounts of St. Francis’ stigmata?

 

[KyleOfOrigen]

Again- I am new here. You posted a smiley face eating popcorn? I hope that doesn’t mean I said something offensive!!! But… now I want popcorn!

P.S. Please do not post smiley faces eating ice-cream. If I keep asking questions you will make me fat.

 

[Robertanthony]

Tienes popcorn para mi tambièn?

 

[Amandil]

Again- I am new here. You posted a smiley face eating popcorn? I hope that doesn’t mean I said something offensive!!! But… now I want popcorn!

P.S. Please do not post smiley faces eating ice-cream. If I keep asking questions you will make me fat.

No. It means that he’s in the popcorn gallery. He’s content to be an observer because he’s as interested in the question as you are.

As am I.

 

[ClearWater]

Again- I am new here. You posted a smiley face eating popcorn? I hope that doesn’t mean I said something offensive!!! But… now I want popcorn!

P.S. Please do not post smiley faces eating ice-cream. If I keep asking questions you will make me fat.

We do that on the forum. We put that sign when we don’t have an answer to the question, are interested, standing by. No offense meant.

They don’t have ice cream on the forum but cake, coffee, and popcorn.

 

[ClearWater]

Tienes popcorn para mi tambièn?

Sí. Aquí está.

 

[Dorothy]

Hi. I’m new here. I have been studying stigmata recently (and praying for spiritual stigmata, 2 Corinthians 4:10) and something has come up that has bothered me and I am now confused.

Everything I have read from Padre Pio is that angels can’t/don’t suffer (aside from fallen angels in Hell) - and that they are jealous of us for one thing: they can’t offer up suffering to God.

When I was reading about the first time St. Francis of Assisi received his stigmata- he had a vision of an angel crucified to a cross. I thought I might have been reading it wrong so I googled other catholic accounts and they all mention the angel (seraphim) crucified to a cross- and then his hands started bleeding. I was hoping at least one version said it could have been a metaphor for Jesus but they didn’t. This seems like blasphemy to me.

What am I reading wrong/ missing in these accounts of St. Francis’ stigmata?

St. Francis of Assisi had a vision of a seraph crucified to a cross. The vision bled.

That is the way the Lord chose for St. Francis to receive the stigmata…seeing that vision.,

That doesn’t mean that the seraph was feeling pain.

 

[ClearWater]

Hi. I’m new here. I have been studying stigmata recently (and praying for spiritual stigmata, 2 Corinthians 4:10) and something has come up that has bothered me and I am now confused.

Everything I have read from Padre Pio is that angels can’t/don’t suffer (aside from fallen angels in Hell) - and that they are jealous of us for one thing: they can’t offer up suffering to God.

When I was reading about the first time St. Francis of Assisi received his stigmata- he had a vision of an angel crucified to a cross. I thought I might have been reading it wrong so I googled other catholic accounts and they all mention the angel (seraphim) crucified to a cross- and then his hands started bleeding. I was hoping at least one version said it could have been a metaphor for Jesus but they didn’t. This seems like blasphemy to me.

What am I reading wrong/ missing in these accounts of St. Francis’ stigmata?

I don’t know.

 

[chimo]

Hi. I’m new here. I have been studying stigmata recently (and praying for spiritual stigmata, 2 Corinthians 4:10) and something has come up that has bothered me and I am now confused.

Everything I have read from Padre Pio is that angels can’t/don’t suffer (aside from fallen angels in Hell) - and that they are jealous of us for one thing: they can’t offer up suffering to God.

When I was reading about the first time St. Francis of Assisi received his stigmata- he had a vision of an angel crucified to a cross. I thought I might have been reading it wrong so I googled other catholic accounts and they all mention the angel (seraphim) crucified to a cross- and then his hands started bleeding. I was hoping at least one version said it could have been a metaphor for Jesus but they didn’t. This seems like blasphemy to me.

What am I reading wrong/ missing in these accounts of St. Francis’ stigmata?

Angels cannot suffer. The Lord had not given this grace to angels so that they would not have this all over us. An angel must understand the concept of suffering intellectually but they cannot experience it. It is beyond them. If you were in hospital and suffering terrible no angel would be a comfort to understand what you are going through. The grace of suffering is a gift God has given only to men and women and to Himself.

 

[GaryTaylor]

They can’t suffer physically anyway since they are spirit.

 

[Pilsen]

Angels cannot suffer. The Lord had not given this grace to angels so that they would not have this all over us. An angel must understand the concept of suffering intellectually but they cannot experience it. It is beyond them. If you were in hospital and suffering terrible no angel would be a comfort to understand what you are going through. The grace of suffering is a gift God has given only to men and women and to Himself.

I found this extract from Sister Mary Jesus Agreda’s Mystical City of God on St Joseph’s death:

“and, for nine days and nights before the death of saint Joseph he uninterruptedly enjoyed the company and attendance of Mary or her divine Son. By command of the Lord the holy angels, three times on each of the nine days, furnished celestial music, mixing their hymns of praise with the benedictions of the sick man. Moreover, their humble but most precious dwelling was filled with the sweetest fragrance and odors so wonderful that they comforted not only saint Joseph, but invigorated all the numerous persons who happened to come near the house.”

 

[chimo]

I found this extract from Sister Mary Jesus Agreda’s Mystical City of God on St Joseph’s death:

“and, for nine days and nights before the death of saint Joseph he uninterruptedly enjoyed the company and attendance of Mary or her divine Son. By command of the Lord the holy angels, three times on each of the nine days, furnished celestial music, mixing their hymns of praise with the benedictions of the sick man. Moreover, their humble but most precious dwelling was filled with the sweetest fragrance and odors so wonderful that they comforted not only saint Joseph, but invigorated all the numerous persons who happened to come near the house.”

I was referring to emotional comfort when you need someone to understand you while you are going through some suffering. I am sure angels can be of some comfort in some way as did the angel that came to Jesus during His agony. When for instance you are suffering through depression or some sort of mental disability another person who goes through what you are going through would be a great comfort especially as this someone understands more the suffering you both share. Thanks for offering this testimony of St. Joseph. I am sure we all need to be strengthen at our last moments and the holy angels are equipped do give us that added strength.