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endaman
Guest
What do I say to my four year old when she asks me why cant she see her guardian angel?
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phil19034
Guest
I’m not sure. I haven’t had to explain this yet. They are too tiny to see? Or maybe say they are invisible like ghosts? I don’t know what will scare your daughter or not. Perhaps the “too tiny to see”?
This is a good question… I will be watching for better answers
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kyrieliberame7
Guest
They’re watching over us in Heaven?
I’m not well versed in teaching on angels so I would consult a cleric to ensure you aren’t saying something that is theologically out of whack.
I’m not well versed in teaching on angels so I would consult a cleric to ensure you aren’t saying something that is theologically out of whack.
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pensmama87
Guest
Not quite the same, but my 3yo has asked me a couple of times what God looks like, and where He is. I have responded by saying that God is everywhere, even if we can’t see Him. That has seemed satisfactory to him, and if it occurs to him to apply that to his guardian angel I might suggest the same - “We can’t see angels, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.”
I know the practice of naming one’s guardian angel is discouraged, but you might encourage your daughter to imagine what her guardian angel looks like, or to look at paintings or other renderings of them, saying that while they don’t look like that “in real life,” they really do these helpful things for others.
I know the practice of naming one’s guardian angel is discouraged, but you might encourage your daughter to imagine what her guardian angel looks like, or to look at paintings or other renderings of them, saying that while they don’t look like that “in real life,” they really do these helpful things for others.
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JimG
Guest
Tell her the simple truth. Angels are pure spirit. They have no bodies. They have minds but not bodies, so we cannot see them. But they are real.
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Dorothy
Guest
Yes!
And I would like to share that when I was a CCD teacher of fourth graders I asked them if they wanted to see a picture of an angel. Of course, they said yes, and I then showed them a blank piece of white paper.
I explained what Jim said, above, and I also told them that when angels are permitted by God to appear to someone, they can “put on a body”.
Artists have depicted them with wings, because they can go from one place to another quickly…even faster than a bird of course! Artists have also depicted angels as tiny babies because of their innocence…but they are mighty and have an intelligence far greater than ours.
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MaryT777
Guest
This worked explanation well for me when my children were young.
Mary.
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pianistclare
Guest
Exactly was I going to say.
Angels by definition are pure, non-corporal spiritual beings of great intelligence and free will."
We can’t see God either, but we know He is there.
God bless.
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pianistclare
Guest
Our guardian angels can go to heaven in an instant if they wish, but there are HERE, beside us. Every day, every moment, interceding and protecting us.
They will go to heaven with us when we die.
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Catholic_nicole
Guest
I agree, but I was wondering how Angels have wings if they don’t have a body? (Exodus 25:20)
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pianistclare
Guest
Wings are mentioned in regard to the Seraphim, because they adore God at His throne, and in submission have their heads bowed, faces hidden (with wings) wings covering their body, and wings above. this is most likely due to teaching that in order to be directly in front of God the Father, one would want to/need to display extreme humility. Wings may actually be a construct for us to understand this. They likely do not have wings at all. Every time they are mentioned in scripture they are described a bright white, “shining” men. Because angels travel through space and time, people have come up with this notion that they must then, logically, have wings. Very few documents regarding angels describe wings. It’s kind of like assuming that the cherubim are chubby little baby angels. Because that’s the way artists depict them.
There are many wonderful articles on the Theology of Angels in the EWTN online library. Check them out.
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Dorothy
Guest
I asked a retreat master about that several years ago, and he told us that the wings described in scripture is a depiction of the powers that particular angels have. I am paraphrasing as I do not remember his exact words.
I don’t have the chapter and verse of where the scripture is right now, but it may have been Isaiah, where an angel is described as having two wings covering certain portions of their “body”. There were six wings in all described.
That is why I asked the question.
A fascinating book to read about angels is: “Angels and Demons” by Peter Kreeft. He is Catholic and draws on the bible, traditional Church teaching, and Doctor of the Church St. Thomas Acquinas for his information. He is a philosophy professor at Boston College, and a well-known author.
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endaman
Guest
This seems like a really great and true way to explain. I just have to explain what a pure spirit is next. Thanks for all these great replies, much appreciated, God Bless all.
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Catholic_nicole
Guest
Interesting! Thank you for your answer. On EWTN, is that the audio archive or is it just in text?
I also have another question since we are on the topic of angels. I wanted to know if it is possible for your guardian angel to come to you in a dream. My mother had a very interesting occurance of what she thought was her guardian angel in her dream, telling her it “was going to be okay”. Then the next day she found out her brother had past. When she told me that I was in awe… a part of me wants to believe it was her guardian angel… what do you think?
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pianistclare
Guest
Likely it was. I had a dream about my deceased Father the same way. The Hispanic population (from Spain and other places) believe that someone comes to you when they pass to bring you peace if your grieving terribly.
It’s the text Library.
Whomever it was, it was a blessing. Our Lady talks about “signal graces”. Maybe it was on of those.
God bless!
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