Guardian Angel Night Prayer

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harshcshah

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There is a form of the Guardian Angel prayer to be said at night that goes thus:
Goodnight my Guardian Angel, the day has sped away. Well spent or ill, its story is written down for aye. And now of God’s kind Providence, thou image pure and bright, watch over me while I’m sleeping; my Guardian Dear, goodnight.
What does it mean when it calls the Guardian Angel “image pure and bright”?
 
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My new congregation uses this prayer at night before offering the Pure Heartbeats of Sleep.

I will describe “image pure and bright”. Once, when hubby was on travel status, I had prayed this prayer. Sometime during the night, I opened my eyes, and saw a small ball of purest white next to my head.

St Joan of Arc once described the angels as “points of light”. In more modern times, an African American pastor prayed for God’s protection. He caught on video two white balls of white descending slowly towards his building.

Hope this helps.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters, O.P.
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
 
As @Dan_Defender replied- guardian angels are pure spirit. Bright, simply refers to them being bright, white … light or spirit. I think some who claim to have seen their guardian angel describe them as a very, very large white, bright light.
 
However I do share the quibble that an image of a thing cannot be the thing itself.

So the above does not answer the OP’s question.

Of what is the angel supposed to be an image?

Certainly not of God, because St Michael asked “Who is like God?”
 
Oh I see.

I didn’t read it like that. I read it “Of God’s kind providence, watch over me” as in “Of your charity, pray for me.”

But I think you must be right.
 
I think it’s because there’s a line of thought that angels, as personal beings with will and intellect, are also created in the image of God, although—correct me if I’m wrong—I think this is not explicitly taught by the Magisterium, but is rather a conclusion drawn from evidence. In the Old Testament, when angels appeared before men, the visionaries, e.g. Manoah, father of Samson, said they had seen the LORD and feared death.
 
I think it’s wrong to say that angels are created in the Image of God because they don’t have dominion over creation to rule it in God’s name like humans do despite possessing a will and an intellect like humans. I could be wrong.
 
harshcshah said:
I think it’s wrong to say that angels are created in the Image of God because they don’t have dominion over creation to rule it in God’s name like humans do despite possessing a will and an intellect like humans. I could be wrong.
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I have sometimes wondered whether angels are THEMSELVES the principles; the expression of God’s thought and will by which the universe operates. To the extent, then, that men interact with it and they with each other, it’s a harmony; the “music of the spheres” so to speak; the singing of the heavenly choir.
 
It’s my understanding that the Catholic and broader Christian position is that angels are not merely God’s expression of his will and thought but actual created spirits with wills and intellects - secondary causes - through whom God operates. I think a more natural reading of the Bible would support this view.
 
harshcshah said:
What does it mean when it calls the Guardian Angel “image pure and bright”?
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There is an archaic or obsolete meaning of the word “image” that might apply, namely, “apparition.” (source, noun, definition 14 and British definition 12)
 
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