Guardian Angels

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I apologize in advance if this is a repeat thread or is in the wrong place. =/

As a Catholic, I’ve always been interested in angels. When I was younger, I thought they were beautiful, and my awe of them did not dwindle as I grew older. One fateful day as I cleaned the basement bookshelves off for my mom, I found an old book of hers entitled, “All About the Angels” (by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, O.P.), and immediately set it aside to read when I was finished cleaning. It’s a short, easy read – something I finished in an hour or so – that I found to be very enlightening. I found out a lot of things about angels from this book, but was wondering how accurate it is. Supposedly it was written in accordance with Catholic teaching, but I can’t know that for sure unless I know traditional Catholic teaching with which to compare it to.

More or less, I’m wondering what Catholicism teaches about Guardian Angels. Some specific questions I have are…

Does each individual have their own guardian angel?
Can an individual have more than one?
Is it possible to know your angel’s name?
Are angels reassigned to new people once their current “assignment” dies?
I’m assuming that Archangels (such as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael) are not assigned to be Guardian Angels, but I’ll ask anyway: Can an individual have an Archangel as their Guardian Angel?

And finally, if anyone has any encounters/experiences regarding Angels (whether specifically your Guardian Angel or not), please share. I love hearing about these kinds of things. c:
 
You might enjoy THE HOLY ANGELS by the late Mother Alexandra, founding Abbess of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA.

It was inspired by a vision she had of her own guardian angel when she was a child.

One of the chapters examines the doctrine of angels in the various liturgies, including the Roman rite.
 
I recently bought a book called The Catholic Teaching on the Angels by Fr. Pascal P. Parente. I havent gotten around to finishing it yet but theres three or four chapters about Guardian Angels and just about anything else you would like to know. It might be a book you’d be interesting in checking out. I bought mine from amazon.com
 
Every single created soul has it’s own Guradian Angel. You only get one and we are discourged from naming them, but can address them as “Our Dear Guardian”, or some other title. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphel already have jobs, so they aren’t guardian angels. You also might like to read, “Under Angel Wings” by Sister Maria Antonia. I ordered it from Tan Books.:angel1:
 
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions, everyone. I’ll have to check those books out sometime. c:
Catholic1954 said:
You only get one and we are discourged from naming them, but can address them as “Our Dear Guardian”, or some other title.
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I understand why it would be discouraged to give them a name. However, I was under the impression that each angel has a God-given name. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, for instance, are angels in the Bible who have names. I assume those are the names God calls them and not names that the human authors came up with?

In that case, wouldn’t it be okay to call your angel by a name if God reveals your angel’s name to you, either through prayer or other means?

Just curious.
 
Blufle said:
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions, everyone. I’ll have to check those books out sometime. c:

I understand why it would be discouraged to give them a name. However, I was under the impression that each angel has a God-given name. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, for instance, are angels in the Bible who have names. I assume those are the names God calls them and not names that the human authors came up with?

In that case, wouldn’t it be okay to call your angel by a name if God reveals your angel’s name to you, either through prayer or other means?

Just curious.
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I gave my Guardian Angel a “nick name” . I like the traditional prayers to our Guardian Angels and try to make good use of them. But for those times when I speak to my Guardian Angel without using those traditional prayers (especially if I’m in a bind at that particular moment), I find the nick name ( as opposed to always using the title " my Guardian Angel") much more effective at promoting intimacy.

However the first thing I acknowledge is that it is only a nick name (and this - an acronym based on the qualities of a Guardian Angel ) I figure, if I make it to heaven, then I’ll know the name God gave him. For now, it’s more important for me to focus on my relationship with him.

Cardinal John Henry Newman, in one of his poems on angels, refers to his own Guardian Angel as the " Brother of his soul." …

[From St. Michael And The Angels; Tan Books] :

**My oldest friend, mine from the hour
When I first drew my breath;
My faithful friend, that shall be mine,
Unfailing till my death.

Thou hast been ever at my side;
My Maker to thy trust
Consigned my soul, what time he framed
The infant child of dust.

Thou wast my sponsor at the font;
And thou, each budding year,
Didst whisper elements of truth
Into my childish ear.

And thou wilt linger round my bed,
When life is ebbing low;
Of doubt, impatience and of gloom,
The jealous sleepless foe.

Mine when I stand before the Judge;
And mine, if spared to stay
Within the golden furnace till
My sin is burned away.

And mine, O Brother of my soul,
When my release shall come;
Thy gentle arms shall lift me then,
Thy wings shall waft me home.**

🙂
 
Does each individual have their own guardian angel? Yes.
Can an individual have more than one? **No. **
Is it possible to know your angel’s name? If God permits you to know it.
Are angels reassigned to new people once their current “assignment” dies? No, they join the person in Heaven; if the person goes to Hell, then the angel goes to Heaven without them.
I’m assuming that Archangels (such as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael) are not assigned to be Guardian Angels, but I’ll ask anyway: Can an individual have an Archangel as their Guardian Angel? The archangels guard the whole Church, while individual angels guard indivdual people. However, because archangels guard the Church, they may, with God’s permission, guard individual people - for example, when people ask for Michael’s intercession.
 
Blufle said:
I apologize in advance if this is a repeat thread or is in the wrong place. =/

As a Catholic, I’ve always been interested in angels. When I was younger, I thought they were beautiful, and my awe of them did not dwindle as I grew older. One fateful day as I cleaned the basement bookshelves off for my mom, I found an old book of hers entitled, “All About the Angels” (by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, O.P.), and immediately set it aside to read when I was finished cleaning. It’s a short, easy read – something I finished in an hour or so – that I found to be very enlightening. I found out a lot of things about angels from this book, but was wondering how accurate it is. Supposedly it was written in accordance with Catholic teaching, but I can’t know that for sure unless I know traditional Catholic teaching with which to compare it to.

More or less, I’m wondering what Catholicism teaches about Guardian Angels. Some specific questions I have are…

Does each individual have their own guardian angel?
Can an individual have more than one?
Is it possible to know your angel’s name?
Are angels reassigned to new people once their current “assignment” dies?
I’m assuming that Archangels (such as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael) are not assigned to be Guardian Angels, but I’ll ask anyway: Can an individual have an Archangel as their Guardian Angel?

And finally, if anyone has any encounters/experiences regarding Angels (whether specifically your Guardian Angel or not), please share. I love hearing about these kinds of things. c:
Click to expand...
The Church teaching on angels:

THE ANGELS

The existence of angels - a truth of faith

CCC 328 The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.

Who are they?

CCC 329 St. Augustine says: “‘Angel’ is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ‘angel’: from what they are, ‘spirit’, from what they do, ‘angel.’” With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they “always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” they are the “mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word”.

CCC 330 As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness.

Christ “with all his angels”

CCC 331 Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are his angels: "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him. . " They belong to him because they were created through and for him: “for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.” They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?”

CCC 332 Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan: they closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples. Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.

CCC 333 From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God "brings the firstborn into the world, he says: ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’"Their song of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church’s praise: “Glory to God in the highest!” They protect Jesus in his infancy, serve him in the desert, strengthen him in his agony in the garden, when he could have been saved by them from the hands of his enemies as Israel had been. Again, it is the angels who “evangelize” by proclaiming the Good News of Christ’s Incarnation and Resurrection.They will be present at Christ’s return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgment.

The angels in the life of the Church

CCC 334 In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels.

CCC 335 In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the funeral liturgy’s In Paradisum deducant te angeli. . .“May the angels lead you into Paradise. . .”]). Moreover, in the “Cherubic Hymn” of the Byzantine Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).

CCC 336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.
 
Blufle said:
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions, everyone. I’ll have to check those books out sometime. c:

I understand why it would be discouraged to give them a name. However, I was under the impression that each angel has a God-given name. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, for instance, are angels in the Bible who have names. I assume those are the names God calls them and not names that the human authors came up with?

In that case, wouldn’t it be okay to call your angel by a name if God reveals your angel’s name to you, either through prayer or other means?

Just curious.
Click to expand...
We can be sure of the names of those angels named by God; we can’t, however, be sure that a name that we wish to bestow on our own dear guardian is the one given by God.

You might enjoy reading about St. Frances of Rome who was graced with great friendship with her Guardian Angel - whom she never dared to name, btw. 🙂

saints.sqpn.com/stf10002.htm
 
Every single created soul has it’s own Guradian Angel. You only get one and we are discourged from naming them, but can address them as “Our Dear Guardian”,
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Monks get another guardian angel at profession.
 
I came to find out my angel’s name . I simply asked , and I heard a voice within myself say Vincent. I was shocked at first, like wow, did that really happen.?? Then I felt compelled to read something spiritual , I picked up a booklet and looked to see who had wrote it and discovered that was written by St Vincent Press.

I took this to mean for certain my angel is named Vincent.
 
I should Add that My Wife who I married Later…about a year or so after this discovery , her middle name is Victor as she has her fathers first name as her middle name, Her mothers Name Victoria, and her best friend Victoria.
 
From the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, Principles and Guidelines on the Vatican website.
  1. Popular devotion to the Holy Angels, which is legitimate and good, can, however, also give rise to possible deviations:
    when, as sometimes can happen, the faithful are taken by the idea that the world is subject to demiurgical struggles, or an incessant battle between good and evil spirits, or Angels and daemons, in which man is left at the mercy of superior forces and over which he is helpless; such cosmologies bear little relation to the true Gospel vision of the struggle to overcome the Devil, which requires moral commitment, a fundamental option for the Gospel, humility and prayer; when the daily events of life, which have nothing or little to do with our progressive maturing on the journey towards Christ are read schematically or simplistically, indeed childishly, so as to ascribe all setbacks to the Devil and all success to the Guardian Angels. **The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained in Holy Scripture. **
Click to expand...
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20020513_vers-direttorio_en.html
 
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