Guardian Angels?

[Dorothy]

I know guardian angels are real. If the man jumped it wouldn’t have changed my opinion in the least. Shrug. Free will is universal law. It has its consequences.
The hierarchy of the Church also exhibits free will, and in the last 10 years has also faced some major consequences, one of which is a great many people leaving who still have close friends and family within it and so drop by to visit.

Scandals there will always be…and they are everywhere. I am thankful for the gift of faith that enables me to remember that Jesus said He would be with us always, and that the gates of Hell would not prevail against the Church.

 

[Isaiah_41]

Well, I’m pretty sure that angels exist. But are there actually guardian angels? Does everyone have their own guardian angel?

I love my Guardian Angel! The often unrecognized advocate of our soul, like our dear Mother of God who always seeks our good and our defense. Once I was at a four way stop and was ready to go when a flash on the left corner of my eye made me stop. Just then a jeep was speeding down the hill and would have hit me. The next day I looked at that area thinking it was a metalic sign and there was just open field. I said thank you my sweet Guardian Angel.

 

[Dorothy]

I love my Guardian Angel! The often unrecognized advocate of our soul, like our dear Mother of God who always seeks our good and our defense. Once I was at a four way stop and was ready to go when a flash on the left corner of my eye made me stop. Just then a jeep was speeding down the hill and would have hit me. The next day I looked at that area thinking it was a metalic sign and there was just open field. I said thank you my sweet Guardian Angel.

Our guardian angels are so real…and they act in a manner which does not draw attention to themselves!

 

[karoleck]

Our guardian angels are so real…and they act in a manner which does not draw attention to themselves!

That is so true,Angels glorify The Lord!

I did have an unusual experience a few months back though—Every now and then,I pray to the Guardian Angel of a person. I went up unstairs to where three women were working in an office.I said a pray to each persons guardian angel;they were not aware of my being there as they had there backs away from me.Suddenly the lady in the middle,who was about thirty feet away gave out a loud mighty scream!!! As she did she turned around and faced me—everyone was surprised by the scream–I told them jockingly that I have that effect on all ladies(being a male).She then said that she screamed as she felt someone had touched her shoulder!! In fact I got a bigger shock than she did as I did not expect it!!
I am not claiming it was her Guardian Angel that touched her but I cannot help but wonder!!! Anyway since then I pray to my Guardian Angel more often and to other peoples personal angel.I priest I knew used to do this often on his missionary approach to people–this is where I got the advice from.I never told the" screaming lady" about my prayer–maybe one day I will.I do not know her very well as she is one of thousands I see or greet in my job (she is a very pretty lady I must say!)

As for** FORMER CATHOLIC**,there is no reason why you could not be a PRACTISING CATHOLIC again, if you turn to Christs’Mercy.He would welcome you with open arms.May your guardian angel rule and guide you to this end!

 

[Sierrah]

Well, I’m pretty sure that angels exist. But are there actually guardian angels? Does everyone have their own guardian angel?

Yes, yes and yes. I even named mine. Their mission is to direct you to GOD though. Your not supposed to pray to them only to God that he will send them too you for protection.

 

[Dorothy]

We are not supposed to worship angels, but we can ask them for help, which is what “pray” means.

We do have the Angel Guardian prayer, and prayer to St. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, and many more.
There are even litanies to those three archangels.

 

[former_Catholic]

I did have an unusual experience a few months back though—Every now and then,I pray to the Guardian Angel of a person…

An excellent point.
Once upon a time Norman Vincent Peale (Presbyterian) observed that if you walk down the street praying for all people you come across, asking God’s blessing upon them… the odds of them looking up or turning around and smiling in your direction are very high, particularly in the case of children.
It is a wonderful spiritual practice and experiment, and is in keeping with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
If an extremely dangerous person points a loaded gun in your direction, it can also apparently cause him to hesitate for one split second, and that can help him miss. At least that has been my own personal experience.

I try to keep my postings here within the confines of the official Catechism, but “Former Catholic” is my public disclaimer, as I respect the teachings of the church sufficiently not to believe in “cafeteria Catholicism” and am not a registered member of the Church, and as such must not be regarded as any public reflection of it.

The Catechism states that “all human life” is surrounded by angels and is in communion with them to the extent one shares in their continual adoration of God. Only a belief that the Vatican must be God, rather than merely serves God, would claim that official membership in the Catholic Church would be a requirement, which would of course be contrary to the first commandment and the Catechism itself, as might also be the request for any angel to “rule” over oneself, as such could be construed to be indeed the “worship” of an angel, rather than sharing in the angels’ continual adoration of God. It is a beloved and very old prayer though, and it’s a very nice rhyme and meter… and there’s probably just no other word that would fit there… sigh…
but other Christians do tend to make an issue out of it…
and technically they’ve got a pretty good case.

 

[karoleck]

The Catechism states that “all human life” is surrounded by angels and is in communion with them to the extent one shares in their continual adoration of God. Only a belief that the Vatican must be God, rather than merely serves God, would claim that official membership in the Catholic Church would be a requirement, which would of course be contrary to the first commandment and the Catechism itself, as might also be the request for any angel to “rule” over oneself, as such could be construed to be indeed the “worship” of an angel, rather than sharing in the angels’ continual adoration of God. It is a beloved and very old prayer though, and it’s a very nice rhyme and meter… and there’s probably just no other word that would fit there… sigh…
but other Christians do tend to make an issue out of it…
and technically they’ve got a pretty good case.

I have re-read this a couple of times and I cannot get a full handle on it.

The point about a **personal guardian angel **is that they always adore,praise, obey and serve God.Their main role is to help believers to know,love and serve God here on earth and to be happy with him forever.They may stay off harm to the body,if God Wills it.But their main role is to —

LIGHT(Show us how to follow Christ our Light),

GUIDE(guide us to follow Christ by keeping His commandments)

**Rule **( to obey Christ who is The Way,The Truth and The Life)

GUARD(to guard us from sin and to follow Christ and His Church,believing what It teaches through Scripture and Tradition,embracing The sacramental life)

So this prayer to ask our Personal Guardian Angel to “light and guard to rule and guide” is an accurate theological statement of the “role” of God’s messengers.(that is what an Angel is-a pure angelic spirit and -Gods’ messengers)–they said “we will OBEY”! satan and the fallen angels did not.That is why we should “listen” to our Guardian Angel handing on Gods’ message of salvationl!!!

Whatever other “christians” believe about angels,the above posting reflects the fullness of truth about them.

Jesus said “He who believes and is baptized will be saved ,he who does not believe will be condemned” Catholics are baptised in the Church founded on the Rock of St.Peter.

All you Angels and Saints,Oh Bless The Lord!!

 

[former_Catholic]

**Rule **( to obey Christ who is The Way,The Truth and The Life)

Exactly. It’s that formally asking an angel to “rule” doesn’t make it very clear that it isn’t the angel to whom one owes obedience and so creates the point of contention over the word “rule.”

 

[Verbum_Caro]

it isn’t the angel to whom one owes obedience

Why do you say that we do not owe obedience to our Guardian Angel?

Thanks,
VC

 

[pacoenelsaco]

My parents taught us a prayer to our guardian angels when we were very young and we prayed it every night for the majority of our lives. It wasn’t until recently that I truly began to treasure my guardian angel’s presence in my life and to truly appreciate him for always being there for me and protecting me

My father also told me that every guardian angel has a name. And he told me that if you talk to them/pray to them and ask them they’re name, they will tell you. It worked for my Dad like instantly. For me, it took a little longer. But eventually I had a dream one night where I was being attacked by Demons and then an Angel came to me and fought off the Demons. When I asked him who he was, he told me in Spanish “I am your Guardian Angel…My name is Purity”

 

[former_Catholic]

Why do you say that we do not owe obedience to our Guardian Angel?
Thanks,
VC

Why? Because all obedience is to God, all angels universally obey God’s law of free will
and they do not rule over (i.e. command/control) human beings (not even at their request),
and there are indeed entities that do seek and accept the power of commanding/controlling human beings and securing their obedience to themselves, but they are most certainly NOT angels.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Why? Because all obedience is to God, all angels universally obey God’s law of free will
and they do not rule over (i.e. command/control) human beings (not even at their request),
and there are indeed entities that do seek and accept the power of commanding/controlling human beings and securing their obedience to themselves, but they are most certainly NOT angels.

FC,

I’m not sure I follow. Do you mean to say that we don’t owe obedience to anyone besides God?

VC

 

[former_Catholic]

FC,
I’m not sure I follow. Do you mean to say that we don’t owe obedience to anyone besides God?
VC

Free will mandates that you may choose to serve and obey whomever you please. To the extent that you choose to serve and obey the will of God you will tend to align your behavior with the behavior of the angels, as that is what they are forever doing… serving and obeying the will of God.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Free will mandates that you may choose to serve and obey whomever you please. To the extent that you choose to serve and obey the will of God you will tend to align your behavior with the behavior of the angels, as that is what they are forever doing… serving and obeying the will of God.

FC,

Yes, but that would be a similarity between our behavior and the Angel’s behavior.

But what I am asking is about obeying – obeying Angels, or obeying others*. *Do you think we ought not obey anyone besides God?

VC

 

[former_Catholic]

FC,
Yes, but that would be a similarity between our behavior and the Angel’s behavior.
But what I am asking is about obeying – obeying Angels, or obeying others*. *Do you think we ought not obey anyone besides God?
VC

This thread is about guardian angels and people’s experiences with guardian angels. I’ve already shared my thoughts on the subject of obeying angels.
The general topic of obedience would require a separate thread.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

This thread is about guardian angels and people’s experiences with guardian angels. I’ve already shared my thoughts on the subject of obeying angels.
The general topic of obedience would require a separate thread.

Thanks FC.

I guess I’m just having trouble understanding the principle behind your assertion that we do not owe obedience to our Guardian Angels.

My mind turns to St. Joseph, of whom it was said: “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Matt. 1:24).

If we do indeed owe obedience to our guardian angel, based on the principle that we owe obedience to all those in lawful authority, and if our guardian angel is to be considered a lawful authority in that it was given charge to protect us, then I can see how asking our guardian angel “to rule” would then make sense.

I suppose it would be similar to young children asking their parents to rule them well, or praying for a lawful monarch to rule his nation well.

VC

 

[BrokenFortress]

Funny this thread should come up. Just on Friday I was driving and listening to Relevant Radio and the Father on there was talking about Guardian Angels.

Some people name their angels, but I believe and the Father on RR also stated that if you ask, you can eventually find out your angel’s true name.

I’ve always wanted to know mine’s name. But I wasn’t going to just name him for myself, I really wanted to know the true name. I had this great desire to know. So anyways, randomly I had the name Daniel come to me. Now, I know some people are skeptical of just feeling things, but I do know that at times God will reveal things to us through prayer. With this name, it just felt so right. I now know my angel’s name is Daniel. And it is so not a name I would have picked if I had just decided to name him.

Also, on Relevant Radio they were talking about whether all people had guardian angels or if only believers (Christians) did. From what the priest was saying, it seems like there isn’t a definite stance as to whether all people do or just believers.

The priest also said that it’s important to ask for help or intercession from our angels. They can’t read our minds. If we desire help in some regard we should ask them. Obviously they may be there in times of need like accidents and things, but I think his point was that if we have a specific want for help it’s important to ask.

 

[former_Catholic]

My mind turns to St. Joseph, of whom it was said: “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Matt. 1:24).

(Does anybody here happen to know what was the original word that was translated from the ancient Greek/Coptic to Latin(?) then to the English word as the word “command”?)
In any case:
In English, if I “command” you, I am clearly attempting to dominate your personal will and behavior with the force of my own.
In English, if you “obey” my “command” you are clearly surrendering your personal will to the controlling and domineering force of my own personal will, abrogating your own personal responsibility for your subsequent behavior and its consequences.
Both of the above are contrary to the doctrine of free will which is God’s universal law and also a primary teaching of Catholicism.

Angels offer opportunities and information, guidance, warnings; angels serve God. They do *not *violate God’s universal law of free will by subjecting people to their own force of will as the word “command” implies in the modern day. They will not do so even if they are asked to do so. They are not allowed to interfere with your free will nor its consequences.

Likwise the duty of parents is NEVER to control and dominate children, but to teach children how to responsibly conduct and control themselves in life

Likewise it is the duty of citizens NEVER to ask a monarch simply to “rule” over us… power corrupts and absolute power corrups absolutely! We abrogate our responsibilities to ourselves, our neighbors, and our children and their children if we as a society fail to address everyone’s needs, values, goals, ideals, and concerns in the society, as a society.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

In English, if I “command” you, I am clearly attempting to dominate your personal will and behavior with the force of my own.
In English, if you “obey” my “command” you are clearly surrendering your personal will to the controlling and domineering force of my own personal will, abrogating your own personal responsibility for your subsequent behavior and its consequences.

Hi FC,

I’m not sure that would be the Catholic view of things. As free creatures we have the ability and right to subjugate our will to another through obedience. When this is done to a lawful authority (parents, guardians, the state, the monarch, etc) who act lawfully and who do not command anything contrary to God’s law, then it is noble, just, and good. In fact, it is our duty to obey the lawful commands of those who have authority over us.

I suspect that “rule” is used in this sense in the Guardian Angel prayer. A monarch is called a ruler who rules and his subjects and this doesn’t necessarily have to offend our sensibilities. I would suggest that asking a guardian angel to “rule” us is, however, less about his authority and more about our willingness to follow his direction.

FC, I don’t take issue with however you wish to view the word “rule” in this prayer. But I suggest that it need not only be understood in the way you mentioned, but can be understood lawfully and profitably as intending to obey our good angel’s good directions. I can be convinced otherwise, however.

Thanks,
VC