Guardian Angels

[OnceUponATime]

What is the name of the angel who guards the gates of Hell? Is it written in the Bible and I just missed it? How many other angel’s names have been recorded and does any one know where a reliable source to find them is? Thanks in advance.

 

[SemperJase]

OnceUponATime:

What is the name of the angel who guards the gates of Hell? Is it written in the Bible and I just missed it? How many other angel’s names have been recorded and does any one know where a reliable source to find them is? Thanks in advance.

The only two that I know are named in the Bible are Michael and Gabriel.

Oh, and Lucifer the fallen angel.

As an aside, C.S. Lewis pointed out that since Lucifer was an angel he is not the opposite of God, but rather is the opposite of Michael. It makes me wonder about how Michael and Lucifer related to each other before the fall. They must have known each other well. At one time, they weren’t enemies. The demons were at one time friends of the angels. Anyway, I’m rambling now.

 

[OnceUponATime]

Don’t apologize for your rambling! Please, ramble more…I’m trying to learn as much as I can!

 

[Nicene]

The only two that I know are named in the Bible are Michael and Gabriel.

Also Raphael in Tobit. (his name means “God has healed”)

Peace and God Bless
Nicene

 

[BJRumph]

So far from what I have learned, the only angels named in the scripture are Michael (see Revelation, also present in the OT); Gabriel (See Gospels, the angel who delivered the messages regarding Jesus and John); and Raphael (on the Book of Tobit). Yes, technically, Lucifer is another named “angel”, but since he has always been, in our human experience, a fallen angel, he is not generally (never that I have seen in “official” documentation) recognized on the list of named Angels.

Raphael mentions there are seven angels who stand in the presence of God, and that he is one of these; and it is presumed that Michael and Gabriel is part of this group as well, though I do not know the source at the moment of this assumption; but presumably that would mean that there are at least a few more with recognizable names. Personal experiences of people here in these forums have mentioned that they either were given, or gave, their “guardian angels” individual names, though I am not clear as to the doctrinal standing of that particular subject.

the Opus Sanctorum Angelorum (www.opusangelorum.org) publishes a few small books on the subject of angels, such as the “Catechism on the Angels”, which give reference to scripture and Catholic documents regarding Angels. Also, see the CCC paragraphs 328 through 336.

 

[RPConover]

Ummmmmm Cerebus the three-headed dog guarded the gates of Hades… but that’s Greek mythology

 

[puzzleannie]

in the apocryphal Hebrew scriptures someplace is the name of Uriel as the guardian angel that guarded the gates of paradise when Adam and Eve were driven out. Is that one you are referring to?

 

[SemperJase]

Nicene:

Also Raphael in Tobit. (his name means “God has healed”)

Raphael. OK, my excuse for not knowing that is that I grew up in evangelical churches that have taken Tobit out of their Bibles. Still haven’t read that book in the year since my confirmation.

Counting down to my second Lent btw.

 

[franksv]

The thing that I have wondered about angels is:They are also Gods creation,not Gods.Sooo,how does a mere angel(satan) have so much power,to cause so much trouble?And if he is that strong,are the other angels equal to him?The other thing I don’t understand is how could a being that actually knew God,fall from grace.I mean our relationship with God is really one of faith where as the angels have walked with him,maybe even seen him(like Thomas who stuck his fingers in Jesus’s hands).satan must be kinda dumb to think he can win,has he not read Revelations.What if satan and the angels that fell threw themselves on their knees and begged forgivness in front of God?Sorry,just the ramblings of a baby Catholic here.I sometimes think that we are not meant to know all the mysterys and I can except that.

Frank

 

[axolotl]

SemperJase:

Raphael. OK, my excuse for not knowing that is that I grew up in evangelical churches that have taken Tobit out of their Bibles. Still haven’t read that book in the year since my confirmation.

Go ahead and read it. It won’t take that long, and it’s a nice narrative. Not boring at all, unlike some books.

 

[fusilierlx]

franksv:

The thing that I have wondered about angels is:They are also Gods creation,not Gods.Sooo,how does a mere angel(satan) have so much power,to cause so much trouble?And if he is that strong,are the other angels equal to him?The other thing I don’t understand is how could a being that actually knew God,fall from grace.I mean our relationship with God is really one of faith where as the angels have walked with him,maybe even seen him(like Thomas who stuck his fingers in Jesus’s hands).satan must be kinda dumb to think he can win,has he not read Revelations.What if satan and the angels that fell threw themselves on their knees and begged forgivness in front of God?Sorry,just the ramblings of a baby Catholic here.I sometimes think that we are not meant to know all the mysterys and I can except that.

Frank

Lucifer [aka Satan] has whatever power God allows for God’s own reasons. I don’t believe the idea of relative strength is meaningful when considering created spirits of incomprehensible intelligence. It’s not as if Michael and Lucifer could duke it out or compete in Cosmic Jeopardy. Their power is ultimately in their relationship to God.

Angels have free will just as humans do; their allegiance to God would be meaningless if they could not choose otherwise. Tradition has it that the “fallen” angels rebelled because they balked at the Incarnation-- having to bow down before a man [Jesus] and a woman [Mary.]

According to Bishop Sheen, fallen angels are irredeemable because they know all the ramifications of their actions unto eternity and therefore their choices are irrevocable.

I am a rank amateur and stand ready to be corrected.

JSA

 

[SemperJase]

franksv:

They are also Gods creation,not Gods.Sooo,how does a mere angel(satan) have so much power,to cause so much trouble?And if he is that strong,are the other angels equal to him?

IIRC, Lucifer was the highest of angels before the fall. And there aren’t “mere” angels. They are creatues of power. Keep in mind that just about everytime an angel appears, his first words are “do not be afraid”.

Ezekiel talks about Satan:

EZEKIEL 28:12 "Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “'You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. 18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries . . .”

Satan was in the Garden of Eden. Apparently he had not yet fallen. I have heard it said the reason he fell was pride. Man was not as powerful as the angels. Yet God put man in charge of creation instead of his more the more powerful angels.

There is also a story in the Bible where an angel appears and says he would have been there sooner but he had to struggle to get through. Basically he had to fight with demons to complete the work God gave him. I can’t remember who he appeared to at the moment.

What if satan and the angels that fell threw themselves on their knees and begged forgivness in front of God?

They have made their choice. It is too late and from the Biblical description, they are fighting to win and not interested in forgiveness.