M
Mini_gerbel
Guest
is this okay if i call mine Example “bob” or something. im pretty sure its not okay.
- Status
L
LDNCatholic
Guest
I’m not sure. Might be a bit disrespectful but as I’m not an expert in Guardian Angels.
W
WanderAimlessly
Guest
I believe naming your Guardian Angel is not a good thing. If they want to reveal it to you, they will.
B
beckycmarie
Guest
Bro. Ignatius Mary over on saint-mike.com advises against it. See this thread over on his spiritual warfare forum:
saint-mike.org/spcdc/bbs/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=158
Basically he gives two main reasons why:
saint-mike.org/spcdc/bbs/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=158
Basically he gives two main reasons why:
- They already have a name. Giving your angel a name (like you would a pet) is arrogant.
- Asking a guardian angel for his name is asking for trouble. Fallen angels abound who would just LOVE to talk to you, and masquerade as your guardian angel if you open that door.
N
Nicholas82
Guest
Very solid counsel.
P
puzzleannie
Guest
angels have already been given names by God
some people have learned the names of their angels, or at least been given permission to call their angel by an “earthly” name but it is probably not appropriate to name an angel the way we would a pet
some people have learned the names of their angels, or at least been given permission to call their angel by an “earthly” name but it is probably not appropriate to name an angel the way we would a pet
B
Biblioassistant
Guest
Funny, I’ve never even thought of naming my angel. I do tend to think of him (as a him) and that he is strong and able to kick some devil butt
J
JRKH
Guest
Well I suppose that many consider it inappropriate, but I recall a book I once read Titled, “My Guardian Angel’s Name is Fred”.
Ever since I read this, I’ve called mine Fred too.
So far he hasn’t abandoned me, and God hasn’t struck me down or placed any thought in me that I am being disrespectful.
There is certainly danger in all things, but remember it’s the thought that counts. If your thought/intention is pure and respectful then there is no problem. Of course since you felt the need to ask the question, maybe their would be a problem in your mind and you shouldn’t give him a name.
Overall though I think you should lighten up a bit. I just can’t see naming or not naming your Guardian angel as being a “deal breaker” with the Lord.
Peace
James
Ever since I read this, I’ve called mine Fred too.
So far he hasn’t abandoned me, and God hasn’t struck me down or placed any thought in me that I am being disrespectful.
There is certainly danger in all things, but remember it’s the thought that counts. If your thought/intention is pure and respectful then there is no problem. Of course since you felt the need to ask the question, maybe their would be a problem in your mind and you shouldn’t give him a name.
Overall though I think you should lighten up a bit. I just can’t see naming or not naming your Guardian angel as being a “deal breaker” with the Lord.
Peace
James
I
IrishAm
Guest
Some years ago – back in the mid-1980s – it was fashionable with a group with whom I regularly prayed to “find out your guardian angel’s name.” I always thought it a tad silly, but one morning before Mass prayed that, if the angel so chose, to reveal the name to me. And tried very hard to keep my own thoughts out of the equation.
I had a very clear image of an angel on the side of the altar in front of me (I was in a pew towards the back of the church), a large, Teutonic looking feminine figure with wings and a sword – rather as you might think a woman warrior in Beowulf may have looked – and I knew it was “Rebecca”. Have always thought of my angel as such since . . .
Thank you for starting this thread and bringing back that memory.
I had a very clear image of an angel on the side of the altar in front of me (I was in a pew towards the back of the church), a large, Teutonic looking feminine figure with wings and a sword – rather as you might think a woman warrior in Beowulf may have looked – and I knew it was “Rebecca”. Have always thought of my angel as such since . . .
Thank you for starting this thread and bringing back that memory.
R
Revert07
Guest
Just to clarify - for those not familiar with the document or uninclined/unable to follow the link- this is from the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy; Principals and Guidelines from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, dated December 2001.
The entire section on the guardian angels is worth looking at. Actually, the whole document is helpful since it’s easy to veer a bit without some form of guidance. Anyway, this is from section 217 which covers the possible deviations that can arise from devotion to the Holy Angels. The devotion itself is “legitimate and good” but sometimes we get carried away. The first part of the paragraph relating to naming the angels
M
MarieVeronica
Guest
Mother Angelica (of EWTN fame) gave a name to her Guardian Angel. She named him “Fidelis”… meaning “faithful”. I’ve heard others at EWTN say that they’ve given their angels names too.
Link to an earlier thread on this subject…
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=151523
Link to an earlier thread on this subject…
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=151523
N
Nicholas82
Guest
It’s a cute, sentimental thing to do, but that doesn’t make it right. I just say “Holy Guardian Angel” or “Holy Angel of Christ”.
N
Noske
Guest
Personally, I think it would be best to start out more formal with them, but as you get to know and understand your guardian, you could possibly ask if you could call him/her an earthly name.
I sincerely doubt they are going to be offended, just because we want to call THEM specifically, and not just any old angel. I don’t consider it giving them a name like a pet at all. It’s more like a loving nickname for a close friend.
Besides, even if they were to give us our names, who is to say that we can even pronounce them? We might NEED to give them an earthly name so that we know who we are talking to.
Just try asking them if it’s okay to call them such-and-such, and apologise for using the name if it’s not. But just inform them that you request to use the name until it’s revealed otherwise what you should attempt to call them.
There’s this one site about St Joan, where the girl that prayed to her started out saying “Dear Saint Joan of Arc”, but soon started saying “Dear Saint Joan”, or even “Dear Joan.” She even got it right down to “Hi Jo!” when she felt comfortable enough.
If they are really that offended by the name you want to address them by, then they’ll make it known. The saints and angels are understanding. After all, even THEY give playful nicknames to things, and may choose to do the same to us. Joan called the Duke d’Alençon “pretty duke”. That’s hardly a title of disrespect. She did it because she cared for him.
As long as you name them out of love and not stupidity, they may take quite the liking to the title, because you’ve developed a personal relationship with them.
For instance, using St Joan as an example once more, you could call her…
Jehenette (meaning “Little Joan”, or “Joanie”) - As she used to be called by the people of Domrémy.
**Jo **
Frenchie
**French Fry **- Because she was short (like me.)
Froggy - If you wanted to tease her. (Wouldn’t reccommend it unless you know her well)
Using Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, it could be…
Gabe
Gabby
Gunney
G-Man (if you wanted to joke with a “gangsta” name.)
Saint Michael could even be called…
Mick
Mike
Mikey
But like I said. If you do it with love in your heart and voice, and not just doing it to annoy them, then they shouldn’t mind at all. Unless the name is deliberately offensive, such as calling one of the angels out as “Bird Boy”, then I doubt they’d have a problem. They might find Bird Boy to be offensive, but may like you saying “Hey Birdy” as an innocent and loving name, especially if you have in mind the beauty of such creatures when they take off into flight.
Just make sure to check with them before you go naming them something, and if they don’t like it, then they’ll make it known. Don’t name them for the hell of it. Just give them the name that seems most natural and easy to fall from your lips.
Some days it may feel more appropriate to call out to them as their full and formal title when you’re feeling stressed, and on happy days you may give them their supposed nickname.
Whatever the case, they aren’t going to hate you just because you did what any normal human would do and sought out something to call them. After all, even God had to name things at one point. He called us “humans”, but we still use names like “Adam” and “Eve” so that we know the difference between two people.
The same goes for the saints and angels. While I type out “Joan” here, I can’t help but get the feeling I should be calling her Jeanne (Modern French), or Jehanne (Old French), as she was called back in her day. So while I refer to her here as Joan, but Jehanne in prayer, it’s simply because more people recognise her as Joan of Arc, and therefore it is easier to communicate with other people about her that way.
She’s not going to come down and lay a curse upon me for refering to her with the modern English version of her name. Yes, they may have preferences, and some may be more uptight about it than others. But trust your instincts. If it feels awkward calling them something, then chances are, they feel awkward about it too.
I sincerely doubt they are going to be offended, just because we want to call THEM specifically, and not just any old angel. I don’t consider it giving them a name like a pet at all. It’s more like a loving nickname for a close friend.
Besides, even if they were to give us our names, who is to say that we can even pronounce them? We might NEED to give them an earthly name so that we know who we are talking to.
Just try asking them if it’s okay to call them such-and-such, and apologise for using the name if it’s not. But just inform them that you request to use the name until it’s revealed otherwise what you should attempt to call them.
There’s this one site about St Joan, where the girl that prayed to her started out saying “Dear Saint Joan of Arc”, but soon started saying “Dear Saint Joan”, or even “Dear Joan.” She even got it right down to “Hi Jo!” when she felt comfortable enough.
If they are really that offended by the name you want to address them by, then they’ll make it known. The saints and angels are understanding. After all, even THEY give playful nicknames to things, and may choose to do the same to us. Joan called the Duke d’Alençon “pretty duke”. That’s hardly a title of disrespect. She did it because she cared for him.
As long as you name them out of love and not stupidity, they may take quite the liking to the title, because you’ve developed a personal relationship with them.
For instance, using St Joan as an example once more, you could call her…
Jehenette (meaning “Little Joan”, or “Joanie”) - As she used to be called by the people of Domrémy.
**Jo **
Frenchie
**French Fry **- Because she was short (like me.)
Froggy - If you wanted to tease her. (Wouldn’t reccommend it unless you know her well)
Using Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, it could be…
Gabe
Gabby
Gunney
G-Man (if you wanted to joke with a “gangsta” name.)
Saint Michael could even be called…
Mick
Mike
Mikey
But like I said. If you do it with love in your heart and voice, and not just doing it to annoy them, then they shouldn’t mind at all. Unless the name is deliberately offensive, such as calling one of the angels out as “Bird Boy”, then I doubt they’d have a problem. They might find Bird Boy to be offensive, but may like you saying “Hey Birdy” as an innocent and loving name, especially if you have in mind the beauty of such creatures when they take off into flight.
Just make sure to check with them before you go naming them something, and if they don’t like it, then they’ll make it known. Don’t name them for the hell of it. Just give them the name that seems most natural and easy to fall from your lips.
Some days it may feel more appropriate to call out to them as their full and formal title when you’re feeling stressed, and on happy days you may give them their supposed nickname.
Whatever the case, they aren’t going to hate you just because you did what any normal human would do and sought out something to call them. After all, even God had to name things at one point. He called us “humans”, but we still use names like “Adam” and “Eve” so that we know the difference between two people.
The same goes for the saints and angels. While I type out “Joan” here, I can’t help but get the feeling I should be calling her Jeanne (Modern French), or Jehanne (Old French), as she was called back in her day. So while I refer to her here as Joan, but Jehanne in prayer, it’s simply because more people recognise her as Joan of Arc, and therefore it is easier to communicate with other people about her that way.
She’s not going to come down and lay a curse upon me for refering to her with the modern English version of her name. Yes, they may have preferences, and some may be more uptight about it than others. But trust your instincts. If it feels awkward calling them something, then chances are, they feel awkward about it too.
- Status