Posted on 09/29/2007 3:35:01 PM PDT by NYer
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This coming week we approach two feast days in the Church's liturgical calendar that remind us of the significant role of the angels in the providential plan of God, and the day to day challenges of man. September 29 is the Feast Day of the Archangels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, and October 2 is the memorial of the Guardian Angels.
There are hundreds of references in the Sacred Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) to these special beings, created by God as cooperators in the work of salvation. The Compendium of the Catechism teaches us about angels: "The angels are purely spiritual creatures, incorporeal, invisible, immortal, and personal beings endowed with intelligence and will. They ceaselessly contemplate God face-to-face and they glorify Him. They serve Him and are His messengers in the accomplishment of His saving mission to all." (n. 60)
The word angel means "messenger" and God uses them in many instances to communicate to mankind His saving interventions on earth: whether it is the Archangel Gabriel announcing the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, or the choirs of angels announcing the birth of the Savior to shepherds near Bethlehem. In the Old Testament the "angel of the Lord" presents to the holy Patriarchs the will of God and even delivers God's punishment for the people's infidelity. St Raphael guides the journey of Tobias to completion in accord with God's plan.
From the Scriptures the Church gleans its understanding of the different "ranks" or "choirs" of angels, giving us a sense of the myriad tasks they continue to carry out.
Scripture says we are given an angel as a guardian to watch over us and guide us. Blessed Pope John XXIII had a deep devotion to the Guardian Angels, grasping how they could be called upon to help us in our work for God in the Church. When the future Pope served in the Vatican's diplomatic service, he was often assisted by the angels. Whenever he was approaching what he thought would be a contentious meeting or negotiation, he would pray not only to his Guardian Angel, but also to the angel of the person he was meeting. Together Blessed John and the two angelic helpers would constitute a three-to-one majority, capable of winning over the heart of his would-be adversary.
For generations, Catholics in the United States concluded the celebration of Holy Mass with the prayer to St. Michael for the conversion of Russia. In the Book of Revelation, St. Michael is presented as the leader of God's heavenly host for the overthrow of Satan. The demons are fallen angels whose prideful free choice against God cost them their status in heaven. Rightly called "the father of lies," Satan never ceases to mislead souls away from the living Truth, Jesus Christ. The devil and his minions are infinitely less powerful than God, but one of the most vicious ways they harm man is by deceiving us with half truths and false gratifications that give us only passing pleasure.
Human beings are not demons but we can be seduced, and we must never fail to turn to the angels to help us. I ask you to join me in praying this prayer frequently to seek God's protection and help for our families, our diocese, and our world.
"St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host cast into hell: Satan, and all the evil spirits who roam about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
All you angels, come to our aid! Mary, Queen of angels, Pray for us!
END
Please God, do not remove Your Hand of Grace and Protection that You have given to America.
I’m glad I’m not related to people who mix up love and respect with worship. God created and it was good, ALL of his creation is good.
We'll take your word for it.
From your posts, it's not at all obvioius.
Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Hebrews 1:4
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
I'm delighted.
People conveniently forget God sends out other angels, too...
"He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them." -- Psalm 78:49
And I'm denying the egregious error in this sentence...
"There are hundreds of references in the Sacred Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) to these special beings, created by God as cooperators in the work of salvation."
Neither angels, nor Mary, nor priests who are wrongly tagged as "another Christ," are "cooperators in the work of salvation."
Salvation is the work of Jesus Christ on the cross alone, 100%.
Intermediary. Another angel also has a name, or should I say he has many & he should be rightfully put down as an obstacle between man & God, a big one.
How did the work of our salvation begin? Through the message of an angel, of course!
Did it begin with the message or did it begin with that which was contained in the message? Was Gabriel bringing news of something he was going to do or was he bringing news of something God was going to do?
If there were no other references to angels in all of Scripture, this event by itself should clue you in to their importance.
An announcement of an event is of far less importance than the event itself.
It was an angelic messenger that announced God's favor to man in the form of his Incarnate Son.
Is the message the messenger? If man hadn't screwed up so bad in the first place, by taking the word of an angel over the word of the Lord...
That's because you need to go to the major link - "Read More".
I believe it is quite a stretch for the Bishop to say: "Scripture says we are given an angel as a guardian to watch over us and guide us." I wish it were true, but we have no way of knowing.
That each person has a guardian angel, is not dogma. However, based on the Scripture, that angels accompany us through life. You can't see thoughts but you know people have them; does that mean they don't exist?
Duh, thanks, I was in a hurry this morning, on my way to worship.
That each person has a guardian angel, is not dogma.
Here is what I read at www.catholic.org:
The doctrine of angels is part of the Church's tradition...The existence of Guardian Angels, is, hence a dogma of the Christian faith: this being so, what ought not our respect be for that sure and holy intelligence that is ever present at our side...
Prayer to Our Holy Guardian Angels
Heavenly Father, Your infinite love for us has chosen a blessed angel in heaven and appointed him our guide during this earthly pilgrimage. Accept our thanks for so great ablessing. Grant that we may experience the assistance of our holy protector in all our necessities. And you, holy, loving angel and guide, watch over us with all the tenderness of your angelic heart. Keep us always on the way that leads to heaven, and cease not to pray for us until we have attained our final destiny, eternal salvation. Then we shall love you for all eternity. We shall praise and glorify you unceasingly for all the good you have done for us while here on earth. Especially be a faithful and watchful protector of our children. Take our place, and supply what may be wanting to us through human frailty, short-sightedness, or sinful neglect. Lighten, O you perfect servants of God, our heavy task. Guide our children, that they may become like unto Jesus, may imitate Him faithfully, and persevere till they attain eternal life. Amen.
NYer, this is going much further than just accepting that something exists or not. OR, is www.catholic.org not "orthodox?"
Sure sounds like "worship" to me
What religion are you?
Where did I say I worshipped angels?
I said I asked my Guardian Angel for help. Period.
I am a born again bible believing Christian, why?
OK... ME TOO!!I am a member of the Catholic Church....what Denomination are you?
Even the unborn, the Holy Innocents, have an angel, a guardian angel, because they are a human being. OK?
Thanks for your defense. When may I hire you for court? LOL!
I’m just getting back to the thread and posted basically the same thing! God bless!
I didn't know Catholics were "born again". I thought you were incorporated into the Catholic Church
Once again, I didn’t pray to my angel? I asked them for help.
If you lived nextdoor to me and I asked you for help in moving a piece of furniture, would that be praying?
It seems to me, that you are way off base in your thinking here.
**I didn’t know Catholics were “born again”. **
Of course we are! At our Baptism, whether it is as an adult or as an infant!
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