"Bless the LORD, all you angels, mighty in strength and attentive, obedient to every command. Bless the LORD, all you hosts, ministers who do God's will. Bless the LORD, all creatures, everywhere in God's domain. Bless the LORD, my soul!" - Psalm 103:21-22
Hello dear friends in Christ! I just came back from a wonderful trip to South Bend, IN. I really enjoyed the company of my family and friends who live up there. I also visited the University of Notre Dame, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and Mary TV. I feel so blessed to have had this experience during the summer, before school starts. I had a great time! Plus, my parish priest from home came up to South Bend too. He celebrated the Mass in the Basilica with several other priests and prayed for a personal intention of mine during the service. It was so beautiful! The Notre Dame Basilica is absolutely one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen in my life! Again, I praise and thank God for the outpour of His blessings during my recent trip.
While I was on my trip I read an amazing book about angels called Angel Power by Janice Connell. In this book she describes the Nine Choirs of Angels and their glorious love and devotion they all have for the Almighty God. She also brings about the awareness of our own Guardian Angel that God has bestowed to every human being. We are each given a Holy Angel to guard, defend, protect, light, and guide our path towards eternal salvation. Angels are beautiful creatures filled with love and reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Son, Jesus Christ. They are humble servants that honor God and His plan for humankind. As we are assigned our own personal angel, Janice Connell also points out that every city, state, nation, place, church, sanctuary, business, airport, school...etc are also appointed a holy angel (or angels) by God to watch over and protect.
We are surrounded by angels all the time! The question is...are we aware of their angelic presence? They long for us to call upon them. They want us to ask for their help. They loved being assigned tasks! Angels desire to be our very best friends. But angels typically don't interfere in our lives unless we ask them too. However, on rare occasions, they will sometimes intervene for us in life threatening situations or special circumstances. But they respect that we are given free will by God. They know it is ultimately our choice to follow His plan or not. In being aware of their presence we can access their immense angel power in our own lives to further our spiritual journey in seeking God and eternal life.
In reading so much about angels, I began to ask my priest more about them while we viewed several angelic paintings in the Snite Museum of Art at Notre Dame. He told me that to his knowledge he was unfamiliar with this broad topic. However, from what he could recall, he was able to share with me some very interesting information about angels. He said that typically most angels, especially Archangels, have names ending in "el" -- like Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Raphael. The suffix "el" goes back to the Hebrew roots and literally means "in God." This makes sense because all holy angels are subject to dwell in Heaven and "in God" for all eternity.
This discovery completely astonished me! I began to tell him a story. About two years ago I was talking to a friend in church about angels. She said that after she prayed about it she believed her Guardian Angel's name to be Daniel. I was really intrigued about how she knew her angel's name. From this realization I began to pray to know my Guardian Angel's name too. After praying in the quiet of my room for a little while a few names came to me, but I kept dismissing them. Then one name really stuck in my head! It was the name "Ishmael." After a while I was like, I wonder what the name "Ishmael" actually means? So I got up and went to my computer to search its meaning. Then I found out that "Ishmael" means "God listens."
I knew that "Ishmael" is a very Biblical name and not common at all. I believed this was not something that I thought of on my own, but I wanted to make sure and have a confirmation. So I thought to myself, Ok. I will ask my dad a question and if he responds exactly with the words "God listens" then I will feel a confirmation that Ishmael is the name of my holy angel. Then after we prayed together as a family I asked my father, "Dad, what does God do when we pray?" He replied, "God listens." That was amazing! He didn't know I was praying for my angel's name nor the confirmation I asked for. After telling all of this to my priest he agreed. He also reminded me that I probably received another confirmation from him since Ishmael ends with the suffix "el."
Amazing! Our Guardian Angels truly want us to be aware of them! Just as they know us they also long for us to know them. By reading more in the book by Janice Connell, she reveals that our personal Guardian Angel can come from any of the Nine Choirs of Angels: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. God has created each angel uniquely and divinely. No two angels are the same. They are very good and powerful creatures that have their own specialties, personalities, and characteristics. The various choirs of angels each have their own specific missions too, given to them by God for the plan of humanity and beyond.
After finding out all of this wonderful information about angels I began to talk non-stop about it to my friends. One day I was on the phone with my friend Anna. When I told her that most angel names end with "el" she was in utter amazement! For the last two years or so the name "Noel" has constantly been on her mind for some reason. She always wondered why that name came to her so much. After I told her more about angels she realized that maybe her Guardian Angel was trying to hint to her that his name is "Noel." Nevertheless, she said she would definitely pray about it more.
I honestly don't think there is a rule that angels only have names ending in "el" ...but it just seems to be the typical likelihood of an angel. When satan was an angel his name used to be Lucifer. That name means "light bearer" and does not end in "el." However, he was an angel that fell into sin and never wanted to live "in God" for all eternity... so that explains that.
All in all, holy angels of the Nine Choirs are exceptional beings of love, purity, truth, justice, wisdom, and piety. They are ready to be called upon at a moments notice. They are ready to defend us in battle against any and all evil spirits that prowl about the earth. Their holy power is so great that they will prevail over all dark forces. So don't be afraid to call upon your angel. Entrust your hearts longings and desires to them. Ask them to reap a harvest for you in your own personal endeavors. They will graciously assist you and lead you closer to God in every way they possibly can.
5 comments:
Hello Danielle!
Let me share one more time a info with you.
I have already commetend to you about the Cannons of the Holy Cross. Some years ago (2009), I have done a retreat in their Monastery here in Brazil. Their sperituality is marked by the devotion to the Holy Angels. Besides that, they are very pious and faifth to the Pope. I repeat this because that's a important note due to the bad state of the clergy in Brazil because the Liberation Theology(Teologia da Libertação). But I would to recomend one more time to you these religous as source about the Holy Angels. There is a Association of Faithful that is linked with them. It is Association
‘Opus Sanctorum Angelorum’ that means "The work of the angels'.
http://www.opusangelorum.org/english.html
And the website of the Cannons of Holy Cross is
http://www.cruzios.org/english/canons_regular.html
I hope theses infos may be helpul for you.
Your brother in Chris,
Alex.
Continuing speaking of the Holy Angels, during my retreat in the Monastery of the Holy Cross, in a catechesis on the Angels, a lady asked to the Priest who was doing the catechesis, how should we call our Guardian Angel. He answered you can simplely call him by "My Guardian Angel". He said this answer because the Church don't use to name the Angels. Specially nowadays when the New Age spreads false names of Angels.
But certain time I read an article about the Guardian Angel' name of each person. The article was written by a Brazilian Priest who was telling how he named his Guardian Angel. He said the did the same thing that you said you did. But I personaly prefer don't name my Guardian Angel, because it is very dificult, almost impossible be sure about his name. Besides that, you have take account of the possibility to be mistaken by a fallen angel (a demon).
Honestly, I don't say these things to contradicted you, but because I see you love theses matters and I would like to share with you what I know.
At least, I would like to Know I'm not racionalist. I belive in everything the Church teachs.
Hi Alex. Thank you for sharing. I really think it is important to discern spirits to know that they are coming from God. Like you said, some people would rather just call their angel "My Guardian Angel" and that is fine. But if you pray and really feel it in your heart I think you can come to know your Angel's name--the name God gave him. I truly believe your angel wants to have a personal relationship with you...and definitely knowing his name would make it more personal. But I understand what you are saying. There is a lot of New Age stuff about angels that is very bad. I believe in what the church teaches too and make sure to stay away from anything New Age. Again, I think prayer and discernment is a big part of knowing your holy angel and becoming closer to him. Your angel loves you so much that if you really trust God you won't be lead astray.
Hi, Danille! Thank you so much for your kind words!
I see what you say. Incidentally, I have found the article that I was speaking of. Later, I will type it and translate it for you using the Google translator, because it is a little big and my English is not good enough yet.
I would like to share with you another stuff on the holy angels. It's the catechesis of the Pope John Paul II about them.
The source that I have is a a blog of the Cannons of the Holy Cross. I try to find the text in English, but unfortunately I can't find.
See
http://cumsanctisangelis.blogspot.com.br/p/magisterio-da-igreja.html
In 1986, the Pope John Paul II did several catecheis on the holy angels. Perhaps you could find them with your parish priest.
The website of the Holy See has not published them in English. See
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/1986/index_en.htm
About my angel guardian, I love him. I always talk with him and pray to him. :-)
Just one more comment. I don't want to be boring.
The story that I was speak of.
My Angel has a name.
By Father Anthony Mary
One of the dearest memories of my childhood is the Guardian Angel. I have Learned at home and in Sunday School that each of us has his angel who cares, guides and advocates of all evil.
At that time, Dom Helder Camara was Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro, my hometown. Later, I have already been priest, talking to him, he told me of his guardian angel and told me that he was called Joseph. I found it interesting but never thought to name him, until one day someone asked me: "Father, how is the name of your angel? ".
- "I don’t know," I replied.
- Try to name your angel, so you can talk to him with greater intimacy. "
- "But what name I will give to my angel?"
- "Ask God in prayer, and the first name that comes to mind is the name of his angel."
I prayed. And came the name Theodore. I confess that I didn’t like, but being a name not so unusual it was for me a confirmation. I accepted the idea, and so on, while talking to my angel, I started to call him Theodore.
One day lacked energy in the house Father Kentenich, a retreat house of the Institute of Schoenstatt Father, to which I belong. I called Eletropaulo (a company of Power in São Paulo, Brazil).
From there someone answered: "Eletropaulo, good afternoon."
And he introduced himself. I also introduced myself: "Here is a priest. My name is Father Antonio Maria. I live in a house retreat in Jaragua, we are without power ...
After giving all indications, received the promise that they would come as soon as possible, which did not happen during the day or the next day, even though I turned several times and have spoken with several attendants: Sergio, Paul, Sonia etc. . Someone always answered me, saying good morning, good afternoon, good evening, performing and the promise was always the same.
At dawn, at three o'clock I was reminded of my Theodore, and spoke to him: "Theodore, now is you. I'll call again, go ahead and solve it for me. "
I called. Across a male voice answered: "Eletropaulo, good day, Theodore."
I was speechless. On the other side insisted the voice repeating, "Eletropaulo, good day, Theodore."
I explained, touched the officer what had happened up there. And I told him the story of my Theodore.
The Theodore from Eletropaulo also touched and in fifteen minutes came a team of Eletropaulo bringing the energy back.
I never doubted that we have a guardian angel. God just wanted to confirm my faith and make me go back to being a boy, simply trusting that He has given me as protector and defender. Living Faith that brings me peace and security.
Often in times of distress, I have invoked my Teodoro and then back the energy to walk!
Source: Magazine Brasil Cristão, Year 9, Number 98. September 2005, p. 5.
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