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Ranya+++

posted on Aug 14, 2010 - 08:11 PM

Hi Everyone:

Our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church place this emphasis on developing a relationship with one’s Guardian Angel, who is with each person from the moment of conception until the moment each person departs.

What does our Church teach about Guardian Angels? Do we place an emphasis on developing a relationship with our Guardian Angels?

If possible, please provide us with some resources.

Thank you for your help.

Take care and God Bless,
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Joined: Jul 30, 2005 | Posts: 88

PeterA

posted on Aug 14, 2010 - 11:37 PM

Agapy Ranya,
Here's how Anba Youssef, Bishop of Southern United States responded to such a question.

the link is also here
http://www.suscopts.org/q&a/index.php?qid=118&catid=31


What is the Orthodox Church perspective on angels (guardian angels)?

Throughout the Holy Bible, we find it repeatedly implied that each individual soul has his own angel. When Abraham sent his steward to seek a wife for Isaac, he said: "He will send His angel before you" (Gen 24:7).

"For He will give His angels charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone." (Ps 91:11-12)

"The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them." (Psalm 34:7)

"Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" (Heb 1:14)

In the Holy Book of Judith, she accounts for her heroic deed by saying: "As the Lord lives, His angel has been my keeper" (Judith 13:20). The Holy Book of Tobit teaches us about the guardian angel more than any other Book. The Holy Bible represents angels not only as our guardians, but also as actually interceding for us. The angel Raphael says "I offered your prayer to the Lord" (Tobit 12: 12)

Though these passages and many like them (Gen 16: 6-32; Acts, 12:7) will not of themselves demonstrate the doctrine that every individual has his appointed guardian angel, yet they are complemented by our Savior's words: "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven" (Mt 18:10). Our Lord here not only alludes to, but establishes the notion received by almost all nations, namely that every person has a guardian angel; and that these have always access to God, to receive orders relative to the management of their charge. St. Jerome in his commentary on the above words of our Lord says: 'The dignity of a soul is so great, that each has a guardian angel from its birth.' St. Ambrose says, 'We should pray to the angels who are given to us as guardians.'

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Ranya+++

posted on Aug 21, 2010 - 04:56 AM

Thank you for providing that answer, PeterA. I found a few books on this subject. I haven’t read them yet, but they look like good sources to learn more about angels.

Below are links to the books if anyone is interested in learning more about angels.

“Angels and Their Mission According to the Fathers of the Church”
by Jean Danielou

http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/or ... um=ANGE100

“THE GUARDIAN ANGELS: OUR HEAVENLY COMPANIONS”
http://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/T ... uctDetails

“HEAVENLY ARMY OF ANGELS”
http://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/H ... uctDetails

Here are links with a selection of books about angels:
http://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/A ... d/Category

http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/se ... ch_keyword

Take care and God Bless.

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Joined: Jul 30, 2005 | Posts: 88

Ranya+++

posted on Aug 21, 2010 - 05:11 AM

My apologies, as the last link in my previous post is broken.

Just click on the link below, and type in "Angels" for the keyword search. Don't forget to select "Books & Pamphlets" otherwise it will give you an error message.

http://www.light-n-life.com/

Take care and God Bless.

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Joined: Jul 30, 2005 | Posts: 88

jydeacon

posted on Aug 21, 2010 - 06:04 AM

HH Has a book on them, in it I believe he actually states that we do not have guardian angels as one angel is capable of defending an entire city.

http://www.coepaonline.org/tNG/cnt_down ... =Download2

This is it

God Bless

Joined: Jan 16, 2007 | Posts: 199

SherryMikhail

posted on Aug 21, 2010 - 09:28 AM

jydeacon, I thought every one of us do have a guardian angel! I'm so confused now :S Can someone explain if we do have guardian angels? and their characteristics etc.

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CopticSoldier

posted on Aug 21, 2010 - 02:24 PM

From jydeacon:HH Has a book on them, in it I believe he actually states that we do not have guardian angels as one angel is capable of defending an entire city.

http://www.coepaonline.org/tNG/cnt_down ... =Download2

This is it

God Bless

The link doesn't work.

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Ranya+++

posted on Aug 21, 2010 - 06:45 PM

Jydeacon is not wrong about what he previously mentioned. I'm a little confused myself.

Here is another link to His Holiness' book, titled "The Angels":
http://tasbeha.org/content/hh_books/the ... index.html

Below is an excerpt from His Holiness' book.

MERCY, ASSISTANCE, AND PROTECTION
Very often times angels are called the angels of mercy, because of
their pity toward human beings, and their offering to them whatever
assistance they need, whether to individuals or to groups, as it was said
about the mercy of the Lord toward the afflicted:
"In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His
Presence saved them" (Isaiah 63:9).
Also: "The Angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear
Him, and delivers them" (Ps. 34:7).
So, they rescue, deliver, save, and stand with human beings during
afflictions. The Lord says also about the work of the angels: "For He shall
give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their
hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone"
(Ps. 91: 11-12).
The idea of the guarding angel arose from all these points.
It is not necessary that every individual needs an angel to guard him.
A single angel is able to guard a whole city. And it is possible that God
charges an angel to guard a certain person.When the patriarch Jacob wanted to bless the two sons of Joseph,
Ephraim and Menasse, he remembered the angel who accompanied him
and guarded him, and said:
"The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads"
(Gen. 48:16).
Here, the Angel saves, and also blesses.

I'm really not sure how to interpret this. If anyone else has more knowledge about this subject, please help clear up some confusion.

Thanks.

Take care and God Bless.
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CopticSoldier

posted on Aug 22, 2010 - 06:22 AM

It doesn't really sound like His Holiness is making a comment about it either way. He's just stating that one Angel is capable of being responsible for more than one person - says nothing about our personal intercession with the angels who are responsible for leading us to salvation.

I remember (a bit of crossover here with Ranya's other thread) that in one of St Anthony he mentions that we can call out to the angels like Michael, Gabriel and Raphael for help.

God bless,

CS

Joined: Jan 25, 2004 | Posts: 828
Location: Melbourne, Australia.