Today is the feast day of our Guardian Angels!
A 2007 Harris poll found that 74% of U.S. adults believed in angels.
The word “angel”, in Greek is angelos, in Hebrew is malach, is Arabic is mala’ika– which all mean “messenger”.
Angels are incorporeal (bodiless) spiritual beings who act as intermediaries between God and humanity. Angels are defined by their function as message-bearers, although this capacity does not exhaust their activities. As spirits, they are believed to have been created by God to serve the supreme deity by fulfilling any and all tasks assigned to them.
Major philosophers — such as Thomas Aquinas, René Descartes, John Locke, and most recently, the American philosopher Mortimer Adler — have put forth compelling reasoning for the existence of Angels.
Scripture tells us there is a hierarchy of Angels — there are various gradations or “orders”of Angels. We know this because in Genesis 3:24, Isaiah 6:1-7, Ezekiel 1, 10, Romans 8:38, Ephesians 1:21, 3:10, 6:12, Colossians 1:16, 2:10, 2:15, allusions are made to “seraphim,” “cherubim,” “thrones,” “dominions,” “mights,” “powers,” and “principalities” in the “heavenly places.”
Aquinas and other theologians say only the last three angelic orders minister to human beings:
- Principalities are in charge of the whole of humanity — of nations or countries.
- Archangels minister to nations — their leaders and those persons whom God tasks with special work to do on earth.
- Angels, the last order, are God’s messengers and guardians of individual human beings.
How do we know each of us has a Guardian Angel?
Because Jesus tells us so!
“See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)
Just because we can’t see them doesn’t mean our Guardian Angels aren’t with us all the time. In fact, there are many stories of angelic encounters and assistance. See here and here.
My days are so busy with blogging and housework that the only time when my mind is at rest is when I’m taking my solitary walk in the hills. On one such walk, I talked to my Guardian Angel and humbly asked him to show he’s there. Immediately, I felt his presence walking along side me, to my right. I can’t tell you what he looks like (he is a bodiless spirit after all), but what I felt was his staggeringly profound LOVE — a love that is unconditional.
So, thank your Guardian Angel today — for watching over and protecting you, and for loving you.
~Eowyn
A spiritual late night musing from
WILLIAM H. GATHERCOLE AND NORAH G
Recently, some of our friends have indicated to me that « Angels » are MALE ONLY.
We decided to investigate.
291 references in the Bible occur with the word « Angel ».
The number « 7 » seems to come up quite a bit in relation to angels.
Angels are referred to as « masculine » ( i.e. « he » ) 26 times ( 9% of the time ).
Was the word « he » used as a generality ?
( i.e. when in doubt, « he » is used instead of « she » . )
Most of the « masculine » references are found in the Book of Revelation.
Genesis 48:16. Judges 6:12. Judges 13:6. 1 Samuel 29:9. 1 Chronicles 21:27. Daniel 3:28. Zechariah 3:4. Luke 1:26. Acts 12:7. Galatians 1:8. Revelation 2:12. Revelation 8:7. Revelation 8:8. Revelation 8:10. Revelation 8:12. Revelation 9:13. Revelation 10:1. Revelation 10:7. Revelation 11:15. Revelation 14:6. Revelation 16:8. Revelation 16:10. Revelation 16:12. Revelation 16:17. Revelation 18:1. Revelation 20:1.
The specific description of an angel does not appear to refer to any sex.
( Except for the use of the word « he ». )
« Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. » ▬ Revelation 10:1.
There are two references indicating that angels have no particular sex.
« When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. » ▬ Mark 12: 25.
« In reply Jesus said to them : YOU are mistaken, because YOU know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God; for in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven. » ▬ Matthew 22: 30.
Angels were/are also very powerful, but this is obviously not just a masculine trait.
« That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning — there were all the dead bodies ! » ▬ 2 Kings 19:35.
In conclusion, angels were/are probably male-like.
But, there may be the possibility to be otherwise. (91% of the time.)
Aren’t search engines fun to use ?
We still like the idea of female-like angels. But. So be it.
Thanks for listening.
WILLIAM H. GATHERCOLE AND NORAH G
What difference does it make? Angels, being pure spirits, are bodiless and therefore are genderless. But they can assume a physical appearance. So when they do, it’s the particular angel’s choice to “appear” to us as male or female.
Peace.
I am wondering if you could give me the name of the picture you posted of the Guardian Angel standing over the sleeping child. I love this photo and would like to purchase it for my granddaughters bedroom. I have searched all over the internet but can only find images. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you.
Debbie,
I don’t have the information you’re asking. I found the image on the net. It is an old picture, so maybe thrift stores have one. Alternately, I suggest you downloading the image to your hard-drive, then make a color print of it, and have a craft store frame it!
God bless.
Thank you for your prompt response. Great suggestion on printing this gorgeous photo! I think that’s what I’m going to have to do since no one seems to know the origin. Again I thank you.
Have a blessed day!
I ‘know’ they help the Dear Lord watch over us. I have had too many instances. Exmpl: The other day at the grocer’s, I was getting out of my vehicle, and upon shutting the door, w/keys in hand, I shut the door and caught my pinky finger in the door… BUT… the key ring helped break the full-on smash, and, although my finger is bruised and swollen, (it didn’t escape totally), at least it isn’t mangled and broken. I continued to shop, and it continued to swell, and as I walked the aisles, it dawned on me that the Good Lord had an angel place that key ring in just the right place to spare me further trauma.
Small or pale in comparison to other stories, but, I walked through that store and realized how much my Lord loves me!
Thank you for reminding us that God is always near. Our guardian angels are with us always as messengers and protectors and conscience. A priest told me recently that when you have guests in your home, all of their guardian angels are with them also. The image of my home filled with angels is such a lovely image for me especiallly like today when my brother and sister will be here. God bless all of you for sharing your faith so openly.
Many years ago on a hot,hot July day my tire blew out.I was somehow able to pull the car into a parking lot..As I was looking into my trunk a man wearing a suit approached me and asked me if I needed help. He was very matter of fact and changed the tire for me.I went to thank him and he was gone.Later that night I remembered that in order to change the tires you had to have a special key for the rims,and he never asked me for the key..
Amazing. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Dray!
We all learned the prayer to our Guardian Angel when we were children,”Angel of God, my guardian dear etc.” But here is a prayer for adults. “Angel of God, you are my guardian, enlighten my mind, guard me, direct me and govern me for I have been entrusted to your celestial care. Amen.”
Once when my oldest daughter was approx 5 months pregnant with her first child, she was cleaning out a hall closet which had been filled to capacity with all sorts of items. (She had already had two miscarriages, and we had all been praying that this would not happen again). About mid way through the task , she was leaning over to pick up things off the floor of the closet when she suddenly felt a hand on her back. She was sure that her husband had come home early and that he was letting her know. So as soon as she raised up to turn around to greet him, everything from the very top shelf came crashing down ! So needless to say, if the hand on her back had not caused her to raise up, she would have been injured. She quickly realized that her husband had not come home, and that she was still in the house alone…with the exception of her Guardian Angel who protected her from harm, of course! : ) Thanks for sharinig about Angels. I have had a few personal encounters myself, and totally believe how real they are ! : ) God Bless !
I apologize for being a little late in commenting in this wonderful post that Dr. Eowyn gave to us!
I have had many experiences with my guardian angel. The one that is the most amazing to me is when I was in my twenties attending the University of _. I stayed up all night and into the early hours of the morning to finish a paper for a philosophy class that was due the next morning. Therefore, I was very tired. But at that time, I did not need a lot of sleep. After all, I was in my twenties and invincible! (LOL) I had a 45 minute commute to the University. Whilst I was in my commute to attend my morning Philosophy class, driving my trusty little Nissan Stanza, I had apparently fallen asleep. I awakened wherein I was in my parking spot at the University. I had no clue how I got to the University. I remember that I cried, and I knew there was heavenly intervention. I immediately thanked my guardian angel profusely for getting me to the University safely and for saving my life and someone else’s life since I was asleep in my vehicle!
Thank you, for reminding all of us about this Feast day of our Guardian Angels, as all of us thank the good and wonderful God for giving them to us!
Thank you again, Dr. Eowyn, for this remarkable post on our guardian angels. I tell my guardian angel, James, every day that I appreciate him, thank him and love him. God takes such good care of us by giving us these incredible and beautiful spiritual beings!