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Sky
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| Joined: | Mon Sep 15th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 14 |
| First Name: | Sky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Calvary Chapel and other such non-denominational churches. Methodist. |
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 05:56 am |
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I was looking through the forum posts trying to find what the Catholic church teaches about angels and guardian angels. I didn't find a specific answer, just mention of angels in passing.
So that's my question: what does the Catolic church teach about angels?
Have a blessed day everybody.
Sky
Last edited on Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 05:57 am by Sky
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
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| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 01:40 pm |
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I only have a couple of minutes to post, but I can start you off with a couple of links to the Catholic Encyclopedia on Angels and Guardian Angels. Others will, I am sure, add more.
One
Two
David
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Dave Armstrong
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| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
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| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical (1977): Diverse Protestant Influences / Catholic in 1990 |
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 05:34 pm |
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| Here's a piece on angels by the fabulous Catholic apologist Peter Kreeft.
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I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 2100+ papers & web pages (free) & 17 apologetic books (4 sale: 15 E-Books: $25)
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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Sky
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| Joined: | Mon Sep 15th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 14 |
| First Name: | Sky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Calvary Chapel and other such non-denominational churches. Methodist. |
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Posted: Mon Oct 6th, 2008 05:50 am |
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Thank you for the references. Lots of interesting information.
I've always believed in the existence of angels and their intervention in the lives of humans on occasion. So it was interesting to read this information and see this confirmation from a Catholic perspective.
It looks like there is some disagreement on whether everyone has their own private guardian angel, or whether only Christians do. My own simplistic logic would say that if God is love, that surely He would want to have angels for everyone.
Anyway.... thanks for the info. And have a great day everyone.
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 2446 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical (1977): Diverse Protestant Influences / Catholic in 1990 |
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Posted: Mon Oct 6th, 2008 05:33 pm |
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I had a little bit about guardian angels in my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism:
Matthew 18:10 [RSV] See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
This is the most straightforward biblical proof for the idea (also accepted by many Protestants) that every person has a guardian angel, who has direct access to God and in some sense "oversees" and protects the individual to whom he is assigned (see also Psalm 34:7, 91:11, Acts 12:15, Hebrews 1:14).
If Jesus could have asked for the assistance of angels (Matthew 26:53) -- and He certainly would not have been worshiping them in so doing -- then we, who obviously need their help far more than the Lord Jesus Christ, can do the same without necessarily engaging in idolatry.
It stands to reason that if angels are so aware of our doings, as indicated in Luke 15:10, where they are said to have joy over sinners' repentance, and 1 Corinthians 4:9, where we are told that Apostles were spectacles to angels, then they certainly would be cognizant of our prayerful pleas to them. Repentance is a change of heart and will, which would suggest that angels are acquainted with our thoughts as well as actions.
This belief was held by the eminent Presbyterian theologian Charles Hodge, who thought that angels could act on our minds, and even "communicate with our spirits." 10 Yet he inconsistently balked at the notion of invoking their aid, since "they must not come between us and God." 11 This is an unnecessary dichotomy and false dilemma; the reasoning is as follows: if some practice can possibly become idolatrous, we must never engage in it. But anything can come between us and God and become an idol (for example, the Bible itself, our spouses, money). So Hodge's fear is unwarranted and unreasonable -- especially given the scriptural evidence -- and it "proves too much." For asking an angel (or a saint) to pray for us is not that different at all from persons praying for each other. In both cases, assistance is sought from a fellow creature, and (rightly understood) there is no attempt to usurp the prerogatives of God whatsoever.
The existence of guardian angels can only be denied by maintaining that intercessory requests directed to them are synonymous with either the worship due to God alone (idolatry) or the communication with evil spirits by means of a medium, or other occultic practice (necromancy or sorcery). Neither equation is biblical or logical.
If the angels are powerful, benevolent beings, whose purpose is to bring us closer to God, and if they know our thoughts (Luke 15:10), and intercede for us (Tobit 12:12-15, Revelation 8:3-4), what coherent biblical reason forbids the invocation of angels, particularly guardian angels, in order to obtain their intercession before God on our behalf?
Misunderstandings of the doctrines and the legitimate pious devotional practices of Catholicism must give way to open-minded biblical inquiry. God revealed these avenues of grace for our spiritual well-being, and it would be foolish to ignore them.
10 Hodge, Charles, Systematic Theology, abridged one-volume ed. by Edward N. Gross, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988 (orig. 1873, 3 vols.), 231-233.
11 Ibid., 234.
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 2100+ papers & web pages (free) & 17 apologetic books (4 sale: 15 E-Books: $25)
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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