Guardian Angels

drbill48 · #1 Sep 26, '10, 12:09 pm

Hi,

My Wife and I have a friend who is dying. He has recently saw a "man" that looks just like hime dressed in a gray suit. This "angel" is always there over our friend's right shoulder. He does not speak put has a very pleasant look about "him".

We are devout Catholics but are having difficulty finding anything in the Bible about visions like this or Guardian Angels. Can you help us?

Yours in our Lord, Bill and Michele

Cruxis117 · #2 Sep 26, '10, 1:14 pm

I'm not an expert in Scripture or Catholic Theology, but Paragraph 336 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "Beside each believer is an Angel as protector and shepard leading him to life". In Matthew 18:10, it states: "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." See that it says "their angels", and not God's (although all belongs to God).

Other verses that speak of Angels helping us include: Tobit 12:15, Job 33:23-24; Psalm 34:7; 91:11, Acts 12:15, Hebrews 1:14.

I will pray for your friend and for you and your wife. =] I know this is a hard time, but God does send his angels to watch over us as he does, and that he's always there. Peace be with you.

Verbum · #3 Sep 26, '10, 5:42 pm

Hi DRBill,

As shown above, God has entrusted us to the care of angels. What that role consists in precisely is hard to know, but we are encouraged to pray to our guardian angel.

Visions are freqent in the Bible,St. Paul speaks of several that he has had. And the Catholic Church has approved pilgrimages to places where visions are said to have happened.

As for your friend, he could be under the influence of his medications and 'see" things that are not there. Or it could be a genuine religious experience. Whatever his experience can have been, do not delve into it, neither to approve or deny. It seems to be something positive for him, so it might do him good.

Verbum

**puzzleannie** · #4 Sep 26, '10, 6:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbill48

Hi,

My Wife and I have a friend who is dying. He has recently saw a "man" that looks just like hime dressed in a gray suit. This "angel" is always there over our friend's right shoulder. He does not speak put has a very pleasant look about "him".

We are devout Catholics but are having difficulty finding anything in the Bible about visions like this or Guardian Angels. Can you help us?

Yours in our Lord, Bill and Michele

without knowing anything about the medical or mental condition of the patient I could not comment on what he has seen or experienced, but his description is not supported by traditional Catholic teaching on guardian angels, which is silent on their dress or appearance, or even whether they can ordinarily be seen, as they are pure spirits.

you might want to be careful about publishing your email address so publicly. If you have a personal question for one of the staff apologists to to the contact info on the homepage so you can ask your question privately. You might also want to search the CA homepage library for your topic, or post a direct question or search the Ask an Apologist.

If you friend has experienced comfort and consolation from the appearance it is quite possible he has had an experience of the nearness of his guardian angel. he would be well advised to seek spiritual consolation from his priest or minister of his own faith. bless you for being with him at this time.

Light1111 · #5 Sep 27, '10, 6:25 am

I was so touched and moved, and grateful, as well, by your post. To think of your poor friend at this time in his life, it is quite beautiful to know he's been able to feel comforted by this angel. I do believe in angels, and as a small child I had a Catholic prayer to my guardian angel that I said daily, and continue to do so to this day. The prayer is printed on one of those lacquered prayer cards, and the front of the card has a gorgeous painting of two little children playing precariously on a rickety old bridge. Floating high above them is a huge angel, smiling down, and ensuring their safety in that dangerous moment. Even as a child the painting moved me to tears. Here is the prayer:

"Angel of God,
My Guardian dear,
to whom His love commits me here,
Ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide,
Amen."

I was given the prayer by my maternal grandmother who was a very, very strict Catholic, and she received it from the Parish Monsignor, so I feel confident this is in keeping with Catholic doctrine.

I'll remember you, your family and friends, and this dear friend of yours whose time is near, in my prayers.

Peace and healing go out to each of you.

Light1111 · #6 Sep 27, '10, 6:36 am

This is an addendum to my previous post.

A couple of the posters who responded mentioned that the Church does occasionally acknowledge that angelic intervention, or religious experiences, are possible.

This story does not directly pertain to a "Guardian Angel," yet I think it is similar to the sorts of protections God offers us.

About six months ago, I began having regular dreams about Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebecca. I never had much of an education in the Old Testament, in my Catholic School education, so I actually had to look up Jacob online to read about him, as I felt I remembered very little about who he actually was.

In the dreams, Jacob has shown me over and over again that there are multiple moments in a person's life where he may feel he is in danger, but he is receiving direct guidance and protection from God and His Divine Helpers.

In the dreams, I'll be in a dangerous situation -- like the little children playing on the rickety bridge, on the prayer card I mentioned in my last post. I am frightened of heights, so frequently I'll be standing atop a tall cliff, frightened I may soon fall. In each dream, right when I feel I am in a precarious position and will certainly soon fall off, Jacob appears, smiling at me in a quiet, knowing way, and he says, "Child, there are moments in life where no danger can befall you. In those moments, know I am there."

It's hard to explain how I even knew it was Jacob -- as I mentioned, I didn't know who Jacob was, prior to the dreams. I simply woke up knowing that the figure was Jacob.

I did search his name online, and read extensively about his life and times. I really and truly can't explain why Jacob would have appeared to me, and yet I do feel certain it was not "just a dream," but a comforting message from one of God's Helpers.

At the times the dream began, I was spending hours a day in prayer, on behalf of a dear friend of mine who's health is quite bad, and also on behalf of the Gulf of Mexico, as the oil spill has frightened me terribly. It was right during a time where I was reaching out to God the most, and when I was feeling the most upset and anxious. The dreams comforted me tremendously, and really went a long way in making me feel that "You are not alone."

I don't know whether Church doctrine would feel these dreams ought not to be viewed as I have viewed them; I do believe that figures in the Bible are said to have had dreams such as the one I described. I believe each one of us, even in today's modern world, can have such experiences--that not only ancient Biblical folks can be touched by God's hand. To my mind, occasionally it may occur that a person of faith is suffering terribly in pondering the suffering of others, and perhaps that is why I dreamed of Jacob -- I was in need of comfort.

I like to believe your friend has been similarly touched by God's Hand, and I shall remember him and his loved ones in my prayers.

Thanks and peace to each one of you.