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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Bible passages	Genny	Saturday, November 5, 2011
Question: Dear Brother, I will be very grateful if you could explain the following passages from the Bible. (Deuteronomy 32:8-9): 8 The Most High assigned nations their lands; he determined where peoples should live. He assigned to each nation a heavenly being, 9 but Jacob's descendants he chose for himself. What other heavenly being? (1 Timothy 1 :19-20): ...and keep your faith and a clear conscience. Some people have not listened to their conscience and have made a ruin of their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have punished by handing them over to the power of Satan; this will teach them to stop their blasphemy. What does it mean "Handing them over to the power of Satan"? Thank you for your time.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), L.Th., D.D. Dear Genny: "A heavenly being" in the Deuteronomy passage refers to a Guardian Angel. Each of us is assigned a Guardian Angel. Nations, States, Cities, etc. are also assigned Guardian Angels, called Principalities; one of the choirs of Angels. St. Paul is instructing Bishop Timothy that in some cases he must excommunicate an intransigent sinner ("handing them over to the power of Satan"). An excommunicated person no longer has the protection of the Church and her Sacraments. Thus, the devil can have his day with the sinner. While excommunication is a punishment, it is more than that. Excommunication is an act of love, tough love. The hope is that the excommunicate, by his exclusion from the Church and vulnerability to Satan, will come to his senses, repent, and be reconciled with the Church. Some people need a big slap in the face to come to their senses. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Bible passages

Genny

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Question:

Dear Brother,

I will be very grateful if you could explain the following passages from the Bible.

(Deuteronomy 32:8-9): 8 The Most High assigned nations their lands; he determined where peoples should live. He assigned to each nation a heavenly being, 9 but Jacob's descendants he chose for himself.

What other heavenly being?

(1 Timothy 1 :19-20): ...and keep your faith and a clear conscience. Some people have not listened to their conscience and have made a ruin of their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have punished by handing them over to the power of Satan; this will teach them to stop their blasphemy.

What does it mean "Handing them over to the power of Satan"?

Thank you for your time.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), L.Th., D.D.

Dear Genny:

"A heavenly being" in the Deuteronomy passage refers to a Guardian Angel. Each of us is assigned a Guardian Angel. Nations, States, Cities, etc. are also assigned Guardian Angels, called Principalities; one of the choirs of Angels.

St. Paul is instructing Bishop Timothy that in some cases he must excommunicate an intransigent sinner ("handing them over to the power of Satan"). An excommunicated person no longer has the protection of the Church and her Sacraments. Thus, the devil can have his day with the sinner.

While excommunication is a punishment, it is more than that. Excommunication is an act of love, tough love. The hope is that the excommunicate, by his exclusion from the Church and vulnerability to Satan, will come to his senses, repent, and be reconciled with the Church. Some people need a big slap in the face to come to their senses.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum