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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Naming our Guardian Angels	Monica	Monday, November 22, 2004
Question: Greeting Brother. Let me start by thanking you again for answering my other question. Now I have another to ask of you. I believe I read one of your post concerning naming our Guardian Angels and it not being a good idea. But, as you know from my first post, I am new to the faith. My children are slowly (VERY SLOWLY) coming around to knowing the great love of Holy Mother Church. Because of their ages, 11 and 7 (the 7 year old easier), I want to ease them into the practices of our Catholic Faith. With the death of their dad 2 years ago, they more then ever need to know they have a personal Angel sent to them by God to help them. I thought that if they gave their Angel a name, it would help them feel closer to God and His Angels. Am I wrong about this? Without a name, their Guardian Angel does not seem real to my sons. I should have also said that they are coming from a Baptist background. Not a big issue with my 7 year old, but the 11 yr. old has very anti-Catholic views, (taught to him by his FORMER preacher). Please advise me on the correct course of action concerning this matter. Thank You for sharing the faith. Monica jmj
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Monica: It would not be appropriate to teach your children to name their angels. This would be teaching them to do as they desired that comforts them and avoid what does not comfort them even if it means doing something inappropriate. We need to teach our children the high road -- especially in this gutter-road society we live in. As mentioned in other posts, there is a purpose for names. The Angels already have a name. To name them ourselves would be like me calling you George instead of Monica. I am sure your kids would not like being called by a name that does not belong to them. Most of the Saints who had close relationships with their Guardian Angels never knew the angel's name. Instead, remain with what is prudent, but teach the children that they do have a Guardian Angel that is by their side 24 hours a day. Teach them to talk to their angel. They can refer to their Guardian Angel as "My Angel" for example. This is a loving nickname similar to "My Beloved" but respect the fact that the Angel, who is a real person, already has a name. We will certainly be in prayer for your older child that the bias he has been taught will fade away eventually into a loving relationship with the Church. Keep praying. 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

Naming our Guardian Angels

Monica

Monday, November 22, 2004

Question:

Greeting Brother.

Let me start by thanking you again for answering my other question. Now I have another to ask of you.

I believe I read one of your post concerning naming our Guardian Angels and it not being a good idea. But, as you know from my first post, I am new to the faith. My children are slowly (VERY SLOWLY) coming around to knowing the great love of Holy Mother Church. Because of their ages, 11 and 7 (the 7 year old easier), I want to ease them into the practices of our Catholic Faith. With the death of their dad 2 years ago, they more then ever need to know they have a personal Angel sent to them by God to help them. I thought that if they gave their Angel a name, it would help them feel closer to God and His Angels.

Am I wrong about this? Without a name, their Guardian Angel does not seem real to my sons. I should have also said that they are coming from a Baptist background. Not a big issue with my 7 year old, but the 11 yr. old has very anti-Catholic views, (taught to him by his FORMER preacher).

Please advise me on the correct course of action concerning this matter.

Thank You for sharing the faith.

Monica

jmj

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Monica:

It would not be appropriate to teach your children to name their angels. This would be teaching them to do as they desired that comforts them and avoid what does not comfort them even if it means doing something inappropriate. We need to teach our children the high road -- especially in this gutter-road society we live in.

As mentioned in other posts, there is a purpose for names. The Angels already have a name. To name them ourselves would be like me calling you George instead of Monica. I am sure your kids would not like being called by a name that does not belong to them. Most of the Saints who had close relationships with their Guardian Angels never knew the angel's name.

Instead, remain with what is prudent, but teach the children that they do have a Guardian Angel that is by their side 24 hours a day. Teach them to talk to their angel. They can refer to their Guardian Angel as "My Angel" for example. This is a loving nickname similar to "My Beloved" but respect the fact that the Angel, who is a real person, already has a name.

We will certainly be in prayer for your older child that the bias he has been taught will fade away eventually into a loving relationship with the Church. Keep praying.

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