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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
re: angels	Claire	Sunday, January 6, 2008
Question: Hello again Br. Ignatius Mary, Thank you for your response to my earlier enquiry - I really appreciate it. I was pondering this before I received your reply, and I was wondering, would this analogy be alright to use? Angels are like air (immaterial) and we cannot see them just as we can't see air. However, at times under certain conditions, we can feel air (as wind), and we can see it as mist. Wind can cause the material things of this world to be tossed to and fro under certain conditions, so under certain conditions, angels at times can also, as you have explained, cause objects to be moved. I was thinking of the Scripture: Hebrews 1:7 - Of the angels He says: "He makes his angels winds and his ministers' fiery flame" Of course angels are greater than air, and exist with intelligence, unlike air, but this was an analogy. Would this be alright to use? thank you, and God bless, Claire
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Claire: There are no perfect analogies. For example, air actually is not immaterial; air is a composite of very material substances -- gas molecules. But as I said, there are no perfect analogies. The appropriateness of a particular analogy depends upon the situation at hand and the point one wishes to make. This analogy is based upon the "perceptions" of air and wind and not the science of it. That is okay. We cannot see the air or wind with our eyes. But, we can see and feel the "effects" of air and wind in the form the air blowing against our cheek, or with blowing leaves, tumble weeds, or in the case of severe wind our house flying down the road. We can see effects of atmospheric conditions such as clouds and fog and mist and the wind moving them along. Thus, angels can be like the wind. Just remember the limitations of this analogy or any analogy. 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

re: angels

Claire

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Question:

Hello again Br. Ignatius Mary,

Thank you for your response to my earlier enquiry - I really appreciate it.

I was pondering this before I received your reply, and I was wondering, would this analogy be alright to use?

Angels are like air (immaterial) and we cannot see them just as we can't see air. However, at times under certain conditions, we can feel air (as wind), and we can see it as mist. Wind can cause the material things of this world to be tossed to and fro under certain conditions, so under certain conditions, angels at times can also, as you have explained, cause objects to be moved.

I was thinking of the Scripture:
Hebrews 1:7 - Of the angels He says: "He makes his angels winds and his ministers' fiery flame"

Of course angels are greater than air, and exist with intelligence, unlike air, but this was an analogy. Would this be alright to use?

thank you, and God bless,
Claire

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Claire:

There are no perfect analogies. For example, air actually is not immaterial; air is a composite of very material substances -- gas molecules. But as I said, there are no perfect analogies.

The appropriateness of a particular analogy depends upon the situation at hand and the point one wishes to make.

This analogy is based upon the "perceptions" of air and wind and not the science of it. That is okay.

We cannot see the air or wind with our eyes. But, we can see and feel the "effects" of air and wind in the form the air blowing against our cheek, or with blowing leaves, tumble weeds, or in the case of severe wind our house flying down the road. We can see effects of atmospheric conditions such as clouds and fog and mist and the wind moving them along.

Thus, angels can be like the wind.

Just remember the limitations of this analogy or any analogy.

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