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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Private Devotions to St. Michael and the Archangels	LBJ	Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Question: Thank you very much for the very insightful and wonderful answers you have always provided us. I saw that in one of the forum questions, one woman asked you about the Archangel Uriel. You are right in fact in telling us that we should really best be careful lest we fall into the occult as New Agers also use his/their name. Since we cannot truly verify them in Scripture besides the Three - Sts. Mike, Gabe, Raf. But I am thus disturbed/puzzled, because here in the Philippines, in Manila to be exact, we have the National Shrine to St. Mike and the Archangels (declared by the CBCP, our bishops' conference). In fact, devotion to them (the 7 Archangels) is truly spread here, as well as the use of their names and statues. In fact, many do consult the exact day/date when they were born to know who particularly is their "archangel", as each is assigned per day. Here they are: St. Michael - Mon, St. Gabriel - Tues, St. Raphael - Wed, St. Uriel - Thurs, St. Sealtiel - Friday, St. Jhudiel-Saturday, and St. Barachiel-Sunday. In fact, a devotion book in their honor is spread (St. Paul Publ., published it). What do you think of this? Is it okay to continue with this private devotion? Am i to encourage others to continue? Have you ever heard of them in Catholic tradition at least there in the US? Thank you very much and God bless always your ministry.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear LJ: Thank you for your kind words. As you mentioned the only names of angels honored by the Church by name are Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The other names come from apocryphal books such as the Book of Enoch. St. Paul warns his readers (Col 2:18) not to be seduced into any "religion of angels". St. Paul has no problem with proper angelology; he speaks of angels and their organization in his epistles. But, he warns against indulging superstition on the subject. We have a hint of such excesses in the Book of Enoch, which deal with angels rather disproportionately. We also know, through the first century historian Josephus (Bel. Jud., II, viii, 7) that the Essenes had to take a vow to preserve the names of the angels. There is a cult of angels in the Catholic Church that is, in my view, inappropriate and often superstitious. This group does things like "naming" their guardian angel, which I find to be a terrible and rude practice and utterly inappropriate. This modern day practice seems to smack of the old practice of the Essenes in their vows to preserve the names of angels. Anyway, as for the Seven Angels, I have no idea why the Archdiocese of Manila would promote these angels whose names we only know through questionable documents. I find it particularly troubling that this would be endorsed by a diocese among a people who have some tendency toward superstitious thinking anyway. Superstitious thinking is rather common in the Philippines from what I understand. Personally, I would restrict my devotion to the three canonical angels, but if your bishop has approved the other four angels as suitable for veneration I guess it is okay for those in your diocese at least. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Private Devotions to St. Michael and the Archangels

LBJ

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Question:

Thank you very much for the very insightful and wonderful answers you have always provided us.

I saw that in one of the forum questions, one woman asked you about the Archangel Uriel. You are right in fact in telling us that we should really best be careful lest we fall into the occult as New Agers also use his/their name. Since we cannot truly verify them in Scripture besides the Three - Sts. Mike, Gabe, Raf.

But I am thus disturbed/puzzled, because here in the Philippines, in Manila to be exact, we have the National Shrine to St. Mike and the Archangels (declared by the CBCP, our bishops' conference). In fact, devotion to them (the 7 Archangels) is truly spread here, as well as the use of their names and statues.

In fact, many do consult the exact day/date when they were born to know who particularly is their "archangel", as each is assigned per day. Here they are:

St. Michael - Mon, St. Gabriel - Tues, St. Raphael - Wed, St. Uriel - Thurs, St. Sealtiel - Friday, St. Jhudiel-Saturday, and St. Barachiel-Sunday.

In fact, a devotion book in their honor is spread (St. Paul Publ., published it). What do you think of this? Is it okay to continue with this private devotion? Am i to encourage others to continue? Have you ever heard of them in Catholic tradition at least there in the US?

Thank you very much and God bless always your ministry.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear LJ:

Thank you for your kind words.

As you mentioned the only names of angels honored by the Church by name are Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The other names come from apocryphal books such as the Book of Enoch.

St. Paul warns his readers (Col 2:18) not to be seduced into any "religion of angels". St. Paul has no problem with proper angelology; he speaks of angels and their organization in his epistles. But, he warns against indulging superstition on the subject. We have a hint of such excesses in the Book of Enoch, which deal with angels rather disproportionately. We also know, through the first century historian Josephus (Bel. Jud., II, viii, 7) that the Essenes had to take a vow to preserve the names of the angels.

There is a cult of angels in the Catholic Church that is, in my view, inappropriate and often superstitious. This group does things like "naming" their guardian angel, which I find to be a terrible and rude practice and utterly inappropriate. This modern day practice seems to smack of the old practice of the Essenes in their vows to preserve the names of angels.

Anyway, as for the Seven Angels, I have no idea why the Archdiocese of Manila would promote these angels whose names we only know through questionable documents.

I find it particularly troubling that this would be endorsed by a diocese among a people who have some tendency toward superstitious thinking anyway. Superstitious thinking is rather common in the Philippines from what I understand.

Personally, I would restrict my devotion to the three canonical angels, but if your bishop has approved the other four angels as suitable for veneration I guess it is okay for those in your diocese at least.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.